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Production Proposal Process

The following links may be useful in the process. They are also available outside the UT/TAPS offices on the third floor of the Reynolds Club:

Proposal notice form (Word)

Company Policy (PDF)

Mainstage proposal form (PDF)

Curtains and Cubes proposal form (PDF)

Workshop proposal form (Word)

Spotlight Proposal Form (Word)

Show Proposals

University Theater produces four to five productions a quarter.  Proposals may come from any member of the university community interested in fulfilling any role in/on a production.  People who are interested in proposing submit a proposal to the University Theater Committee.  The Committee along with the UT Director, UT pro staff and student staff, hold a special meeting in order to consider and approve proposals based on the mission of Opportunity, Education, and Artistic Excellence.  Each quarter's productions are proposed and scheduled the quarter before.

University Theater supports three formats of production: Mainstage, Curtains & Cubes, and Workshops.  The difference is the size of the budget and the level of technical support.  Mainstages receive full technical support including original sets, lights, costumes, and sound.  Curtains & Cubes allow for pulled set pieces, furniture, and costumes and original lights and sound designs.  Workshops are generally one acts that go up in rep with other one acts.  Workshops have very limited tech support: lights up and down, no sound, costumes from an actor's wardrobe, and cubes.  Below you will find information about

Mainstage and Curtain & Cube Proposals

Workshop Proposals

Spotlight Proposals

Show Proposal Process

Proposal Process for Mainstage and Curtains and Cubes Productions

  1. Before the proposal meet (Sat of 4th week) the proposer should:  
    1. Meet with the Director of University Theater and the Director of Design to discuss their proposals.
    2. Check with UT Managing Director about rights
    3. Submit a Proposal Notice Form. Proposers will then be paired with a Pre-Proposal Liaison from Committee who will aid in the preparation of the proposal.
    4. Turn in the proposal Friday of 3rd week at 5pm to the Committee Chair's mailbox.  Proposals should include the proposal sheet, the script, and any other materials the proposer wishes to include.
    5. Find time to meet with individual Committee members to discuss your proposal.  Committee members are required to read all proposals and make themselves available for individual meetings.
  2. Saturday of 4th Week is the Community Wide Proposal Meeting
    1. At 10:00am Committee holds this meeting. Each proposer has 1 minute to present their proposal and 5 minutes to answer the questions of the Committee and community members. (No UT activity may be scheduled during the Community Wide Proposal Meeting).
    2. After all proposers have spoken, the Committee proceeds into Executive Session in an undisclosed location.
  3. Proposal Executive Session 
    1. Directly after the Community wide meeting, Committee participates in a private straw vote, pro-con list, and discussion about each proposal individually.  In these, Committee considers whether a show:
      1. Is appropriate to the format into which it is being proposed.
      2. Is appropriate to the proposer in terms of its scope and the proposer's relevant experience.
      3. Identifies the proposer's focused goals for the project and communicates that the proposer has a clear and specific vision of the play.
      4. Fits in with University Theater's mission statement of Opportunity, Education and Artistic Excellence.
      5. Contains an appropriate staff, including director, stage manager and design team.
      6. The technical difficulty of the production as it relates to current UT equipment and personnel.
    2. Once shows are passed, they are then scheduled.  At times, shows can be passed but not scheduled due to limited resources.
  4. Calling: After the season has been scheduled, members of Committee will be assigned to contact every proposer regarding the status of their proposal. They must speak to this person by phone, not via email or in person.
  5. The staff of passed shows must attend an orientation meeting in the afternoon of Friday of 5th week with pro-staff.
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Proposal Process for Workshop Productions

  1. Because workshops have a smaller time and technical commitment, Committee encourages less-experienced directors to propose workshops and therefore the expectations for workshop proposals are much more relaxed.

    Committee makes a concerted effort to pass as many workshops as it reasonably can; therefore in a season with many Workshop proposals, a proposer's chance of having his or her proposal passed is significantly increased if the piece is short.

  2. Workshop Proposal Procedure:
    1. Proposers are invited to submit a Proposal Notice Form. Proposers will be paired with a Pre-Proposal Liaison from Committee who will help the proposer.
    2. Proposals are due Friday of 5th week by 5pm to the Committee Chair's mailbox.  Proposals should include the proposal sheet, and the script.
    3. Proposers should attend the 6th week Committee meeting.  Each proposer speaks for no more than one minute about their proposal, followed by a question and answer session of no more than four minutes.
    4. Committee decides on the proposals during executive session.  Committee participates in a straw-vote.  After the workshops pass they are scheduled.  Sometimes shows pass but cannot be scheduled.  Committee discusses which proposals best fulfill the University Theater Mission statement and which can be scheduled together to create an enjoyable evening of theater.
    5. After Workshops have been scheduled, members of Committee will be assigned to contact every proposer regarding the status of their proposal.
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    Proposal Process for Spotlight Productions

    1. Spotlights are a chance for other RSOs to use UT spaces for one night or event.  There are very few resrouces availble to spotlights and therefore spotlight proposers should not plan on a show with much techincal needs.

      Ideal Spotlight proposals demonstrate the willingness of the proposing group to work within the boundaries UT has set up for the safe and uncomplicated execution of an evening in UT's space.

    2. Spotlight Proposal Procedure

      1. A member of Committee will send out a call for Spotlights sometime around 7th week of the quarter, listing the evenings which are available for Spotlight proposals. UT cannot support Spotlights on any evenings other than those.
      2. Spotlight proposals are due to the Committee Chair by 5pm, Friday of 8th week.
      3. Committee will review the proposal in the 9th week committee meeting and contact the the proposer as soon as possible thereafter.
      4. If passed, the proposer will then be required to fill out a Spotlight Contract, which can be picked up from the office of the Managing Director of UT, and to place a $50.00 fee at least one week prior to the date of the performance.
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