Nevada Rep - The Concept of Company

A Few Thoughts About Nevada Rep and the Concept of Company:

Throughout its history Nevada Rep has thrived on the company concept--a core of students, staff, and townsfolk supporting one another in the various phases of theatrical activity. In the course of time some old faces go away, new faces appear, and others nod in only briefly. But the company remains.

This concept has been emphasized by combining performance and technical responsibilities whenever possible, by joint auditions, and by occasional company meetings to encourage a sense of sharing and support. It is through this concept of company that we are best able to endeavor to present quality shows and to provide the most well rounded education for all participants.

The standard audition form states: "an individual auditions not for a particular play but for membership in the company." It then goes on to request personal preferences in roles, shows, and technical assignments. While actors deserve the right to plan their lives, the opposing view is that directors choose shows with the expectation that "core" actors (students) will be available for casting. Only thus can we expect to function effectively as a company and continue to thrive as a producing organization.

While this is written from a director’s point of view, the same concerns affect the technical elements and the individuals there involved.

With this ideas in mind let us enumerate then the qualities that the faculty and staff believe to be valuable in the company context.

Willingness to perceive individual growth as a facet of the company’s excellence.
Enthusiastic participation in all productions (auditioning for all shows or prearranging technical assignments).
Positive, constructive attitude.

Likewise, it is the satisfactory achievement of these criteria, plus the additional element of classroom excellence, which will form the basis for dispersal of financial aid and other awards at the end of each academic year.

If there are reasons for your not auditioning or being available for tech for any season, the directors would consider it a courtesy to let us know in advance. Our extra-departmental non-student friends are valued company members without whom we couldn’t function, but the core remains those theatre students who are aspiring, committed, and available.