Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater Festival Handbook
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Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater Festival Handbook
Bucks County Playhouse
Student Theater Festival Handbook
Table of Contents
Welcome................................................................ 3
About the Day........................................................ 4
Payment...........................................................................4
Sample Schedule..............................................................4
Arrival/Registration........................................................4
Parking.............................................................................4
Workshops.......................................................................4
Lunch...............................................................................4
COVID-19 Safety Protocols..............................................4
About the Performances........................................ 5
Teching............................................................................5
Time Limit.......................................................................5
Content............................................................................5
Set, Props and Projections..............................................5
Weapon Policy.................................................................6
Sound..............................................................................6
Stage Dimensions............................................................6
Feedback.........................................................................6
Awards.............................................................................6
FAQs...................................................................... 6
Contact...................................................................7
2 Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater FestivalWelcome!
The Student Theater Festival at Bucks County Playhouse is in its 54th year!
Originally known as Dramafest for one act plays, the Student Theater Festival
has evolved into a multi–week celebration showcasing talented student
performers from all over the region. Students perform on the historic stage,
take workshops to develop their knowledge and skills in the arts and receive
feedback from theater professionals.
When the Playhouse closed in 2010, Newtown Arts Company, located in
Newtown, PA, hosted the Festival for the next two years. After a lavish $6
million renovation, the Playhouse reopened its doors in 2012 and welcomed
the Student Theater Festival back to its stage along with a partnership with
Newtown Arts Company, a relationship that remains a strong component of
the Festival to this day.
The network of Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater Festival alumni is
ever expanding and we are excited to welcome you and your show to the stage!
Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater Festival 3Excelsior or Docket), as well as
Workshops
About the Day • Each student may take two one-
other international vaccine records.
Payment • Children under 12 and people with
hour-long workshops in the
Payment is required to reserve a slot a medical condition or closely
morning. There are three to four
for STF, on a first-come, first-served held religious belief that prevents
workshops offered which may
basis. Final payment is due two weeks vaccination may show proof of a
include, but are not limited to:
before your designated day, which negative COVID-19 PCR test taken
movement, dance, tap/jazz, improv,
includes student fees. within 72 hours of the date. Rapid
theater games, Shakespearean
antigen tests will NOT be accepted
Sample Daily Schedule acting, audition technique and a
• The Playhouse’s full COVID policy
8:30 am-9:00 am-Arrival/Registration variety of other subjects.
can be found here on our website:
9:15 am-9:30 am-Welcome • Teachers/Directors receive tickets
https://bcptheater.org/covid-19-
9:45 am-12:00 pm-Workshops to distribute to students upon check
precautions
12:00 pm-12:45 pm-Lunch in. Each student should receive two
• Students performing on stage
1:00 pm-4:30 pm-Performances/ tickets from their teacher. Tickets
may remove their masks for the
Feedback are labeled clearly with session 1
duration of their performance.
4:30 pm-5:30 pm-Load-Out/Awards and session 2 along with the name
Masks must be worn as soon as
of the workshop.
Arrival/Registration students are finished performing
Schools and groups arrive at the Lunch • Plastic clear face shields are not
Playhouse, unload props at the loading • Participants are welcome to bring required for performers. Schools
dock and check in at our theater lobby. their own lunches and sit in our are welcome to have their students
Upon check in teachers/directors spacious courtyard. There are wear clear face shields while
will receive a welcome packet which ample tables, chairs and benches. performing.
includes playbills of the Festival with There are also many quaint • Schools are welcome to have
the day’s schedule, wristbands and restaurants in New Hope for students wear their masks during
tickets to the workshops. Welcome participants to explore during the the performance if that is their
remarks begin at 9:15 am and then lunch break. safety preference. Masks must
students are dismissed for the be worn as soon as students are
morning’s workshops. COVID-19 Safety Protocols finished performing
Our Parking Lot
• Everyone in the theatre and
workshop spaces must wear
About the
Parking in our lot is $3 per hour or acceptable face coverings at all
Performances
$20 for the entire day (CARS & VANS Schools perform segments of plays and
times, regardless of vaccination
ONLY, LIMITED AVAILABILITY). musicals with casts of varying sizes.
status, except while eating or
It is a public lot, so it is open to other Guest Artists provide feedback on each
drinking in designated locations.
visitors to New Hope. Please note performance.
• All face coverings must cover the
buses CANNOT park in our parking nose and mouth and comply with
lot. However, we welcome buses to To limit the number of people
the CDC guidelines for acceptable
pull into our lot to drop off group backstage at one time, only one
face coverings.
members before finding additional school will be permitted onstage and
• Vaccines are required for students,
parking. backstage at a time. The changeover
teachers, and chaperones will be
time between each performance will
Parking for Motor Coaches asked for proof of vaccination upon
therefore be extended to 15 minutes,
and Mini Buses arrival for check in.
allowing the onstage school to clear
f you are bringing a bus, you must park • We will accept a paper vaccination
and return to the theater and the next
off-site following drop off. Further card, a photocopy of your card, a
school to go backstage to prepare for
information about bus parking will be photo of your card on your phone,
their performance. Schools will be
provided closer to the Festival dates. a digital vaccine app (such as
adjudicated one at a time during the
4 Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater Festivalchangeover. performances in advance and are language, nudity, sex, violence or
integral to making the day run other content that, in the view of
This year there will be three to five smoothly. the Festival, could be considered
schools per day with a maximum of 6 offensive.
Time Limit
performance
• Performance slots are 20 minutes. Set, Props and Projections
Teching Performances must be 20 minutes • Storage, wing and dressing
• During the morning while in length or shorter. Performances room space is extremely limited
students attend their workshops, will be timed by Bucks County backstage at the Playhouse. Set
a designated person (teachers, Playhouse staff. pieces, backdrops, flats and large
advisers, directors and/or student • There will be a 15-minute furniture pieces cannot be used.
directors) will work with Bucks changeover between each Only handheld props and
County Playhouse production performance. The onstage school smaller furniture pieces can be
staff to prepare the technical will clear the stage and return to brought to the Playhouse.
elements of their performances. the theater and the next school will • Participating schools will be
Each school will program their go backstage to prepare for their provided with a list of furniture
lighting and sound with Bucks performance. Once the first school that will be available at the
County Playhouse production staff has returned to the house, the Playhouse for their use. The
including reviewing any needs such adjudicators will give them notes purpose of this is to limit the
as: keyboard, chairs, tables, etc. during the remaining time left in quantity of set pieces, furniture
• Shows will be teched in the the changeover. and props being stored backstage.
order of performances in the • If a performance goes over the • Each participating school will have
afternoon. Each school will receive allotted time, there will be a access to a small table to store
approximately 15 minutes per 2-minute warning from the Stage props, costumes and supplies
segment to work with Bucks County Manager, followed by a dimming backstage.
Playhouse production staff to tech of the lights and fade out. This is • No liquids are allowed on stage.
their performance(s). to ensure that all performances • Use of the projector may be
• Teachers, advisers and directors receive the same amount of time available to schools during the
must tech during their allotted time on stage and to keep the festival on Festival. For more information
in the morning. All shows must be schedule. about availability of the projector
teched before the lunch break and • Schools may sign up for a maximum and for specifications, please
before performances begin in the of two time slots per day. Schools contact Emily Anacker to discuss
afternoon. can perform two 20-minute your school’s needs.
• Prior to the Festival, teachers/ segments of their show, for example
Weapon Policy
directors will receive a tech rider an Act 1 and Act 2, but they will not
• Safety for all students, teachers,
from BCP staff. This tech rider be performed consecutively.
staff and guests participating in the
is a form that teachers/directors
Content Student Theater Festival is of the
will fill out that includes basic
• Selected material can be from utmost importance. Please read our
information about your production,
published sources and/or student- weapon policy carefully:*
such as title, run time, size of cast
written/directed. • BCP defines a weapon as: “Any
and crew, a list of lighting and
• To make the Student Theater object used in a staged fight for
sound cues, and list of props and
Festival enjoyable for all attack or defense” and “Any
set pieces you plan to bring to the
participants, material should be implements fashioned or used in
Festival. Schools must return
suitable for a public performance a threatening manner, whether
this completed tech rider one
before a general audience at capable of inflicting actual bodily
week before their date at the
your own school. We ask that harm or not.”
Festival. These tech riders allow
selections contain no extreme adult • BCP staff must be notified by the
BCP technical staff to prepare for
Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater Festival 5teacher, advisor or director of use • Feedback is positive in nature,
How many performances
of any and all weapons used in a designed to enhance the
can I bring?
performance upon registering for performance and provide insight
We limit schools to two performances
the Festival. on how students and teachers may
per day.
• All weapons must be presented improve future productions.
upon load-in to Playhouse staff on How do I pay?
Awards
the day of the Festival. Schools may pay for their initial
• Each day of STF culminates with
• Bucks County Playhouse reserves registration over the phone with
a short awards ceremony. Daily
the right to deny the use of any and credit card, or mail a check or money
awards are given out to schools and
all weapons used on our stage and order. Upon arrival to the Festival any
individuals that show excellence in
in our facilities at any time. additional payments may be made at
their performances.
• The following are never allowed the Box Office with cash, check, credit
• Guest Artists deliberate following
at the Festival: real blades or guns card or money order. Please do not
the final performance of the
of any kind, guns with blanks, send cash in the mail. Bucks County
day and award the schools and
retractable knives or swords, Playhouse is not responsible for the
individuals that stood out to
blunted blades of any kind. loss of cash sent in the mail. Please
highlight their performances.
*In accordance with the Actors’ refer to the Festival registration form
• Daily awards are subject to change
Equity Association Agreement and for details.
and categories vary year to year and
Rules Governing Employment in
day to day during the Festival. Can I buy tickets?
Small Professional Theaters Stage
Is it open to the public?
Fighting Policy and the Yale School Please Note: The Festival does not
• The Student Theater Festival
of Drama Prop Weapon and Stage focus on competition, but rather
on a supportive environment to afternoon performances (generally
Combat Policy.
share talent, collaborate with beginning at 1pm) are free and
Sound theater students that they would open to the public! Parents and
not normally meet and to encourage
• Schools need to provide a CD, flash members of the community are
their fellow performers.
drive or file of their musical tracks. welcome to come watch their
• Schools may have no more than students perform on the historic
three musicians if using live music. Playhouse stage free of charge!
• A piano or keyboard will be • Performances take place at Bucks
available. Please notify Emily County Playhouse in the afternoon.
Anacker if you require a keyboard, FAQs • A schedule of performances will
piano What is the cost of the be listed in the Student Theater
or projector. festival? Festival program which will be
• $60 per 20-minute segment distributed to participants when
Stage Dimensions
• $25 per student they arrive.
• The stage depth is 30’ with about 15’
• Free for teachers and advisors • Parents please note: While we
of wing space on either side.
do our best to stay on schedule,
• The proscenium height is 19’3” and Do I bring costumes? your child’s performance may not
width 29’9”. Schools may bring costumes, but happen at the exact time it is listed
Feedback they are not judged on them. Please in the program. We recommend
• Typically, the teaching artists who remember that storage is very limited that you arrive before your child’s
lead the morning workshops will backstage. schedule time and prepare for the
give feedback at the afternoon Can I bring two segments of possibility that we may be slightly
performances. This is done so the the same show? ahead or behind schedule.
guest artists have a chance to meet Yes, schools can perform 20 minutes
the students in the morning and to How do I sign up?
of Act 1 and Act 2 – but they will not
provide continuity for the students The registration form is available to
be performed consecutively.
throughout the day. download on our website. Registration
6 Bucks County Playhouse Student Theater Festivalis on a first-come, first-served basis
and we try to accommodate each
school and their schedules. We ask
that schools give us several choices of
dates.
What if my students don’t
want to take a dance class?
There are several options for
workshops, and they change each
year—improv, theater games,
movement, dance, tap/jazz,
Shakespeare, acting for the camera,
audition prep, and more. In recent
years we have also offered workshops
in technical theater like costume
design and rigging.
CONTACT
Bucks County Playhouse Emily Anacker, Management Associate
Box Office: 70 S. Main St., New Hope, PA 18938 (215) 387-1983 • Emily@buckscountyplayhouse.org
(215) 862-2121 • www.buckscountyplayhouse.org
Ellen Gallos, Assistant Director of Education
(267) 743-2199 • Ellen@busckcountyplayhouse.org
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