STAGE MANAGEMENT

  • Use digital communications and scripts. Cultivate an “opt out” culture, where digital is the norm and company members must choose to “opt out” to receive hard copies. To avoid financial barriers to company members, consider providing tablets for those who need them.
  • Utilize digital blocking and paperwork options. Some recommended programs include Scriptation and Stage Write. This video discusses how five-time Tony Award winner, Susan Stroman (The Producers), utilized Stage Write during her Broadway show, Marie, Dancing Still – A New Musical, at all stages of production: in pre-production, rehearsals, and to create an accurate document showing all the moving pieces.
  • Use digital call boards with a display screen or virtual callboards - accessible by phone or computer - for essential information.
  • Switch to a digital house board, currently in use at several Broadway theatres.
  • Utilize digital portals to distribute information such as contact sheets and rehearsal schedules, as well as to collect forms, such as personal day and vacation requests.
  • Encourage company members to bring their own food and beverages - in reusable containers - for breaks and in between shows. Refer to FOOD in Section 3.
  • If water stations are not available, provide water in aluminum cans over single-use plastic. Refer to CUPS AND WATER BOTTLES in Section 3 for canned water options.

COMPANY MANAGEMENT

  • Use digital portals for ticket signups, house seat requests, payroll changes, vacation requests, personal day requests, and any other essential documents.

MUSICIANS & PLAYING AREA

  • Encourage the personal use of digital musical scores and parts, utilizing tablets or other devices.
  • Utilize LED lighting in pit lights, such as the Bulbrite bulb used by HAMILTON on Broadway.

PERFORMERS

  • To better assist with cleaning at dressing stations and to begin to eliminate single-use items, distribute personal bins for all company members to contain reusable items, such as:
    • Reusable Bottles (refer to CUPS AND WATER BOTTLES in Section 3).
    • Reusable Cutlery (refer to CUTLERY in Section 3).
    • Personal dishware and other personal items.
  • Encourage performers to bring their own coffee and meals, in reusable containers. Refer to FOOD in Section 3.
  • Promote the use of greener cleaning supplies for dishware, surfaces, and personal products (refer back to Section 1 for recommended, green cleaning products).

SCENIC & CARPENTRY

  • In coordination with Production Management, the scenic and carpentry production team should create a sustainable pre-production and post-production plan.
  • Consider HVAC air flow and backstage COVID-19 space requirements in scenic plans ahead of time.
  • Consult with the appointed COVID-19 Coordinator before plans are drawn out to decrease the amount of waste produced when the set arrives at the theatre.

WARDROBE, HAIR, & MAKEUP

  • Recycle personal care and beauty items through (often free) specialty recycling programs, such as TerraCycle.

LIGHTING

  • Encourage the use of LED lighting fixtures. This saves on energy usage for the light itself, produces less heat, saves on HVAC cost and emissions, and reduces the use of disposable gel. In addition to stage lighting, switch to LED fixtures in the following areas:
    • Dressing room mirror lighting.
    • Work lights, including rehearsal works.
    • House lighting.
  • Encourage less paperwork printing by providing tablets for technicians (spot ops, etc).
  • Install motion sensors in common places, such as bathrooms, green rooms, etc.
  • Employ reusable options for labels, zip-ties, and other common perishables. Try old-fashioned tie-line!

SOUND

  • Limit battery purchases of non-rechargeable batteries. Instead, add recharge stations to the sound rental package and purchase rechargeable batteries for microphones and other departments’ needs, including headlamps and flashlights. This article outlines how WICKED on Broadway switched to rechargeable batteries, helping the production further its sustainability goals and save considerable money annually.
  • Avoid the sharing of microphone packs, headsets, or radios to avoid the waste involved in sanitizing and changing out windscreens.

PROPS

  • Consider miming props in the rehearsal room, rather than bringing them in at the start of the rehearsal process. When physical props are required - in tech and performances - spray each prop with a disinfectant between uses by different performers, rather than utilizing disposable wipes.
  • Store prop food and other perishables in glass tupperware or reusable containers.
  • Coffee breaks & supplies:
    • Say no to extras, such as sugars, stirring straws, napkins, etc.
    • Employ reusable shopping bags.
    • See FOOD in Section 3.

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

  • See ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY in Section 1 and implement those practices.
  • Look for FSC or SFI certification on lumber and paper, which ensures fiber came from sustainably managed forests or sources (2).
  • CO Adaptive Architecture outlined some sustainable measures to consider when renovating an existing or creating a new theatrical space in a case study titled, “Sustainable Theatrical Space”.
  • Consider the numbers involved with providing and disposing of PPE and attempt not to overorder.
  • If you are based in NYC, take advantage of the (city-funded: Mayor's Office of Sustainability), free NYC Accelerator Program. This program and other HVAC incentives provide resources to conduct energy audits and consultations to comply with local laws, and especially comply with building carbon emission limits (local law 97 or Local Law 95) to improve your building energy efficiency grade from its current grade towards an "A". USL Technology, a sub-consultant of ICF, works with the city to provide services such as these.

GREEN ROOM

  • Do not stock the green room with single-use supplies (such as cups, plates, cutlery, etc) - instead, provide each company member with their own set of reusable supplies for which they are personally responsible. Refer to CUTLERY and BOTTLES AND CUPS in Section 3. These items can be stored in each company member’s personal bin or locker.
  • If possible, install a dishwasher in the green room or other common space.
  • Install motion sensors in common places, such as the green room.
  • Install automatic faucets in all backstage sinks, to save water and to avoid an additional contact surface.
  • If paper towels must be used, encourage the use of unbleached, 100% recycled paper towels. Refer to HYGIENE & PERSONAL SANITATION Sustainable Recommendations & Opportunities in Section 1.

SOURCES

(1) Cleaning and Disinfection for Households

(2) Forest Stewardship Council vs. Sustainable Forestry Initiative: A Comparison of the Standards

 
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Questions? Email the BGA: info@broadwaygreen.com