HOUSE MANAGER
Performance DutiesBEFORE THE SHOW OPENS
1. Be sure you are familiar with fire procedures as specified in the Handbook..
2. Place "House Opens at 7:30 " sign in lobby. Sign should also say "Please turn off all cell phones, beepers, and alarm watches."
3. Check all lights for burned out bulbs.
4. Close door over stage work lights switch to avoid turning them on.
5. Unlock front doors.
6. Check rest rooms for cleanliness, enough paper and soap, burned out bulbs.
7. Check lobby: for cleanliness, burned out bulbs.
8. Check house
- Remove any trash or extraneous objects; vacuum if necessary.
- All seats should be in upright position.
- Check house lights with light crew.
- Turn down telephone bell in box office Turn off telephone bells in Department Office and Ms. Gossman and Dr. Cummins' office.
9. Check Ushers' and Parking Lot Attendants attendance (should be present by half hour before house opens); train them as necessary.
10. Check availability of programs (in Department Office)
11. Check box for previous performance's ticket stubs. If any remain, put them in the Department Office.
12. Adjust air conditioning. (Set it to Cool and fan set to ON. Always a good idea to "pre-cool" the theatre then set the temp at approx 68 degrees for the opening of the house. Be sensitive to the comfort of the audience and make adjustment as necessary at intermission. Be sure to reset the thermostat after the show to appropriate settings for the season so the theatre will be t5he proper temp the next morning for classes.)
13. Close doors between lobby and house.
14. Set up CLP table in doorway of Dr. Cummins' office.
15. Check with Stage Manager at 7:30 ( and 2:30 for matinees) to see whether house may be opened; if so, open doors and curtains. Watch to see that no food or drink is taken into theatre. Warn persons with cameras that photographs are not permitted.
BEGINNING OF SHOW
Holding Curtain: If a situation arises where it may be necessary to hold to curtain for a performance, contact the Stage Manager immediately and determine an appropriate length time to hold the curtain. Circumstances that might necessitate holding a curtain are: inclement weather; a large group arriving late; traffic problems delay audience arrival; problems in the Box Office. Hold the curtain only in emergencies.
1. The Stage Manager must get clearance from you before starting the show. Unless there is a hold. At five minutes to curtain, give the go&endash;ahead.
2. When house goes to half, close curtains, leave doors open. Customers may still be seated.
3. When house goes out, close doors. Customers must wait in lobby until they may be seated. Each director will determine appropriate times for late seating.
It is often possible to admit latecomers through one of the emergency exit doors. Make a visual check of availability of seats before starting the show.
4. Turn lobby track lights down. (never completely off). The level of lights during the show must always be low
5. Turn in ticket stubs to box office.
6. Store ticket box according to Mickie's instructions
7. Remain in the lobby area throughout the act.
INTERMISSION
1. As house lights go up, open curtains, then prop open doors.
2. Turn up lobby lights immediately
3. Stand by doorway to insure that no food, drink, or cameras are carried into house
4. Stage Manager must get clearance from you before starting next act.
5. Repeat #2, 3,4, and 5 from Part II.
AFTER SHOW
1. As house lights go up, open curtains, then prop open doors.
2. Turn up lobby lights immediately.
3. When audience is out, check house for lost and found. Put any items in the Department Office.
4. Adjust air conditioning. (see: Air Conditioning Information sheet)
5. Lock front doors.
6. Turn on telephone bell in box office, Department Office and Ms. Gossman and Dr. Cummins' office.
7. Report to the Director any problems that need correction before the next night.
8. Remove CLP table from Dr, Cummins' office.
9. Complete the House Manager Report (Appendix 2) and place in Dr. Cummins' mailbox.
9. Lock all offices before you leave.
FIRE PROCEDURE House Manager
To be prepared for an emergency:
1. Have meeting with the Stage Manager and all running Crew heads BEFORE OPENING NIGHT to go over these procedures.
2. Be sure that everyone knows the locations of all hoses, fire extinguishers and alarms.
In the event of fire:
1. If the fire is in the lobby or non-stage area, contact the Stage Manager on headset immediately.
2. Call 2111 and report the fire simultaneous to the announcement by the Stage Manager.
- Then trip the fire alarm in the lobby as soon as the announcement to the audience is completed (but NOT before, as the bell might cause panic).
- DO NOT delay getting the audience out. The audience comes FIRST.
3. Control lobby exits, keeping the crowds moving in an orderly fashion. One ASM will station be positioned on the stage left porch to assist audience members. The other ASM will do the same on the stage right porch.
4. All cast and crew on stage should use the wing doors (unless this actually endangers them). No one not in the cast or crew should be allowed in the Green Room or beyond.
5. After the audience is out, and while waiting for the fire trucks, kill every electrical circuit in the building not absolutely needed for work lights. Kill air conditioning, .
6. Be prepared to show the firemen where the fire is. Have keys available to all rooms.Wait outside the building. There is nothing in this building sufficiently valuable to warrant risking a life .
7.Keep calm at all times. Panic kills more people than fire