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OLD PUEBLO PLAYWRIGHTS’ Statement of Purpose, Goals, and Membership June 2008 Purpose: Old Pueblo Playwrights (OPP) is a non-profit organization 501(c) (3) dedicated to the idea of generating a supportive setting for the creation of plays for stage, film, video, radio and television. OPP is also committed to community outreach by featuring its best works in public play performances every year. Goals: To support members’ works by offering play reading opportunities throughout the year. To use a critique process that is based on the principles of drama. To offer all members the opportunity for at least two readings of their work(s) which are then eligible to be stage-read in the annual Festival of New Plays. Membership: Any person interested in the writing of plays, screenplays, videos, or performance pieces is welcome. A small yearly fee for dues is asked, but not demanded by the organization. A fully invested membership provides participants the opportunity to have their plays read and critiqued, inclusive participation in OPP activities and voting privileges on all matters regarding the organization OLD PUEBLO PLAYWRIGHTS’ By-laws June 2008 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Membership timeline After attending at least two OPP meetings, a potential member can express interest in joining the organization to the president. The president or someone he/she designates will discuss the particulars of membership with the interested person Review of Potential Member’s Work A playwright interested in becoming a member of OPP must submit a sample of his/her work. This sample should be at least one complete scene of a play script (stage, screen, radio, television). Three copies are given to the president who will ask for and/or choose readers from members. The purpose of this submission is to allow at least three members of OPP to acquaint themselves with the prospective member’s work. C. Definition of a Member A fully invested member, therefore, is any person who has attended at least two OPP meetings, submitted three copies of a dramatic work for review and has either paid (or informed the vice-president/treasurer they are unable to) their dues. (See DUES and AASOCIATE MEMBERS) D. Credit to OPP When members’ works that have been read and critiqued at OPP meetings are produced in any form, the playwright agrees to add the following words to all programs and other associated literature/announcements where credit is given: “The playwright is a member of Tucson’s Old Pueblo Playwrights.” E. Use of Members’ Names OPP has the right to publicize past and present members’ participation in the organization. F. Use of Organization’s Name Any formal communication by a member under the banner of OPP must be approved by the Executive Board. G. Meetings OPP is obligated to notify members only about special meetings, business meetings and meetings during which voting is scheduled for (1) revision of by-laws or (2) play selection for public performance.
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF OLD PUEBLO PLAYWRIGHTS Requirements The Board is required to meet at least four (4) times a year to discuss general business, public performances, fund raising, and any other activity deemed necessary for the running of the organization. Members of the Executive Board are to attend OPP meetings on a regular basis. They are also responsible for maintaining active liaison with the Arizona Theatre Company as long as OPP is using their rehearsal facility. The Executive Board has the right to approve or disapprove presidential decisions by a majority vote. In the event such a vote ends in a tie, the president shall cast the deciding vote. Officers (president, vice-president/treasurer, secretary and members-at-large) are elected individually by secret ballot not before September 1st and not after September 30th of each year beginning in 2009. These elected members constitute the Executive Board of OPP. Officers and members-at-large may serve consecutive terms. Duties of President The president is a non-voting member of the Executive Board except in the case of a tie. He/she is responsible for governing the organization and schedules Executive Board meetings. He/she makes the ultimate decisions as to the scheduling of meetings and events as well as all other activities in the interest of OPP. The president may appoint and dissolve committees (with the exception of the Executive Board), organize public performances, conduct public relations, and seek out and apply for grants, awards and recognition for the benefit of OPP. One business meeting each year is to be called by the president for the purpose of considering future strategies and changes in policy. This meeting may be coincidental to the election of officers. Any member may present proposals at this time. All members must be informed concerning business meetings called by the president. The president shall be responsible for the dispersion of funds – in coordination with the vice-president treasurer. Duties of the Vice-President/Treasurer The vice-president/treasurer assists the president and performs all functions necessary if the president is absent or otherwise unable to fulfill the duties of the office. The vice-president/treasurer is responsible for collecting and accounting for dues as well as monies related to any public performances and must report on the financial status of the organization at least quarterly. This report can be given verbally, but a written report must be available at that time. Duties of the Secretary The secretary maintains the scheduling of events, attendance logs at meetings (including actors and directors who participate in play readings), as well as a current membership roll. She/he is also responsible for maintaining an ongoing community directory of actors and directors which can be used by members to engage participants in readings and public performances. Duties of the Members-at-large The members-at-large are expected to attend all Executive Board meetings, be available to chair committees, and carry out any business assigned by the president. If an officer of the organization vacates his/her post, then a member-at-large will be nominated to fill that position by the president. At a meeting of the general membership, the members will vote on the nomination. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OPP welcomes practitioners of all theater arts and others in the community who have a passion for the theater into its membership. Associate members participate in all meetings, pay dues and have voting privileges, but all decisions put to a vote must be determined only when at least two/thirds (2/3) of the votes are playwright-members. Associate members may, at any time, become fully invested members and have their scripts read and critiqued (see Membership requirements). DUES Membership dues are thirty-six dollars per year. Dues are paid after January 1st of each year. Current members should pay their dues by January 15th. Members who, for any reason, are unable to pay their dues must inform the vice-president/treasurer. That member will be excused from payment without needing to explain or justify their situation. An individual who decides to join OPP after January of any given year will pay a pro-rated amount based upon three dollars a month. Only members whose dues are current may participate in the voting process. OPP WEBSITE The president, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, will appoint a member (ideally a member-at-large) to manage/oversee the OPP website. Said member can engage a non-member in this enterprise. If service fees are required, these fees can be approved only by the Executive Board. REVISIONS OF BY-LAWS AND STANDING RULESBy-laws The By-laws may be revised only if two-thirds (2/3) of current members in attendance at the meeting, where change is proposed, vote for the revision. All members must be notified of any proposed changes at least two weeks prior to the vote. Absentee ‘ballots’ must be received by the secretary at least twenty-four (24) hours before the vote will take place. These absentee ballots need to be in writing (land mail, e-mail or personal note). Standing Rules The Standing Rules may be revised by a majority of members in attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting during which the president calls for a vote.
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STANDING GUIDELINES OF THE OLD PUEBLO PLAYWRIGHTS revised: December 2011
I. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The OPP member schedules a Monday night reading of his/her play with the secretary. The playwright also selects a facilitator from the membership to lead a critique session following the reading. It is advisable to engage a facilitator before the reading so he/she can review the work and prepare for the discussion.
Generally, OPP reads only one full-length play during a regularly scheduled meeting (50 pages or more) or several shorter plays by one or multiple authors.
II. PLAY READINGS
OPTIONS
Playwrights have several options regarding the reading of their plays. -The Cold or Table Reading: The play is cast from the people in attendance at the regularly scheduled OPP meeting. The readers have not read the script and no director is required. -Actors as Readers: The play is cast using actors the playwright has engaged previous to the reading. Generally no rehearsal is involved and no director. -Actors as Readers with Rehearsals: The play is cast using actors the playwright has engaged, the reading is rehearsed and a director might be involved. -Staged Reading at the Festival: After at least two readings at regularly scheduled OPP meetings, plays can be voted on to determine if they are ready to be included in OPP’s annual Festival of New Plays. These staged readings are performed before an audience from the community at large with scripts in hand, incorporate a director, actors, up to five rehearsals, some blocking and some props. (See below for details.)
III. PLAY CRITIQUES
A facilitator chosen by the playwright previous to the reading leads the follow-up critique session. His/her job is mainly to field questions, clarify points and keep the discussion on track. All those who choose to participate in the discussion must direct their comments to the facilitator. The facilitator may, at any time, interrupt and cease discussion that in his/her opinion constitutes badgering or a personal attack on anyone present.
Prior to the reading, the playwright may give questions to the facilitator that he/she wishes to have raised during the critique session. Playwrights are not allowed to participate in the critique nor at any time justify, explain or talk about aspects of the play. When discussion is complete as determined by the facilitator, the playwright may ask questions for clarification of points made.
Participants should confine their reactions to the material at hand. We believe it is neither appropriate nor the business of OPP members to offer ideas, changes or suggestions to the playwright regarding how to improve the play. Playwrights are free, of course, to seek out this sort of input apart from the session.
Readings and critiques may be tape-recorded providing the tape is for personal use and all present agree to the taping.
Upon occasion, a past member and/or members of the community may present a project providing no current member has a play reading scheduled. These people from the community at large may submit only one project a year unless they decide to become an OPP member.
Playwrights must be present at any regularly scheduled OPP meeting where their play is being read for the purposes of a critique.
IV. THE STAGED READING
The ultimate purpose of writing plays is to achieve performance. Therefore, OPP will plan at least one public presentation each year – Old Pueblo Playwrights New Play Festival. It consists of staged readings.
PLAY SELECTION
An OPP member’s work is eligible for Festival selection voting immediately after its second reading and subsequent readings and discussions at an OPP meeting. The author may decline to put the work to a vote in which case the work will be deemed not ready for public performance. Because our play-polishing process is crucial to our improvement as playwrights, and to maintain the integrity of the Festival, later substantially rewritten drafts of plays deemed ready for public performance should be presented as readings at regular meetings. These later drafts will be submitted to a new vote unless the playwright declines. In that case, see above.
VOTING
Voting will take place by secret ballot immediately after the critque has concluded or when there are multiple works read and discussed at a single meeting, at the conclusions of the final discussion.
Only current members and associate members in attendance may vote. The author of the work being considered may not vote.
The question will be: IS THIS PLAY READY FOR A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE? Voting membership indicate either yes or no.
The president will appoint two people, neither of whom is the author, to collect and tally the ballots in secret. The results of the voting will not be announced to those in attendance or the general membership, but will be shared confidentially with the author, president and secretary. Only the final result may be divulged, not the margin of yes versus no votes. (Unless excluded as the author, either the president or secretary or both may tally the results.)
A work may be deemed ready for public performance if it receives four yes votes or yes votes from a majority of those voting. Whichever is the greater number.
The president and secretary will keep a record of all works deemed ready for public performance and, at the appropriate time, will schedule those works for staged readings at the public performance.
Playwrights must be available to attend rehearsals and the actual staged reading of their play during the Festival. AMENDED STANDING RULE REGARDING SELECTION OF PLAYS FOR THE NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
Approved on December 19, 2011
This Standing Rule will be used only if there are more plays than opportunities to perform them in any annual OPP New Play Festival.
All other Standing Rules regarding play selection for the New Play Festival (NPF) remain the same.
Amendment 1 Whenever the playwright calls for a vote to determine if their play will be eligible for the NPF, a percent of the Yea votes will be calculated. For example, if 4 members vote on a play and 3 of those voting signify yes and 1 signifies no, the play for that reading will receive a percentage of 75% If at the time of the actual play selection for the NPF there are more eligible plays than there are performance opportunities, the Secretary and President will rank the plays according to their percent rating The play with the highest rating will be selected first, the second highest second and so forth until such point that the ten hours or the five performance slots are filled. AUDITIONS
Open auditions for actors will be held by OPP as required to prepare for a public performance. At that time, playwrights and directors will constitute the selection committee. Pre-casting is discouraged as it can trouble actors who presume all roles are available. Exceptions can be made if an actor has played a specific role at OPP readings during the year and wishes to perform the role again.
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