[SML] Aggregate hours for majors?

Wed Nov 18 18:16:49 UTC 2015

I agree that the REQUIRED work should be tied to the show that the student
has a significant Acting, Design, Directing, Authorship or other 'above the
line' role in, The faculty have their jobs in the classroom, and can move
aside a bit to allow the students an opportunity to sink or swim (with
faculty advice for Human and Resource safety). When it comes to the 'above
the line' assignments, I found from the other theatrical employers that I
have talked to, it is more valuable if the Student has REALIZED productions
of their own design in their portfolios, showing that they can confront and
resolve a myriad of issues that come up during the realization of a show.
This does not mean that the educational institution has the resources to
fund an unlimited amount of shows. Far from it. I suggest that the person
'driving' the show come up with their own staffing, from among their
colleagues. ["I'll trade you your work on one costume piece for my show in
return for my work on one set piece on your show"]. No, the inmates will
not be soon running the asylum - quite the contrary- the student will learn
the value of networking and how to display their work under controlled
'safe' conditions. Participation in production is, in many case, a
co-curricular activity. Just as skydivers are advised to pack their own
parachutes, or have deep trust in whoever does it for them, there is
nothing wrong with asking a dancer to mop the stage that they are about to
perform 'on point' upon, in return for the prop person doing something
important to the production that the dancer would normally be responsible
for, directly or indirectly. (I once had to rebuild/relocate a wireless
microphone transmitter pocket into a tutu, and provide an attachment point
for the microphone element in ballet slippers, because the choreographer
wanted the sound of the footwork amplified. I assure you that the same job
for a tap dancer was much easier, but I learned something each time. Just
because there are a potential educational benefits to the student (ex; how
to program a moving lights) does not make it anything less than conscripted
labor the the school takes advantage of. There is limited educational value
in being forced to do the same task on the same show for many performances,
As for a work in the scene or costume shop, often a student will learn bad
habits or learn just enough to be dangerous.
/s/ Richard
_________

On Wed, Nov 18, 2015 at 4:33 AM, Steven Mclean via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> At the liberal arts institution at which I teach, total credit hours
> for a major are strictly limited by the college.  Even the requirement
> of 1 practicum credit per semester wound eliminate critical
> course-work.  Also, since students often don't declare majors until
> the end of the first year and often not until second or even beginning
> of third-year, it would be impractical to require many.
>
> This is one of the reason that students get short 10-hour practical
> experiences (in scheduled 2-hour increments) as requirement for
> several of the introductory-level courses (actually, tech
> production--aka "stagecraft"has a 30-hour requirement).  The
> department limits "stacking" by having a 30-hour maximum per semester,
> allowing students to douple-dip, only if they would otherwise have to
> schedule over 30 hours.  This doesn't often happen, except in a
> semester when they take Tech. Prod. AND another of the introductory
> classes.
>
> Students ARE required to take 2 practicums in their 4 years for a
> major.  In the tech theatre area, these are attached to student
> "leadership" assignments such as Lighting, Set, Costume, Hair &
> Makeup, Props, Video or Sound design, Technical Dirction AND some
> Assistant  assignments when assisting a faculty member.  Students ALSO
> can earn practicum credit for major roles, Dramaturgy, Stage Managing
> (not ASM) AND Assistant Directing. All practicums require scheduled
> meetings throughout the semester and have a writing component.  Most
> also require a lobby display and a KCACTF-style presentation and
> screening for participation in KCACTF and/or the college's end-of-year
> undergraduate research symposium.
>
> We ALSO have a large number of WorkStudy students:  14 in the scene
> shop, 5 in wardrobe, 5 in lighting.  We also have Undergraduate
> Assistants (super-workstudy positions) who provide leadership in
> various areas: Scene Shop, Wardrobe, Lighting, Sound, Stage
> Management, Box Office, Publicity.
>
> Another source of training/labor is also through our department's
> participation scholarship.  between 30 and 70 percent of the students
> involved in the department are on participation scholarship.  This is
> real money attached to their participation in ALL department
> productions.  In practice, this involves being cast, having a
> leadership assignment, or being on run crew for each of the 4 annual
> productions.  It also involves 1 seven-hour company work call AND a
> couple of box office hours per production.  Incidentally, it also
> requires attendance in a couple of  craft related (auditioning and
> portfolio) workshops each year.THTR majors and minors (even those not
> on scholarship) have similar requirements.
>
> Sorry for the length.
>
> Hope it was at least informative.
>
> On Tue, Nov 17, 2015 at 1:40 PM, Blackfaer via Stagecraft
> <stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> > Also I second (or seventh, whatever) the idea for practicum courses
> spread throughout four years. ...
>
> --
> Steven J McLean
> steve.mclean at simpson.edu
> designandtechtheatre.wordpress.com
>
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-- 
/s/ Richard
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