Lakewood Institute of Theatre Policies
The following policies are for all LIT sanctioned events, such as LIT Camp, Classes, Workshops, Rehearsals, and Productions. These events will have the LIT name attached to the title. All LPH Mainstage events are under the banner of the Lakewood Playhouse Policies.
Lakewood Institute of Theatre is committed to being a safe space for our students and faculty/staff, in which a person can feel confident that he/she/they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or physical harm. If at any point someone is made to feel uncomfortable, threatened, unsafe, or experience any form of inappropriate or discriminatory behavior, they are encouraged to report it to a member of the staff who will then step in to resolve the situation.
Sign-in/Sign-out Policy (for both classes and performances):
Emergency/Medical/Release Paperwork:
Classes/Rehearsals:
Attendance:
Food and Drink:
Cancellations:
Backstage:
Interaction Between All Staff and Students (both minor and adult):
Clothing (for both LIT Faculty/Staff and Students):
Student Conduct and Discipline:
Conflict Resolution/Reporting an Issue or Concern:
Contacting:
Sign-in/Sign-out Policy (for both classes and performances):
- The student and parent/guardian must check in and out with an instructor if the student is under the age of 18.
- The parent/guardian must escort and sign the minor student in at his/her/their destination. At the end of the camp/class/workshop/rehearsal/performance, the underage student must be picked up and signed out.
- Minor students are only permitted to leave camp with a parent or individual identified by parents on the Sign-In/Sign-Out Form.
- Anyone besides the guardian of record must show ID when picking up a student.
- If there is a change or addition of persons who will pick-up a student, there must be a written notification. This must be either:
- an email sent by the guardian of record,
- or a signed handwritten note given to the Stage Manager (or Instructor if the SM is under the age of 18) by the guardian of record.
- Minor students, who have finished grades 7th-12th in the spring of the calendar year, can sign-in and sign-out unattended if the required approval paperwork & signature is provided by the parent/guardian. The signature gives permission for the student to leave the program premises by their own means at the end of the camp/class/workshop/rehearsal/production.
- Students who are authorized to sign themselves out and then wait for a parent in the Lakewood Playhouse Lobby/Parking Lot or outside of a secondary rehearsal/class space are not considered to be under Lakewood Institute of Theatre/Lakewood Playhouse supervision.
Emergency/Medical/Release Paperwork:
- All Emergency, Medical, and Release Forms will be kept confidential.
- All forms must be filled out by the first day of any class/camp/workshop/production.
- Once a form has been filled out during the calendar year, it will be kept in the office and the parent/guardian/student will not need to fill out a second form for the year, unless the information has changed.
- All forms will be shredded at the end of each calendar year.
- A new form must be completed at the beginning of each calendar year to ensure our records are up to date.
- Photos, video recordings, and audio recordings of a minor student will only be used for promotional & marketing purposes if the parent/guardian has signed the release form.
- In signing the Emergency and Medical Forms, the parent/guardian consents to their student’s participation in the LIT program and agree to hold harmless Lakewood Playhouse and the Education Program Staff/Educators in any event.
- In the event of an accident or illness, every reasonable effort will be made to contact parent/guardian and/or emergency contact immediately. However, if they are unavailable, the signed form authorizes the Lakewood Playhouse Theatre and the Education Program Staff/Educators with LIT to secure emergency medical care for the student as needed.
Classes/Rehearsals:
- All camps/classes/workshops/rehearsals are considered a Closed Classroom. Students often grow and learn more freely if parents do not attend class.
- Parents/Guardians may observe for the first hour of the first day if they desire, but will be asked to not attend any further classes.
- If the class/camp/rehearsal is taking place at Lakewood Playhouse, the parent may observe class either via the video feed into the lobby if available, or from a discreet distance in either house vom. If the parent/guardian is observing from the vom, the instructor and stage manager/production manager must be notified.
- If the class/camp/rehearsal is taking place at a secondary location that has a window/ door, the parent/guardian may observe class through that window/door.
- There are some circumstances that may necessitate parental involvement. These will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Attendance:
- All pre-planned absences or late arrivals must be communicated with the instructor/director/stage manager ahead of time.
- If a student is running late the day of class the class stage manager must be contacted as soon as possible. If the class stage manager is under the age of 18 and does not have permission from their guardian to give out their phone number, the contact point will be the instructor.
- If the student has not arrived after the first five minutes of class, phone calls will be made to the contact numbers on file until someone has been reached or all of the numbers have been contacted.
- If a student has 3 unexcused absences, or arrives late 3 or more consecutive class days, the student may be dropped from the class. No refunds will be made available if a student is dropped due to these absences or tardiness.
- Students must be dropped off/be in the LIT space no more than 10 minutes prior to the start of class, and picked up/leave no later than 5 minutes after class has concluded. At ten minutes after the end of class LIT staff will begin calling home and work numbers. If there is no live response, the LIT staff will call emergency numbers.
- The Lakewood Institute of Theatre currently charges $1.00 per minute past 15 minutes for childcare if late pick up happens more than 3 times.
- If it is anticipated that the parent/guardian will be late in pickup up their student, they must call the stage manager/production manager as soon as possible.
Food and Drink:
- For all classes/rehearsals that meet more than one hour, students should pack a water bottle and healthy snack.
- Students partaking all day camps will need to pack a sack lunch and multiple snacks.
- On the day that the camp/class/rehearsal will continue over the dinner hour, students will need to bring both a sack lunch and sack dinner.
- Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to send all meals with the student at the beginning of the camp/class/rehearsal, as the time of meal breaks may be adjusted from the previously stated schedule due to the needs of the day. This will ensure that food is not delivered after the break is taken, or is a “hot meal” that is delivered too early.
- Limited refrigerator and freezer space is available. A microwave is not guaranteed. An oven/stovetop is unavailable.
- LPH and LIT faculty/staff are not permitted to give students food or drink.
- Students are not permitted to share food or drink with each other.
- LIT/LPH faculty/staff must be noted of any food/drink allergies by the parent/guardian before the first day of class. If there needs to be a food restriction for all class/cast members, a note will be sent to all parents/guardians prior to the first day of call/rehearsal.
Cancellations:
- In the event LIT has to cancel a class or program, tuition will be refunded in full.
- If a student cancels or withdraws from class at least 14 days prior to the class start date LIT will refund the tuition minus the registration fee ($50 or $25, depending).
- If a student cancels or withdraws from class 14 days prior to the class start date LIT will refund half of the tuition.
- If a student cancels or withdraws after the first day of class, no refunds will be given.
- Foul Weather/Pandemic Policy:
- If the Clover Park School District closes school to wind, snow, floods, etc., then youth theatre classes will also be cancelled for that day(s).
- LIT will make every attempt to make up the missed class time, either by extending existing class time, or adding additional class sessions (as facility and instructor schedules allow.)
- If the camp is suspended for more than 2 weeks, the class and performance will be canceled and all students will receive either a pro-rated discount on their next class’s tuition or a pro-rated refund, depending on the amount of class time remaining.
- If the performance is suspended and is able to be rescheduled to take place within 2 weeks, all effort will be made to do so. The date, time, and location will be decided based on the availability of the majority of the faculty, cast (students), and crew, and availability of the performance space.
- If only the performance is not able to be rescheduled within 2 weeks of the original date, the performance will be canceled and no refunds will be given.
Backstage:
- Only the following people are allowed backstage during a rehearsal or performance:
- Cast/class members
- Instructors/Directors
- Costumer/Dresser
- LIT Stage Management Team
- Stage Manager
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Stagehand
- No other LIT or LPH staff member is allowed backstage during class/rehearsal/performance unless given permission by the Stage Manager and Instructor/Director, agreed upon by the Education Director and LIT Production Manager, and is accompanied by another adult LIT staff member.
- No parents/guardians are allowed backstage before or after a rehearsal/performance unless given permission by the Stage Manager and Instructor/Director, agreed upon by the Education Director and LIT Production Manager, and is accompanied by another adult LIT staff member.
- No parents/guardians are allowed backstage during a rehearsal/performance.
- No family members, friends, or audience members are allowed backstage at all times.
- During rehearsals and performances that involve costume pieces that are changed into at the theatre, all cast/class members must wear a “shell” to and from the theatre. A shell can consist of:
- Biker shorts/spandex shorts and tank top
- Dance leotard
- Stretch pants/shorts and close-fitting shirt that can be worn under the costume
- At no time will a student remove their clothing to their underwear unless by themselves and behind a locked door (i.e. ADA bathroom).
- No one is to enter a dressing room or designated changing area without announcing themselves and asking permission of the cast/class members assigned to that space and are present at that time.
- No taking of pictures, recording or streaming of video within changing areas and backstage spaces occupied by those who do not wish to be included in social media. Permission must be requested each time.
Interaction Between All Staff and Students (both minor and adult):
- There shall be no sharing of any media sites (i.e. “friending” each other on Facebook, joining personal YouTube channels, following on Instagram, etc.), nor personal communication using any multi-media, social networking websites, or phones (both calling and texting) between adults and minors.
- All communication with anyone under the age of 18 must go through the parent or guardian.
- If anyone wishes to have any practice outside of scheduled rehearsals, the adult must ask permission of the parent or guardian, and there must be a 3rd party present at all times.
- At no time will anyone ever be alone with an individual student or staff member, and will always have at least one other person (student or adult) present at all times.
Clothing (for both LIT Faculty/Staff and Students):
- Shoes:
- Both LIT Faculty/Staff and Students are expected to wear close-toed shoes all ALL TIMES.
- No flip-flops, sandals, slippers, or Crocs.
- Shoes must have a hard sole – i.e. tennis shoes, dress shoes, character shoes.
- If dance shoes that do not have a hard sole (i.e. ballet or jazz shoes) are to be worn, this will be announced/requested ahead of that class/camp/workshop/rehearsal. Otherwise, they are not to be worn.
- No one is ever to go bare foot unless approved by the Education Director, LIT Production Manager, LPH Production Manager and LPH Technical Director.
- When changing shoes, the second set of shoes must be put on before standing up.
- Both LIT Faculty/Staff and Students are expected to wear close-toed shoes all ALL TIMES.
- Clothes:
- Clothes must be appropriate and safe for the movement requirements of the class/camp/workshop/rehearsal.
- The student must comfortably be able to have full range of motion (i.e. stretching to full length, bending over, etc.).
- If the student is required extreme physical movement, all extra items that are unsafe (i.e. large necklaces, hats, accessories, etc.) will be asked to be removed.
- If a skirt is worn, there must be shorts on underneath
- Clothing appropriate for rehearsal must be worn at all time.
- The length of shorts, skirts and dresses should extend below the fingertips when arms are extended. We will offer rehearsal skirts or other costume pants to assist in meeting dress codes if required.
- No revealing garments will be worn. Exhibiting midriffs, straps, chests and personal parts of the body is not allowed, nor is any garment that reveals underwear (tops must cover chest and torso, bottoms must cover underwear and be worn above the hips).
- Jewelry that causes a safety issue may be asked to be removed (dangling earrings, necklaces, bracelets may get caught in a costume, wig, or prop.)
- Clothes must be appropriate and safe for the movement requirements of the class/camp/workshop/rehearsal.
- Hair:
- All hair must be worn away from the face.
- Students must have the ability to see at all times (no hair overing eyes).
- There will be no sharing of combs, brushes, hair bands, or hair accessories.
- All hair that requires styling for a performance will be discussed and approved by the parent/guardian.
- Costumes:
- There is to be no drinking or eating in costume other than water.
- Most costume items will be supplied by LIT/LPH, however, students and parents may be asked to bring a personal item from home to be worn during the dress rehearsals and performances.
- These clothing items are assumed to be already owned by the student/guardian, and are not expected to be an extra purchase by the student/guardian.
- If the student does not have the requested clothing item, arrangements will be made by the LIT Production Staff to find these clothing items. These items will then be the property of LIT/LPH after the performances.
- As some of LIT/LHP costumes may be vintage clothing or borrowed from a Costume House/Shop; it is imperative that all items are kept in good repair and cleanliness.
- All cast members are expected to hang up his/her/their costumes after every performance.
- Students may not be released until a dressing room check has been conducted by a camp/production staff member, and the room is clean.
- If a costume piece is found not be properly stored, a student may be required to perform a task to have their costume piece returned before the next time it is needed.
- No one is allowed to take costumes home as they are the property of or being rented by the Lakewood Playhouse.
- Occasionally personal items will be used as costume pieces, these items may be taken home during the week for cleaning but they then become the responsibility of the actor to bring them back by the next performance.
- Consideration is taken that accidents do happen from time to time. However, if a costume is damaged or destroyed due to misuse or neglect on the part of the student, they and their parent or guardian may be held responsible for the replacement/fees incurred as a result.
- Consumption of alcohol while working or use of illegal substances on the premises will result in immediate dismissal.
- Lakewood Playhouse and Lakewood Institute of Theatre has a zero-tolerance policy toward verbal, mental, physical, and sexual harassment. If inappropriate behavior is reported, an investigation will take place. If the report is corroborated, it will result in immediate dismissal.
- All participants over the age of 18 (all staff, faculty, and adult students) will be subject to a Washington State background check.
- There will be no direct reference to drugs, sex, gratuitous violence, alcohol or inappropriate language in the rehearsal or performance setting.
- No discussion of inflammatory subjects during class, camp, workshops, rehearsals, or performances. These subjects include politics, religion, and reviews.
- If there is a review of a performance, there will be a manila folder on the backstage board for copies of reviews. Staff and cast/class members may add to them or read them privately per their desire. No discussion about reviews will take place unless all within hearing agree.
- Parents/guardians will be contacted before having a discussion, share content, or use language that is outside of the G rating, and permission will be requested. If permission is not given in written form (email response or signed permission slip), the discussion, content, or language will not take place.
Student Conduct and Discipline:
- A LIT student is expected to:
- Arrive on time.
- Bring a positive energy to class and be willing to explore new ideas.
- Be supportive of their fellow classmates and treat everyone with kindness.
- No name calling.
- Respect other students’ personal space.
- No one should share a seat.
- No touching without asking permission first (even during blocking).
- Respect other students’ property.
- Respect everyone’s personal pronouns.
- Talk only when it is their turn.
- Listen when another student or staff member is speaking.
- Respect theatre space property and that of the students and staff.
- Wear appropriate shoes and clothing appropriate for class/camp/workshop/production.
- Notify the camp/class/workshop/production Stage Manager and Instructor/Director if they will be missing camp/class/rehearsal for any reason.
- Not chew gum in the theatre or at the Barn.
- Stay in the designated area during class time and not enter other areas of the theatre/ rehearsal space unless accompanied by an adult.
- Wait inside the lobby or classroom space after class has concluded, not outside in the parking lot, until their parent/guardian has arrived to pick them up and sign them out.
- Take personal property home after each class. Items left behind will be kept no longer than two weeks and then donated to charity.
- If a student disregards the expectations above, the following steps will be taken:
- At the first infraction, a verbal warning will be given.
- At the second infraction, a discussion will take place between the student, Instructor/Director, and one other adult LIT staff member about behavior choices, and time out will be given. Parents will be notified at pickup.
- At the third infraction, a meeting will be scheduled between student, parent, and instructor/director to discuss the circumstances and options moving forward.
- At the fourth infraction, students may be dismissed from class/camp/workshop/production with no refund.
- Physical violence/property damage:
- Any form of physical violence against another student, Stage manager, designer, instructor/director, or LIT personnel, or damage to the theatre property, will result in a notification to parents of students involved.
- Physical violence and or damage to property will result in the student being immediately removed from the production/class/camp/workshop.
- All students will sign a participant contract that has been reviewed by both the student and the guardian of record (guardian N/A for those over the age of 18), stating that they have read the Student Code of Conduct and agree to adhere to it.
Conflict Resolution/Reporting an Issue or Concern:
- In the event of a personal or professional conflict or reporting an issue or concern:
- All issues must be reported to both the class/camp/workshop/production’s Stage Manager and Instructor/Director.
- Any issues that are presented to either the Stage Manager or the Instructor/Director must then be reported to the Education Director, LIT Production Manager, LPH Managing Artistic Director, and the LPH Production Manager.
- If a problem continues and the person reporting does not feel the issue is resolved, they should repeat their concern follow this list starting with the first person and moving on as needed:
- The camp/class/workshop/production Stage Manager. If the Stage Manger is a minor, start with ii.
- then the camp/class/workshop/production Instructor/Director,
- then LIT Production Manager,
- then LIT Director of Education,
- then LPH Production Manager,
- then Associate Artistic Director,
- then the Managing Artistic Director.
- Any situation that requires a third party outside of Lakewood Playhouse Management may bring the problem before the Lakewood Playhouse Board of Directors for resolution.
Contacting:
- All Lakewood Playhouse staff contact emails will be listed on the website at www.lakewoodplayhouse.org under “Contact Us.”
- The Lakewood Playhouse Board may be contacted at boardpresident@lakewoodplayhouse.org
- All students/guardians will receive a contact sheet at the beginning of class/camp/workshop/rehearsals with a full list of the staff/production team’s contact information.