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An undergraduate stage manager on headset. Photo: Manuel Rotenberg
Photo: Manuel Rotenberg.


Practicum Information


Mark Guirguis

Faculty Supervisor
Office: Galbraith Hall, Room 102
Office Hours: By appointment only
E-mail: mguirguis@ucsd.edu
Phone: 858-822-6708

Michael Francis

Production Manager
Office: Galbraith Hall, Room 221
Office Hours: By appointment only
E-mail: mdfrancis@ucsd.edu
Phone: 858-822-2185

Enrollment

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    This class is open to all UCSD students, no experience needed. However, priority is given to Theatre and Dance majors and minors who are required to complete this course. Theatre and Dance majors and minors who are “recently declared” are given priority over those who have postponed the class beyond one-year.

    Class size is limited to the number of “run crew” assignments each quarter. Shows and seats in this class are assigned by lottery at the first class meeting. There is no pre-registration. To find out the day, time and location of the practicum lottery check the schedule of classes on TritonLink. All students must attend lab and lecture, as well as a night time and weekend run crew component that is determined on the first day of class.

TDPR 6 - Theatre/Dance Practicum

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    A production oriented course that introduces the student to technical fundamentals of costumes, scenery, lighting and sound for the theatre. Students will be assigned to participate on a crew for a fully mounted theatrical production supported by the department.

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    Scenic

    A production performance-oriented course that introduces fundamentals of scenery construction and its theatrical operation.  Laboratory format allows students to work through the scenery production process by building skills in construction culminating in a crew assignment for a fully mounted theatrical production.

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    Costumes

    A production performance-oriented course that introduces fundamentals of costume construction and its theatrical operation. Laboratory format allows students to work through the costume production process by building skills in construction - culminating in a crew assignment for a fully mounted theatrical production.

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    Lighting

    A production performance-oriented course that introduces fundamentals of stage lighting and its theatrical operation.  Laboratory format allows students to work through the lighting process by building skills in those areas and culminates in a crew assignment for a fully mounted theatrical production.

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    Sound

    A production performance-oriented course that introduces fundamentals of sound and its theatrical operation.  Laboratory format allows students to work through the sound process by building skills in those areas and culminates in a crew assignment for a fully mounted theatrical production.

Practicum Components

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    Lectures

    All practicum classes meet once a week for a 2-hour lecture section.

    • Scenery meets in Galbraith Hall room 102 or the Scene shop, Fridays 2:30-4:20 PM.
    • Costumes meets at the Weiss Costume Shop, Fridays 2:30-4:20 PM.
    • Lighting meets in the Light Lab, Galbraith Hall room 145, Fridays 2:30-4:20 PM.
    • Sound meets in Galbraith Hall - room 18A, Fridays 2:30-4:20 PM.

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    Labs

    Lighting practicum classes sometimes meet once a week for a 2-hour lab session.
    Check with your T.A. and Section Syllabus for required meetings.

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    Run Crew

    You will participate in all technical rehearsals and performances for one of the shows produced this quarter. The days and times are different for each show. Attendance is mandatory.

    Please note:  The number of units you sign up for depends on the length of the tech rehearsals/performances of the show you are working on. Students may sign up for 6 units who work on shows that run 3+ weeks. 

Supplies

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    Each area has its own tools and supply requirements. Obtain list from TA.

Evaluation Paper

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    A 2 FULL page typed paper on lecture, lab, & crew work. eMail one copy to Mark Guirguis and one copy to your T.A. by the end of week 10.

Final Project

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    Each course has a final project. See the syllabus addendum for details.

Grading

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    1. ATTENDANCE required 100%

      Lecture Attendance Policy: After 1 unexcused absence; any unexcused absence will drop the student’s grade by 1 grade point (i.e. B+ becomes a B, B becomes a C+, etc.)

      Tardy Policy: Class starts at 2:30 unless otherwise instructed. You will be given a 5 min grace period for attendance. If you are more then 5 minutes late you will be consider tardy.

      NOTE: two tardies will result in 1 unexcused absence.

    2. PASS THE SAFETY TEST with at least a 90% grade.

    3. Development and maintenance of a POSITIVE PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE

    4. ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW SKILLS

    5. MAINTENANCE OF SAFE AND HEALTHY WORK HABITS

    6. There is a MIDTERM and FINAL EVALUATION of your work by the TA and the stage managers. This class is taken for a letter grade.  There are no pass/non-pass grades. Point values and assignments are not the same for each class. See your TA for specific assignments and grade point information.

Important Terms

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    “CALL TIMES” FOR REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES:

    The times listed on the production/practicum calendar refer to the START AND FINISH times of rehearsals and performance slots.  The department is very faithful to start and finish on time – with few, but some, exceptions.

    Actual CALL TIMES are set by the stage managers and may change slightly from day to day.  The CALL TIMES for each crew area will probably be different.

    Light board, follow spot, and sound board operators are called for special training sessions a few days prior to the official start times for the rest of the crew. This may take place during class time or outside of class time.

    IF YOU CANNOT ARRANGE YOUR PERSONAL SCHEDULE TO MEET THE APPROXIMATE CALL TIMES, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CLASS THIS QUARTER.

    The whole run crew appears for the first time at a calendar notation called CREW WATCH.  

    ATTENDANCE for all crew calls is very strict.  No absences, no late arrivals or early departures allowed for any reason.  Crew members are dismissed by the Stage Manager after each rehearsal/performance.

    Before you are dismissed by the stage manager be sure you know what your next crew call is. 

Photo Call

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    Each show will have a one-hour photo call scheduled AFTER a performance - during the run of the show.

    Props, scenic pieces, lighting and costumes will all be needed for the photos.  The run crew stays to support these photos.  The Stage Manager day and time usually announces the actual during the technical rehearsals.


If you have questions or would like more information about our Undergraduate programs, call the Undergraduate Coordinator at 858-534-3619 or email tdadvising@ucsd.edu.