Eligibility to direct is based upon:

• Completion of Directing I and II, with a grade of B or above;
• Recommendation of the Directing II instructor;
• An overall GPA of 2.7 or better and 2.7 for the preceding semester;
• Space/time commitments;
• Review of Footlight Application by the Performance faculty.

• Time: A rule of thumb is that every minute of performance requires an hour of rehearsal, not including directorial preparation/homework! Your own available time to give to your production should be a crucial decision.
• Your semester's schedule; You will need a certain amount of "stress-free" conditions in order to create and to give the appropriate kind of attention to the play, the actors and the rehearsals. If you have a demanding school or work schedule, you should consider applying at another time.
• Your ability to be a leader/problem solver: As a Director, responsible for the success of the final product, you must be able to see and acknowledge on a daily basis, what needs to be accomplished at the next rehearsal and to create a systematic procedure to get the job done, with your peers. This is not an easy task.
• Your appraisal of your own directorial needs at the time: Mastering the craft of directing is a long and arduous journey. There is much to learn. In the Footlights Program, you are given the opportunity to take the process step by step. Do remember the old theatre axiom that "less is more," and consider what you need to learn from the Footlights experience. Give yourself the opportunity to focus on and learn what needs to be learned.

• The deadline for submitting application to the Performance Faculty is approximately six weeks before the end of the previous semester.
• The Arena Coordinator will announce the exact deadline each semester and will provide application forms.
• The Performance Area will evaluate the applications and notify the candidates of its action and will assign a faculty advisor.
• The Arena Coordinator will determine production dates.
• Students judged as eligible will receive tentative approval, pending publication of grades for the current semester and review of prepared materials by the Performance Faculty.

• A meeting with the Arena Coordinator will be called. Specific performance dates will be established and procedures will be discussed. Each director will receive a Footlight Directors Analysis Guideline to be completed before analysis presentation meeting.
• Once the Advisor has been determined, the student will add a one-hour credit THEA 4900 independent study for Footlights I, 2 credits for Footlights II. Student director must be registered for correct credits before being cleared to cast.
• A 20 minute analysis presentation will be arranged for prospective directors to present their analysis/research/concept to the entire performance faculty. If the performance faculty is satisfied with the quality of work the director will be cleared to start their casting process. Insufficient preparation shall result in the cancellation of the production.
• Each director must attend the Friday morning meetings 9-10:30am in the conference room.
• The Arena Coordinator will schedule a general audition during the first week of classes, after which individual directors will hold their own callbacks. Arena coordinator should be available to oversee casting sessions and help alleviate disputes. Footlight directors must have their cast lists approved by their faculty advisor before they can post. If the casting session ends after 10pm and the student director cannot reach their advisor. If they don't hear back from their advisor with any concerns or problems before noon-then the student director can go ahead and post.
• Once the play has been finalized with the faculty advisor each director needs to get a copy of their script to the Arena Coordinator.

• Weekly meetings;
• An agreement on play selection. The Advisor shall have the right to veto a director's play selection if the Advisor feels that the material is an inappropriate choice due to any of the following: length, content, casting, or production demands;
• An agreement on type of staging, i.e., thrust, round, etc.
• An agreement on the scaled floor plan, including the scaled seating for audience;
• An agreement on the preparation of the prompt book;
• An arrangement for Advisor to attend an agreed upon number of rehearsals;
• An agreement on the Director's audition, casting, and rehearsal processes;
• An agreement on casting, prior to posting (see above);
• Before the beginning of rehearsals, the Director will submit and discuss with the Advisor his/her detailed and complete prompt book, including analysis and preblocking.
• The Arena Coordinator will provide a form - a checklist - to guide this work.

Because directors work independently, advisors are established to guide the student director, to support with feedback and advice, and in general to help ensure that the student director will have a rehearsal period that will lead to a successful production. In addition to the responsibility to the director, the advisor has a responsibility to the actors, as well as to the audience. Therefore, at any time during the rehearsal period, should an Advisor feel that the production is not proceeding appropriately, so as to be a valuable learning experience for all students involved, the production may be cancelled.

• Directors may not borrow technical elements from other local theatres.
• Directors are limited to using only the Arena stock and the Green Room furniture or personal elements provided by individuals.
• Properties, costumes, makeup and sound will be provided by the Directors from their own resources.
• Lighting is minimal as there is only a limited number of lighting instruments.
• All scenic units, including props, must be struck to the walls following each rehearsal and performance and cleanliness in both the Arena and Green Room must be maintained.
• Directors need to be aware that the Shop may be able to minimize the noise during performances, but not during rehearsals.
• If you choose to collaborate with other students in capacities as "designers/consultants/coordinators," the designing student must have written consent of the appropriate Design and Technical Production Faculty. This written permission is due at our initial orientation meeting and the designer must be at the Orientation meeting.

• a copy of the established floor/seating plan;
• a written description of the lighting, including quality and special needs effects;
• the suggested name of a Light/Sound Board Operator. The final decision for this person will be jointly made by the Assistant, Director, Arena Coordinator;
• Date to meet with Assistant for light board/sound training;
• Date for hanging lights;
• Prior to rehearsals, the Director will post the rehearsal schedule on the Directing Call Board in the Green Room. The Assistants will coordinate their working schedule with it.
• Date for the platform/chair set up (approximately two days before performance). The platforms and chairs will be set up by the Directors and the Cast under the supervision of the Arena Assistant.

• There will be no press releases.
• A minimum of 7 business days is needed for the program to be proofed and printed.
• The Faculty Advisor must approve and proof the program.
• The Director will provide the House Manager.

• Directors will secure director and actor evaluation forms from the Arena Coordinator. Actors will fill out the forms and return them to the Director's Faculty Advisor or Arena Coordinator. Evaluations will be returned to the director with their promptbook and grade.
• The Director will submit the entire production prompt book to the Faculty Advisor by Noon on the Friday following the closing performance. The advisor will share it with the rest of the Performance Faculty. Late work will effect the directors final grade.
• There will also be the Director's written assessment of the rehearsal process, performances, and overall experience. One copy of this paper should be placed in each performance faculty's mailbox on the same Friday as the prompt book.
• The Performance Faculty will set a meeting with the Director for a post mortem as soon as possible after the prompt book and the paper are turned in.
• Each Performance Faculty member in attendance at a performance may recommend a grade for the project, but final determination of the student director's grade is the responsibility of the Faculty Advisor
• It is the responsibility of the Director to arrange for video taping of the production

• Successful completion of Footlights I
• An overall GPA of 2.7 or better including a 2.7 the previous semester.
• Faculty/staff support of the individual project
• Space/time commitments

• If Directors are unable to locate "essential" hand and decor props from their own resources and if the items are available in UT storage, the director will process this request through the Arena Coordinator, who in turn, checks with the Director of Design/Technical Production.
• A budget of $50 is available for Footlights II productions. The director is to coordinate purchases through the Departmental Administrative Assistant.