Student Theatrical Productions

The following pertains to registered student theater groups that reserve the Tsai Center for multiple days for a theatrical production and is intended to serve as a foundation for planning your show. For student groups that reserve Tsai for one-day-only events, please refer to the Student Events page.

RESERVATION

Dates & times are outlined in your reservation. Review it carefully. Because of the multi-day booking for your show, your reservation times may be longer than you actually have access. This is to make Tsai unavailable to other users when your set is in place. For example, Tsai might be booked 9am-11pm, but you only have access 3-11pm that day. We will be very clear about when you have access to Tsai, but do not hesitate to ask. Other activities scheduled at Tsai during your reservation, such as classes, may require the area downstage of the main curtain to be available during the day. This includes the seating area and lobbies.

For all of your group’s scheduled activities, there will be one full-time Tsai staff member on duty plus student crew. The Tsai staff determines how best to use our in-house systems and what equipment we can give your group access to for your show. If you have additional needs, please discuss with us first. Any external rentals will need to be coordinated by your group with SAO. Reservation of Tsai is subject to the same “Requirements for Use of a University Facility” provided by the BU Reservations & Sales Office in Events & Conferences (click below to read).

GENERAL

  • Ticketing: Must be done via SAO/Eventbrite. Seating capacity is 500. Standing room tickets cannot be sold.
  • Name/Location: List the venue as “Tsai Performance Center” or “Tsai Center” on all materials, printed or online. (We are not “Tsai Auditorium” — that is a lecture hall at Harvard.) Our address is 685 Commonwealth Avenue.
  • Time: Advertise the start time of your performance, not when doors open. The doors always open 30 minutes prior to the start time unless you make other arrangements at booking.
  • All areas of egress must remain clear at all times.
  • Only those who are part of your production (actors, musicians, tech staff, & stage managers) are allowed backstage. Please instruct friends and family members to meet in the outer marble lobby after the show.
  • Food and beverages (except water) are not allowed in any area of the theater other than the dressing rooms. Please dispose of your waste appropriately to keep Tsai clean for all.
  • Animals, other than service animals, are not permitted inside the theater.
  • Be respectful in your interactions and communications with all Tsai staff, including student staff.
  • While using the Tsai Center, students must at all times adhere to policies set forth by the Tsai Center staff. Failure to abide by these policies may result in the loss of the privilege of using the Tsai Center or immediate suspension of your performance.
  • Sustainability: The Tsai Center is committed to furthering Boston University’s Zero Waste Plan. Think about what you can do to reduce the environmental footprint of your program. Read more about “How to Host a Sustainable Event.”

PLANNING YOUR SHOW

  • One member of the full-time production staff will be your main contact, though all of our staff will be supporting you. When you are ready to start talking about your show, even in general terms, reach out to us to set up a first meeting. You must arrange at least one pre-production meeting with your Tsai contact to discuss all the details of your show, deliverables we will need, and associated deadlines. Deliverables are subject to Tsai approval and include:
    • Production schedule: Your Tsai contact will provide a template that includes your access times for each day and performance times on show days. You must fill in all other activities, including load-in, build, focus, dance/fight calls, rehearsals, etc. Be as comprehensive as possible.
    • Set design: We require scale set drawings with measurements. Consider actor safety when designing the set. Note that the Tsai staff may require additional safety measures (such as handrails) to be built into the set. Once the set is built, a full-time Tsai staff member must inspect the set. After receiving approval from Tsai staff, all actors must complete a safety walk. Tsai staff will be present for the actors’ safety walk and may provide additional safety information. No actors may interact with the set before the safety walk.
    • Lighting paperwork: We have a repertory lighting plot, which shows how the lights will be hung, circuited, and focused when you load in. Any changes you would like to make to the rep plot must happen during your reservation before scenery loads in. You should budget at least 10 minutes per light for any changes to the hang or circuiting. Your Tsai contact will send you the rep instrument schedule as an Excel file, which you can edit with your desired changes. Your Tsai contact may propose more efficient ways to achieve your vision.
  • The Tsai Center cannot provide any wireless microphones for theatrical productions. If you wish to use wireless microphones for your production, you must rent them from an external vendor. Be sure to budget for this and go through SAO/Terrier Central to complete the transaction. Tsai staff can advise you on where and how to set up the wireless kit.
  • We will try to accommodate all reasonable requests, but we reserve the right to deny requests that are not in the best interest of the show or the facility.
  • The Tsai staff welcomes additional pre-production meetings as needed to ensure everyone is confident and comfortable.

STAFFING

Your group needs to provide:
  • Stage manager(s)
  • Lighting & sound designers and board operators
  • Backstage crew specific to run of the show
  • 1-2 students to assist with ushering at the front doors
  • 1-2 students to handle on-site ticket sales. No Tsai staff members are authorized to assist with sales of any kind.
Tsai Center will provide:
  • 1 full-time production staff member
  • 2 student crew members (1 backstage, 1 in the booth)
  • 2-3 student staff to usher and manage the house

TECHNICAL POLICIES

  • No open flames, including lit candles, matches, cigarettes, or any other flammable material, are permitted anywhere in the theater. Smoking and vaping are not permitted in Tsai or CAS.
  • All scenery as well as decorations anywhere in the theater must comply with the regulations of the Boston Fire Department. You must obtain a certificate of fireproofing from BFD if necessary. (Discuss this further with your Tsai contact.)
  • No fog machines, smoke machines, or hazers are permitted.
  • Only trained and authorized personnel (Tsai staff) are authorized to operate Genie personnel lifts, operate the pit elevator, or enter the catwalks.
  • You must rent your own wireless microphones. No Tsai wireless mics are available for student theatrical productions.
  • You must provide your own expendables. These include tape, lighting gel, templates, etc.
  • The Tsai Center can provide chairs, music stands, and stand lights to the orchestra pit. The music director and orchestra pit members are responsible for providing all other gear, including instruments. The pianos stored in the orchestra pit may only be used with permission from CFA.
  • Every effort should be made to avoid painting onstage. If onstage painting (such as touch-ups) must occur, you must use appropriate tarps or drop cloths. No spray paint may be used onstage or in the parking lot at any time.
  • Ensure any changes made within lighting or sound consoles are saved to your show files only.
  • Full strike and removal of all personal belongings must be completed by the end of your reservation time. A fee will be assessed if all items are not removed or if damage to the facility occurs.
  • You may not screw, nail, staple, or tape anything onto any surface within the theater, hallways, or dressing rooms without specific approval.
  • Discuss any decoration of the Tsai Center with your Tsai contact. Note that the lobby is for egress and cannot accommodate elaborate decorations. It must remain well lit and free of obstructions at all times. The lobby is not to be used as a painting, crafting, woodworking, or eating space.