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.
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
| Year | Chairman | Artistic Director | Performance Liaison | Secretary | Business manager | Production Stagemanager | Dramaturge | Public Relations | First/Second Year Rep. | Male Rep. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2013 | Emma Carter | Kathleen Bryant | Colleen Perry | Olivia Romeo | Shinah Brashears | Xandii Barber | Danielle Wineman | Mariah Lee | Katie Pautler and Devery North | John Lampe |
| 2011-2012 | Megan Herrera | Ashley Darger | Olivia Howell | Emma Carter | Sarah Stoss | Mary Hosford | Audra Handschke | Jen Benkert | Annie Malin and Kathleen Bryant | John Lampe |
| 2010-2011 | Emily Swenson | Jenny Massey-Brown | Rhea Amos/Rachel Joslyn | Megan Herrera | Katie Huffman | Katie McKellar | Chrisena Ricci | Sascha Streckel | Emma Carter and Alex Molnar | Alex Rodriquez |
| 2009-2010 | Betsy Shirey | Becca Kravitz | Elizabeth Gjertson | Jessica Gorman | Laura Knutzen | Emily Swenson | Cavanaugh Greenwood | Juliana Jones | Megan Herrera | Gabriel Di Chiara |
| 2008-2009 | Melody Butler | Caroline Rhoads | Kira Josephson | Rachel Hartmann | Ana Hagedorn | Kasey Bryant | Maggie Tripp | Emily Shackelford | Emily Swenson | Samuel Cordes |
| 2007-2008 | Lindsey King | Abby Bell | Chelsey Christensen | Melody Butler | Claire Anderson | Janae Thompson | Jennifer Bertram | Rachel Ellersieck | Ashley Scoles | Kevin King |
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
| Show | Author | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber Music/No Exit | Arthur Kopit/Jean-Paul Sartre | April 2009 | One acts |
| Moonlight and Valentino | Ellen Simon | February 2009 | Sentimental comedy |
| Bombs Away: A Revue of Flops | February 2009 | Musical revue | |
| The Great Cross Country Race | Alan Broadhurst | November 2008 | Children's show |
| Snake in the Grass | Alan Ayckbourn | October 2008 | Thriller |
| One act play festival | April 2008 | ||
| Triptych | Edna O'Brien | February 2008 | Drama |
| The Most Massive Woman Wins | Madeleine George | November 2007 | Drama |
| De-Briefing | October 2007 | Musical revue | |
| Naomi in the Living Room | Christopher Durang | October 2007 | Absurd |
| Marion Bridge | Daniel MacIvor | April 2007 | Sentimental comedy |
| 43 Plays for 43 Presidents | Chicago's Neo-Futurists Theatre Collective | February 2007 | Absurd |
| Cover of Life | R.T. Robinson | November 2006 | |
| Extremities | William Mastrosimone | October 2006 | Drama |