• Mission
• Meetings
• Executive Board
• Special Committees

• Dram-prom
• Conferences
• Field Trips
• Dues
• Faculty Advisor

Mission

Why should I join?

We, a member of the Playmaker’s Association, in order to provide a place for excellence in the performing arts, swear to be true to our members, provide a place for learning as an individual, as well as a collective team, creatively in the area of theatre arts.

Our purpose is to provide a learning atmosphere that encourages our members to express their creativity in an open and welcoming environment.

Meetings

Who attends the meetings?

Meetings are open to any person interested in the organization and theatre. We do not discriminate against any person willing to participate. Students who are theatre majors or minors are required to attend weekly meetings.

Meetings will run in an orderly fashion. Discussing old business first, then discussing new business and closing with comments by executive board members and faculty.

Any Playmaker has the right to suggest new business or comments for the Executive Board of Playmaker’s and should take this time to communicate comments.

Only business approved in a meeting by the majority of the Executive Board of Playmaker’s may be announced at these meetings by a board member.

How do meetings work?

Order for Meetings
1. President calls meetings to order after quorum (three-fifths of board present) has been reached.
2. Secretary will review minutes of the last meeting and proceed with the topics of old business.
3. Continue on with new business by any board member.
4. Close meetings with questions and comments from faculty and executive board members.
5. President motions for meeting to adjourn and motion shall have a second.

Executive Board

What officers are elected and what are the responsibilities?

President – Resides the power to break all ties, run meetings, and be a representative for the Playmaker’s Association.

Vice-president – Resumes the responsibilities of the president in their absence.

Secretary – Keeps track of all records of meetings and events. They will be responsible for minutes of executive board meetings.

Treasurer – Is responsible for managing all financial profit and expenses.

The Executive Board of Playmaker’s shall hold a meeting once a week to discuss business.

Who may apply for executive board positions?

Two members from each class should be voted upon to serve on the Executive Board of Playmaker’s as a representative for each class. Representatives need no special training, just a willingness to work towards a common goal.

When are elections?

Elections will be held at the end of the spring semester for sophomore, junior, and senior class representatives, and at the beginning of the fall semester for the freshman class. Other members may be added to the board as needed. Officers will hold office for two semesters, but may be re-elected. If members are not fulfilling of their requirements, members may be removed with a majority vote of the executive board.

Special Committees

What do special committees do?

Committees will consist of standing committees, special committees, and ad-hoc committees, who include social, fundraising, and Dram-prom.

Committees’ Purposes:
1. Social – Responsible for organizing any social even that uses funds from the department.

2. Fundraising – Responsible for organizing fundraisers

3. Dram-prom – Responsible for organizing and running Dram-prom

Committees may be created and terminated at the Executive Board’s discretion.

Any member of Playmaker’s is allowed to participate in a committee.

Dram-prom

What is it?

Dram-prom is an annual event sponsored by the Playmaker’s Association. This event usually takes place the first week of May, and consists of dinner and an awards banquet. Dram-prom is open to any whom purchase a ticket, however, theatre faculty and Playmakers are specifically invited.

What occurs during the awards banquet? 

During one of the weekly meetings prior to Dram-prom, Playmaker’s nominate candidates for theatre related categories. Then each Playmaker votes to award students for their outstanding achievements within our theatre department that year. Awards are given out during the awards banquet for each category.

Categories are as follows:
1. Best Actor
2. Best Actress
3. Best Supporting Actress
4. Best Supporting Actor
5. Best Show
6. Best Stage Manager
7. Best Director 
8. Best Lighting Designer
9. Best Sound Designer
10. Best Costume Designer
11. Best Scenery
12. Best Blooper
13. Best Props Master
14. Best Newcomer (male and female)
15. Cape (best all around theatre student)

Conferences

What are conferences?

As a theatre student, all are encouraged to attend various conferences. These conferences include various workshops and guest speakers to build skills in the area of theatre arts. The conferences are located in different areas of the eastern United States and allow students the opportunity to see their future competition and make job contacts.

What is KTA?

KTA is Kentucky Theatre Association, a screening process for actors and actresses who hope to audition at SETC. The audition process consists of a 60 second monologue for actors and actresses only or a 90 second combination of monologue and song for those interested in musical theatre. 

What is SETC?

SETC is the Southeastern Theatre Conference, which consists of workshops, auditions, and job contact services, ranging from a hundred plus theatre companies. All those passed through the KTA screening process, may audition solely as an actor or actress. However, another option is participating in the actor/tech walk-through, which gives each candidate 10 seconds to market themselves to summer theatre companies. SETC is five days of auditions, interviews, and workshops to challenge the serious theatre student.

What is ACTF?

ACTF is the American College Theatre Festival. Five states participate, including Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. The University of Southern Indiana will host the 35th annual theatre festival that brings in six of the best productions from participating colleges and universities. USI students are expected to participate in workshops as well as working behind the scenes to produce the festival. The Irene Ryan competition also is held during ACTF. Actors and actresses from various colleges and universities compete for an opportunity to receive the Irene Ryan Scholarship.

What are Midwest Theatre Auditions?

Midwest Theatre Auditions is a smaller version of SETC, consisting of fifty plus theatre companies searching for actors, actresses, and technicians. 

Field Trips

What kind of field trips do the Playmaker’s take?

The Executive Board sends for information on surrounding theatre productions, ranging from Indianapolis Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and St. Louis Repertory Theatre, as well as local theatre productions. The board then chooses various shows the Playmaker’s are interested in seeing and orders tickets for all those interested. 

Dues

What are they?

A maximum of $10 each semester will be charged to all wishing to become a member of the Playmaker’s Association. The $10 dues will be paid to the treasurer only, and he/she will deposit the money into the Playmaker’s account.

What is their purpose?

The Playmaker’s account will fund and/or assist in funding organizational field trips, conventions, conferences, Dram-prom, as well as any other special needs.

Faculty Advisor

Elliot Wasserman
wasserma@usi.edu