Practica

General Practica Information

The Theater Department places great value on the learning that occurs while working on productions whether as a performer, designer or in a technical position. To reflect this philosophy in required coursework, this type of assignment is called Practicum and is graded and for credit. Practica is available in Performance, Stage Management and Technical. Technical Practica is required of each student to fulfill the Major and Minor and those credits count toward graduation. 

Types of Performance Practica:

Performance Practicum is variable credit received for performing in Theatre Department Mainstage, Studio and InTheWorks productions. This includes performing in Mainstage and Studio productions and Directing class. Approval of director or faculty advisor/instructor is required. Areas of performance include: 

  • Acting (THEP 260, 360, 460)
  • Dancing (THEP 261, 361, 461)
  • Musician (THEP 262, 362, 462)
  • Arts Management (THEP 264, 364, 464)
  • Directing/Choreography (THEP 265, 365, 465)

You will sign up for these practica through the Director/Stage Manager or Supervisor you are working with by submitting a Google form.

Types of Technical Practica

Construction crews work during the day on the student's specific schedule. (in the Scene Shop, Costume Shop or on Lighting (various locations)

  • Approx. 3-6 hours per week depending on the number of credits.
  • In the comments field indicate which labs (see attached calendar) work for you and include your class schedule.
  • Attendance, attitude, and quality of work all count in the grade.

Run crews learn and perform their duties during rehearsal and performance. You are agreeing to be a member of a specific crew for the entire run of a particular production, that includes weekends and nights, and that you cannot miss even a single rehearsal or performance.

  • Be advised that the Department of Theatre does not condone the skipping of its own or any other department's classes in order to participate in this course.
  • Attendance is required and even 1 absence is grounds for failure.
  • There is a calendar under the run crew sign up for you to see the exact dates.


**Important: There is no way to make up the class duties/requirements.
No extensions or incompletes are granted for this course, except under extreme circumstances.

If you have an evening class, do NOT request Run crew.

If you have a conflict, do NOT select run crew for those dates.


How to sign up for Technical Practica

  • Go to my.binghamton.edu
  • From the menu across the top select “Other”
  • Select “Fine Arts Practicum Listings” then read the instructions and create a request
  • At the same time you fill out the above form email or visit the area you want to work in:

Contact Ariel Thomke with your preferred lab time slots and/or further questions for Costume Shop Practica or Costume Run Crew Practica.

Contact Scott Selmeski with your preferred lab time slots and/or further questions for Scene Shop Practica or Stage and Prop Crew Practica.

Contact Laura Kensley with your preferred lab time slots and/or further questions about Lighting/Hang/Focus or Run Crew Practica

See the calendar on the form and select lab time slots that work for the whole semester.

  • For 1 credit, sign up for 2 lab time slots per week, (leaving a half hour early each day, in order to get the right number of hours). or
  • For 2 credits sign up for 3 lab time slots per week (leaving at the stated end time)
Important for Seniors particularly:

To get the priority you have as seniors and to be sure you can graduate, you should request your lab time slots as soon as possible. There are limited available seats/positions available per time slot and since you cannot postpone to another year, it is crucial you claim your seats/positions early.

Why do I need Technical Practica?

Students who participate in production by being members of the tech crew have a much better idea of what goes into a theater production and how to fit into that process productively.   

Indeed, in the early stages of a career, any theater person will probably be called upon to help out with tech or to run a show he/she is not cast in, so the training obtained in practica is guaranteed to be useful.  

Technical Practica Requirements for Theatre Major

6 credits total:

  • 2 credits are THEP 213/214/215/216 Technical Production Lab
  • 2 credits must be earned by working in the scene shop (THEP 370/470) or doing Lighting Hang/Focus (THEP 372/472 and 2 credits must be done in the costume shop (THEP 373/473).

Technical Practica Requirements for Theatre Minor

8 credits total (THEP 213, 214, 215 and 216 are not acceptable for this section)

  • 4 credits of technical practica by hanging and focusing lights, scene shop, costume shop.
  • Remaining 4 credits of practica may be satisfied by earning 4 credits of performance practica or an additional four credits of technical practica, or any combination of technical and performance practica.

What is Performance Practicum?

Performance Practicum is variable credit received for performing in Theatre Department Mainstage, Studio and InTheWorks productions. This includes performing in Mainstage and Studio productions and Directing class. Approval of director or faculty advisor/instructor is required. Areas of performance include: 

Acting (THEP 260, 360, 460)
Dancing (THEP 261, 361, 461)
Musician (THEP 262, 362, 462)
Arts Management (THEP 264, 364, 464)
Directing/Choreography (THEP 265, 365, 465)

What is Stage Management Practicum?

Stage Management work on all performance and technical aspects of a Theatre Department production. The Stage Manager works closely with the faculty or student director/choreographer. Concurrent registration required for 2 credits of technical practica (276, 376, 476) and 2 credits of performance (266, 366, 466). Permission of production director and/or supervising Stage Management faculty is required. If you are interested in pursuing SM work, contact Olivia O'Brien

Further Information on Practicum

Each credit one receives requires at least 45 hours of work be performed according to certain criteria which vary depending on the area in which it occurs. While work in the Theater is enjoyable, it carries with it a large commitment of time and energy and must be done well to maintain our level of quality. These are variable credit courses with credit amounts dependent upon the amount of time required by the assignment. The number of credits and meeting times are determined by the instructor. Most performances and rehearsals are in the evening; therefore, evening classes will usually conflict.  

We recommend that you plan to do some amount of practica each semester. This way you will not find yourself, at the end of you career here, rushing to finish that requirement. Please remember that if you haven’t filled out a practicum form, you are not getting credit. It is your responsibility to sign up by the Practica deadlines. 

Because of the collaborative nature of theater and the fact that we operate on an absolute deadline, , there will be no way to make up or complete the class duties/requirements when the production, quarter, semester, or season is over. Failure to complete your duties/requirements for the class in the required time will result in failure of the course.