Guides for Parents and Students

This page is meant to be a resource for parents and students who are new to CHS Theatre.  Here you'll find samples of production documents and common terms.  Please explore the other pages posted under "Students & Parents" in the menu above.

BAND App: Announcements and Reminders

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CHS Theatre uses Band for group communications like announcements and reminders.  It is our primary method for communication.
Prior to Band, our communications were through Remind, and some of our documents may contain outdated Remind information.
Please view details about starting with Band here.
HANDOUTS

NOTE: Because plans for 2020-2021 have not yet been announced due to COVID-19 delays and adjustments, these handouts are from 2019-2020.
C.H.S. THEATRE BROCHURE
A quick view of what we do onstage and off
PARENT GUIDE 
Take a look at this overview of C.H.S. Theatre.
PIT ORCHESTRA GUIDE
Information about being part of a C.H.S. Theatre musical's pit orchestra.
SET BUILDING/COSTUMING GUIDE
Find out about being part of our after-school crew working on sets and costumes.
SAMPLE AUDITION CONTRACT
This changes from show to show.  Always review it before committing to an audition.  Audition contracts for each show are available outside the PAC office in the weeks leading up to auditions.
SAMPLE COMPANY FORM
This is the form that all participants (cast, crew, orchestra, leaders, etc.) complete to be a part of the show.  There is a new form for each show due on "Deadline Day."  Copies are available outside the PAC office in the weeks leading up to a Deadline Day.
SAMPLE REHEARSAL CALENDAR
The needs for rehearsal time vary from show to show.  Always review the calendar before committing to an audition.  Audition calendars for each show are available outside the PAC office in the weeks leading up to auditions.
BAND APP SIGN-UP
We use an app called BAND to manage group communications.  This handout provides information and URLs for individual groups.
FLOW CHART OF C.H.S. THEATRE ROLES
There are tons of opportunities for students and parents to be involved!
YEAR-AT-A-GLANCE CALENDAR (2019-2020)
You may also subscribe to the C.H.S. Theatre online calendar, which will have the most up-to-date information.
BRAVO AD BROCHURE
Support your loved one and C.H.S. Theatre by giving a "shout out" in our playbill!  Submit ads and payments here.
CAST REFERENCE SHEET
Cast members receive this at their first rehearsal.  It contains reminders, Band codes, and a guide for rehearsal etiquette.
DAYTON LIVE FUNDRAISER
Dayton Live (formerly Victoria Theatre Association) gives you great deals on shows at the Schuster and Victoria and gives C.H.S. Theatre a $5 donation for each ticket.
MIAMI VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE AWARDS 
This is an overview of the M.V.H.S.T.A. organization and process.

WAYS TO STAY INFORMED
E-NEWS
We'll send an email newsletter when we have lots of information to share with parents and students about upcoming opportunities, but our announcements are primarily made on Band. The E-News registration adds you to our email contacts and allows you to share volunteer interests.  Sign up here.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Our Facebook page (CentervilleHSTheatre) is where we share fun pictures and posts about what’s happening.  Similarly, our Instagram (@CHSTheatreCo) is run by S.T.A.G.E. officers.
PAPER
Everything we do comes with some kind of handout, form, calendar, or packet.  Take time to review what you receive.
BAND APP
We use Band for short-term announcements and reminders.  This is our primary method of communication.  Download a start-up guide here.
FEES
$10 C.H.S. Theatre Fee
  • Per production
  • All cast, crew (set build, costumes), pit orchestra, and student leadership team
  • Does not include show t-shirt (Gear Shop).
  • Turn in with your Company Form.
    • Make checks payable to CHS with theatre in the memo.
  • Do not let this fee keep you from joining!  Please see Mr. Hamen or Mr. Cordonnier if you have financial concerns.
$30* Centerville Schools Pay-To-Participate Fee
  • Per production
  • All cast, crew (set build, costumes), and student leadership team
    • *$15 for pit orchestra members
  • Applied to your school fees
    • We submit our roster after each show's Deadline Day.
FEES FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
$5 S.T.A.G.E Club Membership
  • Some S.T.A.G.E. activities may involve costs, like attending an outside show or bringing food to a social event.
  • Members receive ticket to the S.T.A.G.E. student-produced show.  Your fee covers the cost of snacks and supplies for meetings.
INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY
  • $35 Membership
    • More information about membership here
  • Southwest Area Conference
    • $20
    • Open to members and non-members
  • Ohio Thespian State Conference
    • $150 (cost varies each year due to hotel accommodations)
    • Open to members and non-members
    • Participation is required for cast/crew involved in the show C.H.S. selects to have judged each year.
  • International Thespian Festival
    • Estimated 2021 cost for members: $900
    • Estimated 2021 cost for non-members: $950
COMMON C.H.S. THEATRE TERMS
This is a collection of terms related to our process. While each role comes with its own vocabulary (e.g. spike tape, gaffer's tape, mic tape, measuring tape), these are terms we share and that you're likely to see on calendars and postings.

ASL Performance American Sign Language interpreted performances are offered by trained staff/students from Sinclair.  These are arranged based on the interpreters' availability.
Audition This is where you show your potential to a director. Depending on the director's needs, the format might include something you prepare in advance or something you try on-the-spot.
Blocking Onstage movement like entrances, exits, locations, etc. At a blocking rehearsals, actors record instructions they are given by the director to do during a scene.
Backstage Areas that are out of the audience's view OR roles that are not seen by the audience.
"Break a leg" A superstitious alternative to saying "good luck" in theatre. Find a few theories on the phrase's origin here.
Brush-Up Rehearsal For shows that run more than one weekend, we have a brush-up before the second weekend to run the show or review key elements.
Callbacks After auditions are completed, directors post a "callback list."  These are people the would like to see again, perhaps to have them try a specific part of the show, to match them with other actors, or to see how they handle some direction.  Unlike making "cuts," a callback is not a guarantee that you will or will not be cast.
Call Board A location where information is posted for actors or technicians to review. At C.H.S., there's one outside the P.A.C. office and one outside the scene shop.
Call 1-The time when actors or technicians are required to report to the theatre. a.k.a. "call time"  2-An event for a specific purpose.  For example, a work call is to bring in extra helpers, a fight call is to rehearse stage combat, and a photo call is to take publicity photos.  3-The individuals who are needed for a rehearsal.  In this case, a call sheet indicates which actors are called.  4-The act of giving cues to actors and technicians.  A stage manager might call a show (giving cues to technicians as the show runs) or call actors to places, telling them to go to their starting location.
Cast n. The group of actors performing in a show OR v. to assign roles (all tenses)  e.g. Last year I was cast (not "casted") as the mayor, so it would be fun to be cast as the president this time.
Casting The process where directors decide which actors will play which roles in a cast.
Costume Fitting An appointment for an actor to try on costumes with the costumer. a.k.a. "fitting"
Costume Parade A meeting for the director and costumer to review all of the actors in their costumes
Curtain The starting time of a performance.
Curtain Call Bows at the end of a performance
Curtain Speech An introduction prior to the start of a performance with reminders for the audience about safety and copyright policies.
Choreography The dances in a musical.
Closing Night/Close The final performance of a production.  See also: opening night
Company Everyone involved in a production.
Crew People who work in technical theatre, especially those who fill backstage roles during a show.  See also: technician
Crew View A rehearsal where the cast performs for the crew and/or orchestra.  It's purpose is to give the technicians a chance to be more familiar with the show and how it is being performed.
Cue to Cue A rehearsal meant for integrating lighting, sound effect, and scene shift actions ("cues") with the actors' performance.  Also known as "Q2Q," this rehearsal usually involves skipping over dialogue where no cues happen.
Dark Days when no performances (or work sessions/rehearsals) are held.
Deadline Day Each production has a due date for essential items: company forms, bios, gear orders, and advertisements.
Downstage The area of the stage that is closest to the audience.
Dress Rehearsal A rehearsal near the end of the process that includes costumes.  This is also a general term for the final rehearsals where all lighting, sound, costumes, props, and scenery are in use.
Dry Tech A rehearsal meant for integrating lighting, sound effect, and scene shift actions ("cues") without actors present.
Ensemble 1-A group of actors who play supporting roles in a production.  They typically appear in a scene as a group or appear individually with small amounts of dialogue.  2-A type of production where the actors play multiple roles or where their characters contribute equally to the story.
Fight Call A warm-up and rehearsal of stage combat prior to a performance.  a.k.a. "weapons call"  See also: call
Front of House Operations related to the audience, like tickets, concessions, seating, or displays.  The opposite of "backstage."
Green Room A location where performers wait prior to a performance.
House The location of the audience during a performance.  House right- the right side of the audience as seen from the audience's perspective when facing the stage.  House left- the left side of the audience as seen from the audience's perspective when facing the stage.
Improv Short for "improvisation," this is a style of performance where actors create dialogue or scenes based on limited information or prior planning.
Intermission For scripts with more than one act, this is a break in the middle.
Line An individual piece of dialogue performed by an actor.  An actor who has forgotten a line in a rehearsal might call "line,"  a stage manager might record line notes when lines are missed, and cues might be timed to a specific line.
Load In A day for setting up the stage prior to performance. e.g. At lighting load in, lights are hung, powered and focused.  At set load in, pre-built scenery is set up.
Matinee An afternoon performance.
Notes Following a rehearsal, a director, designer, or leader will share with the cast and crew any changes or areas for improvement.
Off-book The point in the rehearsal process where all lines, music, and choreography must be memorized.
Opening Night/Open The first performance of a production. See also: closing night
Orchestra The musicians who perform in a musical.  See also: pit
Overstudy A C.H.S. Theatre term for the principal role counterpart to an "understudy."
Paper Tech A meeting where technicians, stage managers, or directors to discuss cues prior to integrating them at Cue to Cue.
Pit 1-The musicians who perform in a musical. See also: orchestra  2-The location of the musicians who perform in a musical.
Playbill Although "Playbill" is a brand name, it is used as a generic term for the program that is given to audience members which contains information about the production.
Production Meeting A meeting for the stage manager, director, designers, and other leaders to share information and ask questions.
Q2Q See "Cue to Cue" above.
Rehearsal Any time where actors (with or without technicians) work on the production prior to performance.  This is different from "practice," which actors do on their own to review and memorize.
Run 1-A rehearsal where an entire act or show is being worked, usually for the benefit of notes, pacing, or repetition. 2-The length of time a production is open.  E.g. A three-night run, a limited run
Run Crew People who fill backstage roles during a performance like assisting with costume quick changes, running the light board, or moving scenery.
Set Build Days meant for constructing and painting scenery (prior to "load in").
Sitzprobe A rehearsal for the cast and orchestra to work together for music-related tasks like timing dialogue or setting tempos.  German for "seated rehearsal."
Stage Left The left side of the stage as seen from an actor's perspective when facing the audience.
Stage Right The right side of the stage as seen from an actor's perspective when facing the audience.
Strike After a performance run closes, this is the day to take everything down and put everything away.  We're returning the stage to a "blank slate" for whoever uses it next.
Stumble-Through A first attempt to perform an entire act or show.
Swing An actor who learns multiple ensemble roles in case he/she is needed to cover a performance.
Table-Read An initial read-through of a script meant for becoming familiar with it.
Tech Week The week leading up to a performance when everything is integrated.  It may include events like Q2Q, Dress Rehearsals, etc.
Technician A person who works in technical theatre, like lighting, sound, costuming, props, or scenery.  See also: crew
Understudy An actor who learns a principal/main role in case he/she is needed to cover a performance.
Upstage The area of the stage that is farthest from the audience.

Sources
"Glossary of Technical Theatre Terms," Theatrecrafts.com. http://www.theatrecrafts.com/pages/home/topics/stage-management/glossary/
"Theatre Terms," American Association of Community Theatre. https://aact.org/terms
Website by WhatRedCat July 2018