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Part One: Town Hall Meeting(s)
At this meeting, the board will solicit ideas, suggestions, and opinions about the shows or kind of shows that the community would like to work on or see presented. This feedback will be taken in to consideration during the selection of shows for next semester.

Part Two: Interviews
At this time, we will be interviewing for producers and directors. Anyone interested in producing or directing may come in and interview. Prospective producers and directors may either come in with another person that they want to work with, or individually. You may have a specific show idea or not. Either way is fine! We will talk with everyone about their past experience, their producing/directing philosophies, what show or what kind of show they want to work on, what space they want to work in, who you want to work with etc. We think of this as a two-way discussion. We're not just interviewing candidates; we're looking to see what kind of ideas you have and what you think CMTS should do.

Part Three: Selection
The CMTS Board will select two shows and a producer and director for each. UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY SAY OTHERWISE, we will NOT: assign you to a different show than the one you proposed, assign you to a show in a style, size, or location that you hate, assign you to work with a producer/director other than the one you proposed with, assign you to work with someone with incompatible skills (ex: both producer and director have absolutely no practical experience, or two people who are creative visionaries without mind to feasability, etc.

After selection, the producer and director will be in charge of finding the rest of their production team, either through personal contacts, by holding interviews, or however else they decide to recruit. The CMTS board will help with this part of the process if needed, through advertising, advising, etc.

At the start of next semester, each production will provide to the CMTS board a list of their production team (as complete as possible), a statement of the director's vision for the show, and a preliminary budget.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why the change to the new system?
Under the old system, people had to submit a proposal with a full team already put together. This made it very difficult for newcomers to Columbia theatre to get involved in a large role. Additionally, it perpetuated certain groups frequently working with the same people to the exclusion of other talent. Because of the difficulty of the process, the CMTS board received very few proposals each semester, severely limiting the pool of shows from which we had to select. The new system will allow those with less experience- either in Columbia theatre or in theatre at all- to helm a show and have their artistic vision brought to life. However, it will also allow those who are used to the old system to go through a simpler, though similar, process. Additionally, it allow the CMTS board greater freedom over show selection so that we can can choose shows that serve the club and community as a whole.

Why wait so long to interview?
This is mainly because we won't hear for sure what our spaces are for next semester until early December. We don't want to assign a show to a space only to find out later that we don't have that space at all, or only on dates that are really inconvenient, etc. The other reason is that there are numerous shows going up until the very end of classes. We don't want anyone to be at a disadvantage for being involved in a show at the end of the semester.

I don't have any experience at Columbia. Can I still interview?
Of course! Part of the purpose of this new proposals system is to involve people who don't know the Columbia theatre community well or haven't known how to get involved in the past. The CMTS board will also help new theatre leaders, especially producers, by providing guidance both at the beginning of the process and throughout, as needed.

I don't know what show I want to do. Can I still interview?
Absolutely! In addition to getting an idea of your background and directing/producing ideas, we'll ask you a lot of questions about what sorts of shows you like and would want to work on, and assign you a show based on your preferences.

I already know who I want to work with and I'm not willing to work with anyone else. Will you stick me with someone anyway?
No. We would only pair you with another person if you specifically say it's okay.

I know what show I would to do. Could I be assigned a different show?
No. We would only assign you to a different show if you specifically say it's okay.

I don't know what I want to direct, but I hate all [Rodgers and Hammerstein, rock, fluff, etc] musicals. Would you assign me a musical of a style that I can't stand?
In the interview, we would ask you extensive questions about the kinds of shows that you like and would be interested in directing, your own directing style/philosophy, etc. We would only assign you a show that fits with these preferences you describe.

I have a great idea for a show but I don't want to produce or direct. How do I get my suggestion heard?
You can either email the board directly at [email protected], or you can come to interviews and present your idea. The board will not be selecting production team members other than producers and directors, but if you bring forth a great idea and present yourself well, we will pass your name along to the selected teams with the board's personal recommendation.

I don't know anyone! How will I find a team?
If you don't already have other members of your team, that's fine! The board will put together producers and directors. If the producer and director don't know other people to recruit, they can hold interviews for other positions. The board will help with marketing and logistics for interviews if necessary. We can also provide names and contact information for people who have worked on shows in the past and may be interested.

I already know who I want to work with! Are you going to stick me with other people?
No. Once the producer and director have been chosen, it's up to them how to find the rest of their team. If you already have people in mind, that's fine!