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SPRINGFIELD THEATRE CENTRE
at the Hoogland Center for the Arts
SHOW PROPOSAL PROCESS
Thank you for your interest in directing a production for our 61st Season which has been themed, “And the winner is…”
As Springfield’s only indoor community theatre organization, we rely on the talents and expertise of local volunteers to direct, design, build, crew and perform in our productions. Before you complete the Show Proposal form, we would like to provide some helpful information about the selection process. Additionally, if you have any questions when completing this document, please don’t hesitate to contact Fred Wassell at (217) 522-7550. Please return completed proposal documents to the Springfield Theatre Centre, ATTN: Show Selection Committee, 420 South 6th Street, Springfield, IL 62701.
The purpose of this section is to collect contact information. The “Place of Employment” and “Occupation” sections are optional, but they do provide valuable data for this organization about our volunteer population. Additionally, these may be local organizations or businesses that our organization has not had the opportunity to contact regarding sponsorship or charitable donations. If you do not wish to share this information, simply leave these questions blank.
The Springfield Theatre Centre keeps this information confidential. Near the bottom of this proposal you are given the chance to decide if you would like to be contacted for other STC volunteer opportunities or have your information added to our mailing database.
In this section, we are looking for the basic information regarding the show you wish to direct for the Springfield Theatre Centre. For all show proposals, we ask that you provide a brief description of the show (plot, genre, etc) on a separate piece of paper, as all of our selection committee members may not be familiar with the show you are submitting for consideration. Oftentimes, you can find this information at the publisher’s website, and it is only a matter of cutting and pasting the information.
If you have a staff in mind, let us know. If you need STC’s assistance in filling positions, let us know that, also. Names submitted are certainly not set in stone, but providing us with as much information as possible helps the selection committee members know what type of staff support might be needed. Should you need to make a change to one of these production staff positions… no problem, simply let the appropriate STC Representative know about the update (producer or executive producer, depending on when the change occurs).
The Springfield Theatre Centre keeps this information confidential as well. No contact names, numbers or email addresses will be added to any database without first contacting each of these individuals for permission to proceed.
This section provides the selection committee with information about your specific production of this show, should you be selected. For example, STC utilizes the Levi, Ray and Shoup Theatre (Theater 1) and third floor “Theater 3” for our productions. Both theaters have unique qualities that may lend themselves to one show more than another. If you are not familiar with these theaters, we recommend you visit the Center’s website, www.scfta.org or stop by the Hoogland Center for the Arts during regular business hours for a tour.
Budget: Typically, the STC Board of Directors approves a $2,000 budget allocation for non-musical plays and $4,000 for musicals. These have historically been very “healthy” allocations, given the number of props, costumes and set pieces that already exist. Furthermore, the board encourages the inter-coordination of construction for similar show sets (i.e. two shows take place in a living room, which can be reconfigured and/or modified from one show to the next without impact on show quality). Requesting additional budget amounts doesn’t remove you from consideration so long as you are able to defend the need for these funds in your brief description or your concept for this show.
Rehearsal Duration: It is necessary for our selection committee to understand how long you intend to rehearse this show. The Springfield Theatre Center is only one of many organizations that use the Hoogland Center’s facilities, and we are limited to the number of productions rehearsing in the building at any one time. Oftentimes, STC will have one production on stage, one production in mid-rehearsal and one production just starting the rehearsal process. Typically, our productions rehearse anywhere between five (5) and eight (8) weeks including “tech week.” Needing additional rehearsal time doesn’t remove you from consideration, so long as you are able to defend the rehearsal length in your brief description or your concept for this show. If you feel it necessary to rehearse longer that this five to eight week period, you may need to find rehearsal space outside of the Hoogland Center for this additional rehearsal period.
“Production Slot” Choice: The Springfield Theatre Centre produces up to eight (8) shows each season. While there is no formula in deciding show placement, musicals are typically separated by non-musical plays. Your personal schedule or the shows seasonal perspective may well be a determining factor for the season. If there is only one “slot” that you are interested in, please make sure to write “not applicable” on choices 2 and 3. If you are open to multiple season time-slots, please rank them in order of preference. For additional information on which months the curtains rise on our shows throughout the season, please view our current season online at www.springfieldtheater.com.
“Suitability” for elementary, middle or high school audiences: Occasionally, STC is able to offer daytime workshops for local elementary, middle or high school students at free or reduced cost to the student or school. These workshops are typically arranged in conjunction with the director, production staff and schools prior to auditions. If the show you are proposing is suitable for elementary, middle or high school audiences, the selection committee may wish to follow up with you about the possibility of arranging such workshops.
Special Production Needs: Will your show require gun shots or pyrotechnic effects? Will you need to hang a scrim? Will your show require additional lighting instruments or specialized sound equipment? Needing these items doesn’t remove you from consideration, so long as you are able to defend the special production needs.
It is always helpful to have a basic description of a director’s concept for a show prior to selection. This protects STC as well as our directors, and ensures that the highest quality and artistically inventive and innovative shows get a chance to shine on our stage. We ask that you be as detailed as you would like in this description. Feel free to include sketches, renderings and designs if you like.
As mentioned previously, you are given the chance to decide if you would like to be contacted for other STC volunteer opportunities or have your information added to our mailing database. Your answer to these questions will in no way effect the selection committee’s decision.
We ask that you read and agree to abide by the policies set fourth in the STC “Director Guidelines”. This document identifies the roles and responsibilities of our Directors, and provides important information regarding policies and procedures for working with your assigned producer. This document and the policies therein assures that you, your crew, staff and cast, as well as the Springfield Theatre Centre enjoy a rewarding and enriching experience throughout this production.
On behalf of the Springfield Theatre Centre and its Board of Directors, thank you for your interest in directing!