Season Development

Purpose

To enumerate the baseline expectations for developing a balanced season of five shows that will both entertain and educate our patrons and staff. There is always a struggle between art and finances, between well-known and first time runs. The key is balance and keeping the long-term organizational goals fixed in mind as well as the policies contained herein.

Policies

When a new chair is required, the committee chair and one Board representative will be appointed to the Season Development Committee by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. The Board representative may also be the chair.

These individuals will then appoint the remaining members of the committee.

The committee should number five people at minimum. Committee membership will be made public.

A member of the committee must recuse themselves in any discussion and vote of a proposal involving the member's immediate family or oneself.

A member of the committee should not be recommended by the committee to direct any show for the season being developed. Any such recommendation must be accompanied by an explanation of the violation of the previous rule. This does not prevent a member of the committee from submitting to direct.

The committee will contact all interested directors and accept suggestions from patrons and friends to develop a list of candidate shows. The committee can also recommend shows to potential directors.

The Season Development Committee collectively will read all of the plays being evaluated.

In evaluating candidate shows, the committee should remember that the shows should be ones our patrons want to see and that this is more important than one's personal taste.

The following will be eliminated from the list of candidate shows:

--Any show that WP has done in the preceding ten years.

--Any show done locally in the last five years.

In presenting its report, the Committee will present one full slate.

Schedule

The Season Development Committee chair will attend Board meetings which discuss and adopt the season. The Board will inform the committee if additional candidates are to be presented. Final date for deciding the season shall be no later than the April meeting.

Miscellaneous

A Director new to the Players must serve successfully as an Assistant Director before they can direct a play. The Board can make an exception for a person with the appropriate credentials.

Once a season is selected and ready to present to the Board, the Committee Chair, in coordination with the Director of Productions, will ensure that show rights are available from the companies holding the distribution rights (i.e., Concord, MTI, Dramatists, etc.), and have the Treasurer make any required payments.

Scripts and scores will be ordered in the required quantity by the Director of Productions.

Season listing with playwright, dates of run (including matinees), and a short synopses will be sent to the season brochure editor posthaste.

The Treasurer will pay fees for royalties and scripts.

Revision Notes

• 03/16/98 -- Initial inclusion in P&P Manual
• 02/20/09 -- Extensive Revision
• 04/09/14 -- Web revision
• 02/23/25 -- Board revision