SSU Theatre and Speech Communication Dept.

First Year Lab Experience 2026

By the Fall 2026 First Year Theatre Arts Cohort
Directed by Esme Allen

PERFORMANCE:
Friday, September 25, 2026 at 7:30pm

VENUE:
Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts
Mainstage Theatre
356 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970

TICKETS:
Admission is FREE
No ticket reservations required

About First Year Lab

Welcome to Salem State Theatre!

Every fall semester, our incoming freshmen and transfer Theatre majors get to participate in “First Year Lab.” This experience is designed to help ease your transition into Salem State Theatre—and you get to put on a show! You will meet everyone in your First Year student cohort and immediately become part of a creative ensemble! Together with your classmates, you will create a unique production based on your group’s ideas, talents, and experiences. This production is not just for actors; are you an aspiring playwright, choreographer, stage manager, technician, director, or designer? All concentrations and skills are incorporated into this great event!

The 2026 First Year Lab Experience will be directed by Professor Esme Allen. You will have rehearsals with your First Year Lab group a few times a week, after day classes, culminating in a live performance on Friday, September 25 at 7:30pm in our beautiful Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage theatre! The entire theatre department is invited, as well as your family and friends! Admission is free and no reservations are needed.

First Year Lab counts as your first Theatre Department production at SSU and is part of your required coursework- you will earn Theatre Production hours towards your THE91 Theatre Participation class for it!

Note: This event is mandatory for all new Fall 2026 first year and new transfer students.

More information about First Year Lab:

SCRIPT:
The words, conflicts, and characterizations will be developed in FYL by all the participants. FYL is not about developing a play; it is about understanding the essential nature of words, conflict and characterization in theatrical presentation. They are ingredients of ritual expression. You will all be collaborators in a newly devised theatrical event!

THEATRE PRODUCTION POINTS (TPP):
A maximum of 25 TPP will be awarded at the completion of FYL. Students who do not fulfill their commitment to FYL and did not participate in the Final Presentation will receive 0 TPP. Work ethic, appropriate decorum, and commitment are essential ingredients to be a member of this or any Theatre organization.

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is required. If you will not be able to attend a rehearsal, please contact the FYL Director or Stage Manager prior to that rehearsal.

THE STAGE MANAGER:
The Stage Manager is an upper-class student who is available to introduce FYL participants to faculty and staff or to other upper-class students.

The Stage Manager is a vital member of the creative team and should be treated with respect. The Stage Manager is responsible for preparing the space for rehearsal, securing and maintaining props and set pieces, taking attendance, reviewing and maintaining safety standards, and reviewing and reminding student participants of operating procedures.

THE DIRECTOR:
The Director will determine the creative process. Due to the limited time schedule and the large number of student participants, time will not be wasted. Students will be expected to develop their creative contributions outside of rehearsal and to bring creative choices to FYL to share. Rehearsals will be a time to develop theatrical moments. Although everyone will contribute to the development of theatrical moments, it will be at the sole discretion of the Director which moments will be included in the Final Presentation.

ASSISTANTS TO THE DIRECTOR:
Because of the creative nature of FYL, the assistants to the director (upper-class students) may, at the Director’s discretion, lead warm-ups and contribute feedback to creative choices.

BUT…
This is your lab! This is where you will meet and begin the relationships that will help foster your learning over the next four years. You will be meeting your creative collaborators. These are the people who will make up your theatrical family here at Salem State University.

We're looking forward to discovering with you!

Important Dates & Meetings

First Year Lab Post-Production Meeting

An opportunity for production representatives to discuss the educational values of the First Year Lab production experience, led by Department Chairperson Prof. Topher Morris.

First Year Lab Post-Production Meeting
Monday, September 28, 2026
11:00am-12:00pm
Sophia Gordon Reherasal Room (SG208)