The information on the following pages is intended for student-run theater groups. Information is applicable to all members of the theater community including directors, performers, crew, stage managers, and front-of-house personnel. Any questions or comments regarding this manual should be directed to Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).
The manual is designed to follow a production from planning stages to strike. It is divided into primary sections such as event planning, event registration, emergency procedures, set design & construction, lighting & sound, cast & crew, performance and strike.
Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Student (ODUS) – The Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students is a primary source of support for all student organizations and is available to provide advice for students organizing new groups and planning programs and events. The staff maintains financial records of student organizations, handles financial transactions (invoices, purchase orders, etc.) and produces monthly balance statements. Please refer to the Princeton University Student Organization website for more information.
Program in Theater - The Program in Theater hosts the Marie and Edward Matthews ‘53 Acting Studio at 185 Nassau Street and the Roger S. Berlind ’52 Theatre at the McCarter Theatre Center. Technical staff from the Program in Theater act as resources for students working on course work from the Lewis Center for the Arts.
University Fire Marshal – The University Fire Marshal provides assistance for fire code-related issues such as occupancy, seating arrangements, decorations, productions in spaces not normally used for assembly, etc. The Fire Marshal must also be contacted when the production involves open flames or pyrotechnic devices such as flashpots. The Fire Marshal is part of the Public Safety Department located at 200 Elm Drive, and can be reached at dpsfire@princeton.edu
Event and Venue Support Services – Campus Venue Services provides planning, production and house management services for arts events and operational support for venues throughout the campus.
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) – EHS provides health and safety services to the University community through technical support, information and training programs, consulting services, and periodic auditing of health and safety practices and regulatory compliance. The EHS web page contains information on a number of topics including hand and power tools, chemical safety, personal protective equipment, electrical safety related work practices, ladder safety, spill cleanup procedures, and waste disposal.
If you wish to start a new student theater organization, please see the New Groups section of the ODUS website.
The available facilities most frequently used for student-run theatrical productions are the Forbes College Black Box Theater, the Class of 1970 Theatre at Whitman College, the Matthews Acting Studio at 185 Nassau Street, and the Wilcox Black Box Theater. Please contact Campus Venue Services for more information about other potential performance spaces on campus.
Please keep in mind any seat in a modifiable seating arrangement must be no more than 11 seats from an aisle. If there are any questions about seating capacity or arrangements, especially in unusual venues, please contact the University Fire Marshal at dpsfire@princeton.edu.
All student organization events must be registered with ODUS for review and approval, including regularly scheduled meetings and rehearsals, as well as any events off campus. For more information, see the ODUS Event Registration page.
When open flames or pyrotechnic devices (such as flashpots) are a planned part of the performance, contact the University Fire Marshal at 8-6805 or dpsfire@princeton.edu a minimum of 4 weeks before the performance to obtain a fire code permit application. Fire Code permits from the local municipality are required for these types of devices:
Certain special effects should be reviewed to ensure all necessary safeguards are in place. Contact ODUS, Performance Services and/or EHS at the earliest phase of production if the performance involves the use of
Props and Decoration
Structural Issues for Set Design
Rigging
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Hand and Power Tools
Ladders
Chemical Hazards
Housekeeping
Storage of Materials
Lifting and Material Handling
Decorative materials such as curtains, draperies, streamers, fabrics, cotton batting, straw, hay, vines, leaves, stalks, tress and moss must be noncombustible or flame resistant or be rendered so with commercially available products. Contact Performing Arts Services at Richardson Auditorium for information on how to obtain fire retardant treatments. Certain types of decorative materials may be used only with the approval of the municipal fire official. Contact the University Fire Marshal at dpsfire@princeton.edu if you have any questions about the approved use of decorative materials.
Any set design which includes ladders, traps, scaffolds, rakes, rigging or other specialty devices must be approved by the Performing Arts Services at Richardson Auditorium.
Hamilton Murray Theater is the only student theater space that has fly space. Some rigging guidelines include:
Rigging should be inspected by the production crew before each use.
Personal protective equipment includes all types of equipment used to increase individual safety while performing potentially hazardous tasks. This may include eye and face protection, head protection, foot protection, hand protection, respiratory protection, or any equipment used to protect against injury or illness. For more information about PPE, please see Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Crewmembers should use a power tool only after receiving proper training. Stage managers should review the operation of the equipment, making sure to point out safety features and guards. Crewmembers should be familiar with the owner’s manual for the tool, and should know both the use and the limitations of all power tools.
Only trained crewmembers are permitted to use power tools such as mitre saws, table saws and drill presses. For more information on training, please see the Employee Learning Center.
For information about hand and power tools, see Hand & Portable Power Tools
Ladders are one of the most common tools of the theater trade. For information on ladders, please see Ladder Safety.
Most chemical use in theater is limited to paints and stains. However, if you are using any new or non-routine product, contact EHS for assistance on proper use, PPE, spill and disposal procedures. For more information on chemical safety, please see Chemical Safety
In the event of a chemical spill, determine if you need to contact Public Safety or if you will be able to clean it up yourself by reviewing the following Spill Response Procedures.
Work areas can become congested while constructing the set and while rehearsals take place. Clutter makes it difficult to move around and can be a fire hazard. To prevent accumulation of materials, trash should be removed daily.
The proper storage of materials in theater spaces is extremely important to the efficiency of the production and the safety of the cast, crew and audience. The NJ Uniform Fire Code mandates certain storage requirements, such as:
Moving and transporting set pieces can be some of the most significant hazards during set construction. The following tips are recommended to avoid injury while moving and lifting objects:
For more information about lifting and material handling, please see Strain & Sprain Prevention.
Many students have never worked with electricity directly before working on stage.
Lighting dimmers have limits to the lamp loads they can handle. Overloading dimmers can cause a fire hazard. There are standard size 1.2 kilowatt (1200W maximum) and 2.4 kilowatt (2400W maximum) dimmers used in the student-run theater spaces. NOTE: The wattage of the bulbs MAY NOT exceed that of the dimmers they are plugged into.
Lighting work sometimes requires working from ladders or elevated surfaces such as catwalks. For information on working from ladders, see Ladder Safety.
Catwalks are designed with fall protection in the form of guardrails. Guardrails may not be removed, climbed or defeated in any way without additional fall protection practices in place.
Products approved for makeup use have been tested extensively for toxic hazards. Only these products should be used for stage productions. Old containers of makeup could contain bacteria and should be thrown away. Wash your face and hands before applying cosmetics. If you are using makeup from a “communal” make-up kit, use a clean brush or your clean hands to apply. Shared makeup should not be applied directly to your face. These guidelines should be followed for shared makeup users:
Makeup artists should make a practice of washing their hands between actors. Sponges and brushes should be washed after use on each individual.
When removing spirit gum or latex, avoid prolonged skin contact with solvents. Use moisturizers to replace lost skin oils and to guard against dermatitis.
Fatigue is a serious safety concern that should be considered during all stage productions. With performance dates approaching, most crewmembers can become severely overworked.
Follow these simple guidelines to avoid fatigue:
Theater spaces are often without air-conditioning and, even if they are air-conditioned, stage lighting can produce an incredibly hot glow. Add that to the stress and/or excitement of performing, and cast members are prime candidates for heat stress. Working in hot conditions may pose special hazards to safety and health.
Drink plenty of liquids during a performance to replace the fluids lost from sweating – as much as one quart per hour may be necessary. Water and/or sports drinks are recommended. Avoid caffeinated beverages such as cola, iced tea and coffee.
Please see the Heat Stress page for more information.
Attendance for an event can be controlled through ticket sales, so overcrowding does not become an issue. The need for security measures at events sponsored by recognized student organizations is determined by the ODUS and the Department of Public Safety. The number of people involved and the nature of the event are the primary determining factors. In some cases, security may be required for the use of certain buildings or areas.
The group sponsoring the event is responsible for the cost of security. Twenty-four hour notice is required for cancellations or a fee will be charged.
Seating may not be added to a space on the dates of performance to accommodate additional ticket sales. Additional seating may create fire safety hazards in the event of a building evacuation.
The house manager and all front-of-house personnel must assist the audience to evacuate the building safely in case of an emergency. A fire safety and evacuation plan must be prepared and all personnel should be trained in the duties they are to perform under the plan. Front-of-house personnel may wish to be instructed in the proper use of portable fire extinguishers. Fire extinguisher training is available through the Office of the University Fire Marshal.
The means of egress is the continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any point in a place of assembly to an exit or public way (e.g., sidewalk, street, etc.). All parts of the means of egress must be available for immediate, emergency use.
Strike can be a chaotic, hazardous aspect of any production. Care must be taken to ensure that the stability of set pieces is not compromised as they are deconstructed, creating fall or crush hazards. Strikes should be organized with individuals assigned discrete tasks.
According to ODUS, "all spaces used by a group must be left in good condition, furniture returned to its proper place, etc. If a group leaves a facility or area in unsatisfactory condition, the individuals responsible may be disciplined and the organization charged for necessary maintenance. Repeated lack of compliance with regulations may result in loss of recognition for the group."
Most commonly used organic solvents (e.g., acetone, methanol, toluene, mineral spirits, turpentine) and paints are considered hazardous waste and cannot be disposed of with regular trash or poured down the drain. If you have hazardous waste to be disposed of, contact Environmental Health & Safety at 8-5294 for instructions.
For more information on hazardous waste disposal, please see Chemical Waste Disposal.