Play Submission form

Spectrum Theatre Company
Wants to know… Have you ever read a play that inspired or made you think that you would LOVE to see put on stage? Have YOU written something powerful you would like to see produced? Know of any great political masterpieces or thought-provoking classics?

Spectrum Theatre Company is now looking for plays to fill the 2006-07 Season. Spectrum is a new student theater company committed to producing a season that reflects our mission.

Mission
· To produce theater that provokes thought.
· To bring political theater of all opinions to the stage.
· To reach out to the larger community with philanthropy and outreach programs and productions.


How does this work?
In our unique process, we ask for play submissions first. These suggestions may be favorite classics you want to see staged, or original works. Once all submissions have been reviewed, the Spectrum Board will choose which ones will be produced in the upcoming season. Then we will have Producer and Director petitions for the entire season. Submitting a play does not guarantee you will be selected to produce or direct it. However, your knowledge of the play will probably help you in the petitioning process. We want everyone to feel welcome to submit plays they are interested in seeing staged. You don’t have to be a director or a producer candidate to submit an amazing play!

We are looking for all kinds of plays – old, new, or freshly written by you. Let us know if you have a more conceptual idea for a production as well. For the 2006-07 Season, we are looking for one play with LGBT themes for a co-sponsorship production with Rainbow Alliance. Please submit any good plays you feel fall into this category in any way!


How to submit plays to Spectrum Theatre Company

Provide the following information and answers to the questions below in 1-2 pages.
-Your name, email, and phone number:

-Title:

-Playwright:

-Publisher and Year of Publication:

-Cast breakdown/ Production requirements:

-Brief Summary (can be copied from an introduction, review, etc):

-Production Challenges (period, technical elements?):

-Why do you like this play?

-Why should Spectrum do this play (subject matter, themes, etc?)

-Additional notes/comments:

-Do you have a copy of the script? (If you are submitting an original work, please include a 10-page sample of dialogue. If you are submitting an original project that is not scripted, please include a detailed outline of your project as well as your working process.)

Email your answers to Aurelia Clunie, Associate Artistic Director of Spectrum at c-clunie@northwestern.edu. (Electronic versions of this form are also available at www.spectrumtheatre.blogspot.com).

Conceptual projects without scripts are the only submissions which will be linked to the submitter in the selection process. For all other submissions, your contact information will only be used if there are questions or we need to borrow a copy of the script. Otherwise, the Board will not know who submits what play.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Aurelia or one of the three co-chairs: Emily Schaeffer, Executive Director (e-schaeffer@northwestern.edu), Zev Valancy, Artistic Director (z-valancy@northwestern.edu), or Robby Karol, Business Manager (r-karol@northwestern.edu)


DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS MAY 5TH AT MIDNIGHT.

Meeting notes from 4-6-06 - First Open Board Meeting!!!

Spectrum Meeting Minutes
4/6/06

Start Time: 10:45 PM

Agenda for April 6, 2006
Acting co-chair – Emily SchaefferShort introductions
Name, year, and major and whether or not Board Member. Also favorite Ice Cream flavor!
Sign in sheet

Mission – from meeting Fall Quarter
The mission of Spectrum is broad at the moment but here are some main points:
To produce theater that provokes thought.
To bring political theater of all opinions to the stage.
To reach out to the larger community with philanthropy and outreach programs and productions.
Within the group, to maintain a spectrum of ideas and inputs with the purpose of exploring views which may be contrary to your own for the increased understanding of the opposing view.

Explanation of Election Process and the positions of co-chairs in Spectrum
. Co-chairs (Artistic Director, Executive Director, and Business Manager)
i. Artistic Director – The artistic director maintains Spectrum’s commitment to creating provocative, thought-inducing theater through management of directors and the artistic goals of every production. He/She is responsible for leading meetings on a rotating basis with other co-chairs, acts as a liaison with student directors and the board, coordinates co-sponsorships in conjunction with the Managing Manager, and constantly seeks out artistic opportunities important to the group’s mission throughout the Chicagoland Area.
ii. Executive Director – The Executive Director acts as a liaison with the Student Government and University Administration. She/he is responsible for coordinating co-sponsorships in conjunction with the Artistic Director. The Executive Director runs meetings on a rotating basis with the Artistic Director. Also, working with producers, the production manager, and production stage manager of shows
iii. Business Director – The Business Manager maintains financial accountability and affairs of all Spectrum transactions and accounts. He/she oversees all financial responsibilities of Board members and producers. The Business Manager also oversees the work of the Fundraising Chair.
Short statements by all parties.
Will vote for all three positions at one time.
Votes will then be counted. In the case of a tie, there is not a majority of votes, or someone being top in more than one category, there will be run off votes between the top two in each category.
Carla and Cynthia counted votes.

During vote counting…
Emily reminded everyone of the goals set out for the group at the Fall 2005 meeting.

Immediate goals
Become an ASG recognized T-status group.
Establish a board with large group input for production decisions.
Host at least one event per quarter, with a possible production in the Jones Great Room spring quarter.
Possibly stage some improv/spontaneous theater.
Get started on developing outreach programs.
Establish mission and by laws that encourage diversity in subsequent group membership and exec boards
At the meeting, interest was shown for writing workshops to help playwrights develop skills with this form of theater.

Long-term Goals
ASG recognition
Larger budget shows and performance spaces
Outreach programs (one suggestion was bring theater in some form to children with disabilities who may not get an opportunity to do theater otherwise)
Have a full season.

Vote: 3 Co-Chairs and Managing Director
Artistic Director: Zev V.
Managing Director: Emily S.
Business Director: Robert K.
Managing Director: Julie M.

Voting:
To change Managing Director to Executive Director.
To form Managing Director under the offices of Business Manager and Executive Director. Description includes responsibilities of reserving spaces for board meetings and annual petitions and oversee outreach chairs.
To include in Executive Director’s responsibilities working with producers, the production manager, and production stage manager to oversee the artistic quality of the show.


END meeting 12:11 AM