<p>This question applies to my son who is starting HS, not college. I apologize if that's inappropriate, please let me know and I'll stop posting.</p>
<p>My son is applying to our local school of the arts as a tech theater/production major. He's been through 3 rounds of interview/portfolio review/working audition, and has one more interview to go. He's in love with the program and is so excited that he might have this opportunity. </p>
<p>Tonight, however, we went to a Q and A session for the program. At the program they talked about their upcoming renovation, and how the school will likely be in Swing space. Initially they had said they'd be in swing space for his Freshman/Sophomore year, but now it looks like it will probably happen either Sophomore/Jr. or Jr./Sr.. They also told us that most of the swing spaces don't have theaters, and that they'll rent from a professional theater for their shows, but that if the theater is a "union shop" there's a possibility that the kids won't actually be able to work on the school productions.</p>
<p>The director tried to downplay this, but I was pretty alarmed at the possibility that I could send my child to a school, for the express purpose of having him participate in theater and he might not be able to do so for his entire Jr. and Sr. year. </p>
<p>It seems like he'd be better off working on productions at his home school, and/or interning at community theaters, than attending an arts school and not working on productions at all. Or is this less of a big deal than I think?</p>
<p>This is probably not as big of a deal as it may seem. Though it might depend on where you live. A theatre that employs union techs do have contracts they have to abide by and most likely a non-union tech (students) would not be able to work. But what is the likelihood that your school would perform in a theatre that is covered by a union? Most of these stages have a business to run and profits to earn and I can’t see too many allowing a high school production taking up their space and time. You may want to call a couple of your local theatres, if practical, and ask what their policies are for this type of situation.</p>
<p>The school made it sound as though it’s 50/50, that many of the options that they’re considering would have students performing in union spaces.</p>
<p>I assume that the students will still be doing all the design work - not just running the shows. Depending on your son’s area of specialty, that might not be a huge deal. He can still design the lights/sound/set, etc and just let someone else run it for the show. Will students still be allowed to stage manage/AD the shows? Something to follow up with the school about, IMO.</p>
<p>Also, at our arts magnet, the tech kids also work on the dance dept shows, band and choir concerts, etc. They get plenty of experience outside of the theater dept.</p>
<p>Those are some good follow up questions to ask. I had been thinking of “theater” in terms of “performance space”, but it’s possible that they’ll only be using space at professional theaters for big productions, and he’ll have opportunities to work at other venues. </p>
<p>In our schools, tech kids can earn a certification that allows them to tech at all of the high school theaters. This includes, outside shows that use the high school theaters. There is an overwhelming use of these theaters by outside groups all year long. If your school district offers the same there would be additional opportunities.</p>
<p>The school has a beautiful historic theater that hosts many outside performers. Between those and school performances, the tech kids are very busy and so the school hasn’t historically looked to develop outside opportunities such as you mention. They did acknowledge that they may be looking for more of these opportunities if they’re in swing space. Hopefully that will help.</p>
<p>Many collective bargaining agreements in the world of theatre have special provisions addressing the use of student interns and performers who have less than full membership status. Exactly how this is handled varies from craft to craft and Union to Union (example, AEA has specific contract provisions that appear in many of their contracts as standard language). I don’t know what the IATSE contracts in general provide for but I do know that in the recently negotiated CBA between IATSE and a theatre in Philadelphia, the issue of student interns was speciffically provide for. Also, many schools and theatres provide internship opportunities at local professional theares as part of the educational process. It’s worth making some calls about to the school, the theatre and to the Local IATSE office to get more information.</p>