Warehouse Theatre (Stephens)

The Warehouse Theatre is an entirely student run theatre company on the Stephens College campus in Columbia, Missouri, USA. Stephens College is a women's college, and has historically admitted a very limited number of male apprentices as students only in the Theatre and Dance departments.

Warehouse Theatre
Warehouse Theatre logo
Background information
Origin	Columbia, Missouri (Stephens College)
Genres	Plays, musical revues
Years active	40 (since 1969)
Website

Mission statement

The Warehouse Theatre is dedicated to producing shows that are for women, by women and about women. In the Warehouse, students produce, direct, design and act in their own productions. The Warehouse puts on four fully realized productions a year, in addition to numerous events.

The Warehouse Board

There are 10-11 members on the Warehouse board. These members are in charge of different aspects of the company. As a whole, they make important decisions about the Warehouse season, including choosing the shows, and also plan and organize events, such as fundraisers or open mic nights.

Poster for Moonlight and Valentino. Designed by Emily Shackelford

Chairwoman

Oversees all areas of the Warehouse. She holds all the meetings and is, generally, in charge of everything. She also serves as a liaison between the board and the faculty.

Artistic Director

Is in charge of making sure that each Warehouse production fully live up to its artistic capability. They sit in on rehearsals, and, once the show is in the tech process, makes sure that everything is turning out the way it should.

Performance Liaison

Is in charge of "liaising" between the students and the Warehouse board. She is in charge of scheduling all of the Directing projects, and making sure all the directors have signed their contract. The performance liaison is the M.C for all the Warehouse "Open Mic Nights".

Business Manager

Is in charge of balancing the Warehouse books. She keeps tracks of all the receipts for every production, and makes sure that the shows do not go over budget. She is also in charge of the financial aspect of any event. She also serves as the secretary and takes, types and distributes notes and records of what happens at each of the Warehouse meetings. She is also in charge of making the monthly newsletter.

Production Stage Manager

The production stage manager is in charge of all technical aspects for every Warehouse show. She oversees all tech rehearsals and makes sure that everything goes smoothly. She also substitutes as a stage manager if, for whatever reason, one show does not have one.

Dramaturge

Is in charge of keeping track of the Warehouse history. She keeps records with the show posters and programs from each year, along with any other information. She also takes the headshots for each Warehouse show, and is in charge of decorating the lobby.

Public Relations

Is in charge of the advertising for each Warehouse show. She designs and prints all the posters, programs, and press releases. She also writes the House Manager speeches and hosts the poster runs.

First/Second Year Representatives

In charge of being the voice for the entire first year/second year theatre class. They also make posters and assist with running Warehouse Events.

Male Representative

Is in charge of being the voice for the male students in the department. He is also in charge of updating the calendar in the greenroom, and adjourning each Warehouse meeting.

Past board members

Events

In addition to putting on four shows, the Warehouse hosts numerous events throughout the year.

Warehouse Dance

Generally at the end and/or beginning of the school year the Warehouse will host a themed dance for all to enjoy.

Off-The-Wall Spot

Every year, for a short period of time the Warehouse is free between shows. Students are asked to come forward with show proposals, a proposal is selected by the board, and the show is produced in the Warehouse. Past shows include 33 n' 66 (2010), Women in Combat (2011), and Women and Comedy (2012).

Open Mic Night

One Wednesday every month, the Warehouse hosts an open mic night. These open mic nights are designed as a way to give Stephens students an outlet to express themselves and entertain others. Students can dance, sing, perform, do stand-up, read poetry or do whatever they want. Students of all majors are encouraged to come and show off what they can do.

Play Reading Group

In the 2010-2011 season The Warehouse Theatre company created a workshop-type event or group that meets on Sundays [currently] to read plays. This is designed to help students develop their cold-read skills. The plays are chosen a week in advance and a sign-up is placed on the call board. The actors are chosen, notified, and given a script no earlier than 24 hours before the scheduled reading. All are welcome to attend the readings, and often food is brought for all to enjoy.

Workshop Series

In 2011 the Warehouse began a workshop series. So far the series has included workshops focusing on prop discussion, dance auditions, and suzuki technique, plus a Skype Q&A with contacts from Chicago. There are plans to host more Q&As with contacts from LA and Seattle.

24-Hour Play Festival

In February 2012 the Warehouse hosted a 24-Play Festival. Students wrote, directed, memorzied, designed, teched, and performed an hour of 10-minute plays, all in 24-hours!

Past Events

The Warehouse had a few traditions that have not been passed on in recent years, but up until then had been annual. Some are as follows.

V-Day

Every February, the Warehouse hosts the "V-Day" event for Valentine's Day. This event consists of a production of an Eve Ensler piece, either The Vagina Monologues or A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer.

Musical Revue

In the past, the Warehouse presented a musical revue every year. The revue is entirely musically directed, choreographed and performed by students. In 2009, the revue was entitled Bombs Away: A Musical Revue of Flops and in 2008, it was called De-Briefing: A Night of Women Singing Some of Musical Theatre's Most Popular Songs for Men.

Archives

External links

• Stephens College - Warehouse Theatre site
• Missourian article - "Moonlight and Valentino"