Director: [NAME]

[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]

Musical Director: [NAME]
[SEASON AND/OR YEAR]
PSM: Sydney Caprio

CHILD ACTOR PACKET

Welcome aboard [TITLE OF SHOW]! We’re happy to have you and your family part of our
team and are looking forward to creating this show together! In this packet you can find
information to reference back to if needed throughout the process. Please don’t hesitate to come
to the stage management team or child guardian if there are ever any questions!

- Sydney Caprio
Production Stage Manager

CONTACT INFORMATION

[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]

[OFFICE ADDRESS]
[EMAIL]
[PHONE #]

Sydney Caprio [NAME]

Production Stage Manager Director
sydneyzcaprio@gmail.com [EMAIL]
(973) 768-5375 [PHONE #]
She/her [PRONOUNS]

[NAME] [NAME]
Asst. Stage Manager Child Guardian
[EMAIL] [EMAIL]
[PHONE #] [PHONE #]
[PRONOUNS] [PRONOUNS]

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Child Actor Packet Created by: Sydney Caprio
Updated: 5/1/20
 Director: [NAME]
[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]
Musical Director: [NAME]
[SEASON AND/OR YEAR]
PSM: Sydney Caprio

CHILD GUARDIAN
A child guardian will be hired by the company to aid the child actor throughout the rehearsal,
tech, and show process. The child guardian is in charge of the actor’s welfare, but is also there to
be a friend! Responsibilities include:
1. Overseeing the handoffs for pick up and drop offs to and from rehearsal and organizing
them with the parent/guardian.
2. Helping to keep track of the child actor’s blocking, entrances, exits, props, and costume
changes.
3. Making sure that the actor is never in harm’s way and is accompanied at all appropriate
times.
4. Helping to keep communication between the child actor/ family and the artistic and
production team.
5. Answer questions pertaining to the show that the actor may have and helping them with
problems pertaining to the show.
6. Helping the actor to rehearse their lines.
7. Keeping the actor company and making sure they’re having fun!

PICK UPS AND DROP OFFS

A parent/guardian/verified individual is responsible for handing off the child actor with the child
guardian to and from rehearsals. If a different person than usual will need to pick up or drop off
the actor, then a parent/guardian will need to call the child guardian and stage manager while
also sending an email confirmation about the change in pick up or drop off. If the person
dropping off or picking up the actor is running late, please call the child guardian to let them
know (even if you’re estimating they’ll only be 1 minute late).

SCHEDULING
A. REHEARSAL AND TECH SCHEDULE
Attached to this packet is the rehearsal schedule from [START AND END DATE] as well as the
tech schedule from [START AND END DATE]. A daily call will be sent prior to the next
rehearsal with who will be called, what will be happening in rehearsal, and what time they are
called for.

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Child Actor Packet Created by: Sydney Caprio
Updated: 5/1/20
 Director: [NAME]
[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]
Musical Director: [NAME]
[SEASON AND/OR YEAR]
PSM: Sydney Caprio

B. LABOR LAWS
According to the New York Division of Labor Standards, child performers cannot exceed the
below maximum hours:

● “Meal periods, rest periods, and hours of instruction are included in the total maximum
hours on set.
● To complete a one-day assignment performers 6 months and older may have maximum
daily work and on set hours increased by 2 hours, but cannot work the following day.
● Child performers must receive 12 hours of rest between workdays.
● Child performers ages 14-17 may work up to 8 hours during school hours, for no more
than 2 consecutive days, with school permission.
● If a child performer works after attending school, the maximum daily hours of presence
at the workplace is reduced by 3 hours. When a child performer provides services at his
or her residence after attending school, the maximum daily hours for providing services is
reduced by 3 hours.”

Attached to the packet is the full New York Division of Labor Standards’ Child Performer
Permitted Working Hours document.

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Child Actor Packet Created by: Sydney Caprio
Updated: 5/1/20
 Director: [NAME]
[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]
Musical Director: [NAME]
[SEASON AND/OR YEAR]
PSM: Sydney Caprio

SCHOOLING
Schooling must be 15 hours for 5 days a week. The company will hire a teacher to fulfil these
hours, which will be separate from the child guardian.
According to the New York Division of Labor Standards, “While school is in session, instruction
must average 3 hours per school day each week, with a minimum of 1 hour on each school day.
Instruction time over 3 hours per day may be “banked” and “spent” on another day. No more
than 5 hours may be carried over from week to week.”

FIRST DAY OF REHEARSAL

The first day of rehearsal is one of the most exciting days! We will be starting with introductions
and the director will be discussing their vision for the show with the room. Afterwards, a read-
through will take place where everyone in the cast gets to sit down at a table and read the script
aloud together for the very first time! Designers will also be coming in to show the set, costumes,
etc. to the company! [CHANGE THIS IF THE DIRECTOR DOES NOT WORK THIS WAY
AND HAS DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS FOR FIRST REHEARSAL].

REHEARSALS
A. LOCATION
Our rehearsal space will be [ADDRESS AND ROOM #]. Any location changes will be indicated
in emails and daily calls.

B. WHAT TO BRING?
Please make sure to bring the following items to rehearsal:
1. Script / vocal book
2. Pencils with erasers
3. Highlighter
4. Water
5. Snacks! 🍩🍪🍎
6. Moveable clothes
7. Appropriate shoes (sneakers, dance shoes, tap shoes, etc.)
8. Homework, a handheld game, or a phone to do/play with during long periods of down
time (many of the other actors study their lines during this time or do work for their
other jobs)

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Child Actor Packet Created by: Sydney Caprio
Updated: 5/1/20
 Director: [NAME]
[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]
Musical Director: [NAME]
[SEASON AND/OR YEAR]
PSM: Sydney Caprio

C. REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
All actors should be quiet and respectful when they’re not currently working. Actors should also
turn off their phone volumes when they enter the room. Sometimes rehearsals can get off topic,
so to minimize that as much as possible we ask everyone who is working in the room to keep off
topic stories and talking during work to a minimum.

D. BREAKS
Rehearsals cannot go more than five hours without stopping to take a one-and-a-half-hour meal
break. There must be a five-minute break after each 55 minutes of rehearsal or a ten-minute
break after each 80 minutes of rehearsal.
For meal breaks, the child guardian will also be breaking at that time. They will not be
responsible for the actor during that break period, therefore a parent/guardian must accompany
the child. The child cannot be left unattended during this break. If your child is at an appropriate
age that the parent/guardian and general management feel as though they can be allowed to take
a meal break on their own, please speak to general management about getting a form to grant
your consent.

TECH
1. We will be moving to the [THEATRE NAME] at [ADDRESS] when tech comes around.
2. Actors should make sure they’re prepared to start tech in costume, mics on, and in
makeup.
3. During tech, we will be working with the show’s costumes, props, set, lighting, and
sound all brought together for the very first time! While we try to make sure the show is
as fabulous and smooth as possible, there may be long periods of standing or waiting
around. All actors should be alert to know when their scenes are coming up and what
props and/or costumes they need.
4. If a “HOLD” is called, all actors will freeze until they are told to proceed over the mic in
the theatre. Sometimes holds may take a while, so all actors need to keep in mind not to
talk too loudly or move around too much. When we call “HOLD” sometimes it’s to fix
lighting, so moving around will make it harder to light the stage how it needs to be.
5. Tech can sometimes be a long and tiring process for anybody on a show, but we still want
to make sure the child actor is having a good time! Actors should let the child guardian
know if something is overwhelming them and we will all work together to find solutions.
6. If there’s ever an issue, then the child actor can speak to the child guardian or an assistant
stage manager backstage. They’re here to help!

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Child Actor Packet Created by: Sydney Caprio
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 Director: [NAME]
[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]
Musical Director: [NAME]
[SEASON AND/OR YEAR]
PSM: Sydney Caprio

7. Other people that are there to help you are the wardrobe head, wardrobe crew, audio
technicians, prop runners, and deck crew. They’ll be there to help during the shows as
well!
8. All actors are expected to respect their costumes, mics, props, and anything else they
touch in the show that is property of the company. Be gentle, but we understand mistakes
happen! Just notify the child guardian if damage happens.
9. At the end of the night, actors must return all props and costume pieces to the designated
crew members/areas.

PERFORMANCES
All rules for tech apply for performances as well, except now we have an audience! The show
that we’re all going to put together is going to be wonderful, no changes will be made. No actor
is allowed to change blocking, lines, etc. once the show gets up on its feet.

THE THEATRE & DRESSING ROOMS

All actors are expected to respect the theatre and dressing rooms. Actors should pick up after
themselves and treat the theatre like a second home.
While child actors are not allowed to share or be in any other dressing room but their own,
everyone is welcome to chat and hang out before or during a show in the Green Room! The
Green Room is a communal area for everyone, so feel free to talk and relax there!

BACKSTAGE PROTOCOL
1. All actors must try to talk backstage as little and quietly as possible. Conversations and
jokes naturally happen, just make sure it’s not distracting. Actors should also make sure
not to talk if a very quiet scene is taking place or the other people backstage need to
focus.
2. Sometimes mics can be left on when they’re not supposed to be, so all actors are advised
that when they are about to enter the stage or have just exited, wait a moment before
talking backstage.
3. Be cautious of people and objects moving around.
4. No food or drink backstage.
5. No eating or drinking in costume.
6. No phones backstage.

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Child Actor Packet Created by: Sydney Caprio
Updated: 5/1/20
 Director: [NAME]
[THEATRE COMPANY NAME]
Musical Director: [NAME]
[SEASON AND/OR YEAR]
PSM: Sydney Caprio

PRESS AND EVENTS

Actors are not paid for press and events pertaining to the show (talk show appearances, award
show performances, etc.). If the company plans them, then stage management will contact the
child actor, parent/guardian, and child guardian about date, times, location, and any other
information of note.

FITTINGS
Stage management will schedule fittings and email the child actor and/or the parent/guardian a
date and time. It is the family’s responsibility to bring the actor to the fitting and a
parent/guardian should stay with them. The shop location where fittings are done is
[ADDRESS]. Please make sure to arrive with any requested articles of clothing (certain socks,
undergarments, etc.).

HEALTH AND SAFETY

A. ALLERGIES AND CONDITIONS
Please make sure to note any and all allergies or health conditions in the emergency contact
form.

B. MEDICATION
Please let us know if there’s specific medication your child takes (this also includes if your child
uses an inhaler, epipen, or insulin).
If your child takes medication, then the parent/guardian must sign [WAIVER NAME THAT
THE COMPANY HAS] and document the:
1. Type of medication
2. Time medication should be administered
3. Specific instructions
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen cannot be given to the child by a member of
the company without parental permission. If you consent, please request a [NAME OF
CONSENT FORM/WAIVER THAT THE COMPANY HAS].

C. SAFETY
If the child actor feels unsafe with a direction or person, they’re encouraged to speak up to the
child guardian or a parent/guardian.

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Child Actor Packet Created by: Sydney Caprio
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