District of Columbia Arts Center -Theater Information-

• Download an Acrobat PDF version of the Theater Manual
  
• Download an Acrobat PDF document of a Performance Proposal

Table of Contents

• A Note from the Executive Director, B. Stanley
• Theater Information
• Rental Rates & Procedures
• Using the Theater
• Past DCAC Shows

Using the Theater
The policies outlined in this manual are not suggestions and constitute a part of your contract. It is imperative that your organization pay close attention to this information. Serious problems will result in your loss of your deposit and of the theater space, both immediately and in the future.

The contract to use the theater does not include the gallery space. Should the gallery space be desired for part of the performance, pre- or post- show discussions or receptions, special arrangements must be made before you make a contract with us.

You will be required to make a deposit against loss or damage to equipment and property of DCAC and to insure your compliance with your contract. After your run is completed, you have completely loaded out and returned your key (if applicable) a DCAC staff member will do a walk through of the space. After seeing that everything is order your deposit will be returned in full. In the event that you cancel your show after it has been scheduled and a contract has been signed your deposit will not be returned. It is understood that this deposit is security only, and not to be applied to any other debts you may incur to DCAC.

While part the gallery is used for the box office and concessions, the only other activity that takes place there is the audience waiting for you to open the house. We don’t have chairs in the gallery, so keep in mind that the longer you delay the house opening, the longer your audience will stand. While we do have a place for you to leave postcards about your event in the gallery, there is no place for you to display headshots of your actors or extensive material regarding your performance. If you need space for such things, special arrangements must be made in advance.

Prior to load-in, a walk-through of the space is required. Ideally the light and sound board operator, the stage manager, and your designers should be present. The director of DCAC usually handles these walk throughs personally, so any questions or concerns about the space and your performance can be addressed at that time.

Any changes to the space require prior approval, including, but not limited to painting, chair arrangement, and changes in the placement of the lighting instruments and sound equipment. Please note that only performances
in the 7:30 time slot on weekends may design and plot the lighting instruments. All other shows must use the lights as they are hung and gelled. You may not redirect or re-gel an instrument for your show and plan to put it back after your performance. Redirecting or re-gelling lights will result in an immediate loss of use of the space, loss of deposit, and forfeit of eligibility to use the space in the future.

Set pieces need to be pre-built and brought to DCAC to be assembled. Pieces must also be pre-painted, do not plan to paint your set pieces backstage during your load in. When disassembling your set at the end of a performance run, you must remove all set pieces from DCAC premises. We are not responsible for disposing of your set. Nothing may be disposed of in our dumpster or left in the alley outside of DCAC. During load-out, you are required to remove all personal belongings from the premises unless special arrangements have been made in advance. Failure to remove set pieces, costumes, props or any element of your production will result in the loss of your deposit.

There is a minimal amount of room backstage for your set and props which will be shown to you during the walk through. All of your materials must fit within that space and is left at your own risk. It is understood that DCAC does not provide storage and assumes no responsibility for any items left unsecured in the space.

It is important that you select a member of your organization to serve as liaison between you and DCAC. Your stage manager, or any other manager or organizer, would be ideal to fill this role. This liaison will be responsible for maintaining open communication between your organization and DCAC concerning theater use, rehearsals, ticket reservations, etc. This liaison must have nightly contact with the DCAC box office personnel regarding opening the house, starting the show, and late seating. This line of communication will ensure that both groups are aware of what the other is doing, and will help guarantee that you are pleased with your time spent at DCAC.

Rehearsals
If you have scheduled rehearsals in the theater when DCAC is not open to the public you will need a key to the back door to gain entry. You may obtain the key for the back door key at the technical walk through. Your deposit is also insurance that we get the key back and will only be given back to you once the key has been returned. When rehearsing it is your responsibility to open and close the theater properly.

• The switches that control the light board and sound equipment need to be turned off.
• The backstage area should be left in a clean and tidy way.
• All props and costumes should be put away.
• The thermostat should be turned to the overnight position:
  Summer: turn off
  Winter: turn down to 45 degrees
• All the backstage and work lights should be turned off.
• Both the door to the atrium and the back door should also be locked.
• There will be a $25 fee charged for each day the lights, thermostat and/or
  sound equipment are left on overnight, and will not be deducted from your
  deposit.

Auditions and other functions
DCAC can be booked for auditions and other events that don’t involve audiences around other programming. If they can be held when we are normally open to the public and the space is available the rehearsal rate will apply. If they must be held during a performance time the regular performance rate will apply. For auditions it is important to understand that the gallery is not available for you or your auditionee’s use. The box office area can be used for registration and information, and actors may wait in a limited portion of the gallery, but they must be seated in chairs provided by DCAC staff and are not allowed to warm up, work through scenes, stretch out on the floor, eat, or in any way affect the atmosphere of the gallery. It is recommended that you schedule your auditions so that no more than a few actors are waiting in the gallery at one time.

House management
DCAC staff will be present during all public performances and whenever we are open to the public. Our staff will take care of opening and closing the theater and house management. They will sell tickets, handle arriving reservations, sell concessions, and keep the audience in the gallery until you confirm that the house is ready to open. We provide the refreshments available before the performance and during intermission They will also deal with late seating, however it is your decision whether or not to allow it. Make sure that our staff knows your policy on late seating to avoid unwanted disturbance in your performance. DCAC has no standard policy for late comers.

Reservations
Reservations can be handled by DCAC staff via phone (202-462-7833) and email (dcarts98@aol.com). We have a voice mailbox dedicated to reservations when the office is not open. Reservations left there are confirmed by call back from our staff on our next business day. (We are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.) DCAC does not offer prepaid tickets. Reservations are held at the box office until 15 minutes before show time only, after that time they will be made available to walk-up or waiting list customers.

You may offer tickets online, or sell them yourself; however you must take full control of reservations and provide our staff with a list each evening of your pre-paid reservations. We will sell the remainder to walk up patrons on a first come, first served basis. DCAC will not take reservations on your behalf; in this case, we will simply refer incoming calls to your website or phone number. Unfortunately, it is not possible for DCAC and you both to offer tickets or reservations. Complimentary tickets can be secured either by a list before the showstarts or through our reservation system. If your show is enjoying good attendance, we suggest that you reserve your comps early to avoid disappointing your patrons.

During the performance run
You are required to damp mop the performance (not the audience) area before each performance. If your show is particularly messy, then you must mop afterwards as well. This is to provide the best possible appearance for
the audience, not for your actor’s convenience. A mop and bucket are located backstage and will be pointed out to you during your walk through. Backstage maintenance of props, costumes, general cleanliness, etc is your responsibility. We suggest that you cover your equipment to protect it from damage or theft. Paper products (paper towels and toilet paper) are provided for general use by your group. However, you must provide products for specific use such as make up removal, cleaning blood or other prop liquids, cleaning the performance area of nightly spills or debris, and other needs that may arise connected with your show.

There is no smoking anywhere on DCAC premises. Actors must smoke in the alley behind the theater, the audience on the sidewalk in front of DCAC.

There is no food allowed in the theater. We have an ongoing battle with rat infestation, so we ask that the audience bring no food and that actors who need to eat before performances do so somewhere besides in the theater.

Keep in mind for a 7:30 pm show time:

• Earliest backstage call for performer is 6:00 pm, don’t plan to come early, hang out, eat etc.
• After the show all set pieces, props and costumes should be put away.
• The backstage area should be left in a clean and tidy way.
• Nothing may block backstage exits. All of your equipment should be stored out of the way.
• Be prepared for the possibility of another group ready to come in 9:30 for their 10:00 show on Fridays and Saturdays.

Keep in mind for 3:00 pm and 10:00 pm show times:

• Lights may not be moved or re-focused, and light gels may not be changed.
• Earliest backstage time is 2:00 pm for 3:00 shows, 9:30 pm for 10:00 pm shows.
• Do not come to the back door to enter for your performance, there may be another performance or rehearsal running late. Check at the box office first.
• We strongly urge you to get in contact with the theater company using the 7:30 time slot.