If you are new to Lumina Studio Theatre, welcome! If you are one of our many continuing Lumina families, welcome back. If you have any questions, you will probably find the answers here. Questions are welcome, but please take a look at these policies first.
Registration
Lumina has an 90% retention rate for actors who return season after season. Priority registration is offered to current actors. See the Calendar for dates of Priority and Open registration. Registrations are taken on a first-come first-served basis. Actors are wait-listed once a rehearsal group is full.
We accept all young actors (without disabilities that would prohibit them from performing) who are serious about learning acting techniques and performing.
Payments
Full payment is due with registration. If you need to set up installment payments (as per this payment schedule) please contact the office:
Installment Payment Schedule
| Amount Due and Due Dates | Players | Guild & Ensemble | Classic |
| With registration(non-refundable) | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| 1st Installment due -
February 1 for Spring or September 1 for Fall |
$130 | $167 | $141 |
| 2nd Installment due -
March 1 for Spring or October 1 for Fall |
$130 | $167 | $142 |
| Final Installment due -
April 1 for Spring or November 1 for Fall |
$130 | $166 | $142 |
| Total | $490 | $600 | $525 |
There is a $5 service fee added for late payments. There is a $25 fee for any returned checks.
Refunds
Once Lumina receives the registration form and payment, the registration is considered final and there are NO REFUNDS!
The refund policy is clear - NO EXCEPTIONS. This policy applies whether the actor drops out or is asked to leave. If an actor changes her/his mind or drops out, the production fee cannot be "credited" towards another session or be considered a donation. Please understand that we cannot make exceptions to this NO REFUNDS policy.
Financial Assistance
Limited financial aid is available for families in special economic circumstances. A family applying for financial aid should do so in writing at the time of registration. Lumina follows the MCPS FARMS guidelines for financial assistance. Please contact the Lumina office for additional information.
Attendance
Lumina is primarily a classic theatre company. We believe that the imaginative power, technical sophistication, and grace of Shakespearean language and characters gives the practitioner the best that dramatic literature has to offer. The director and production team approach each session and each session's production as a "hand made" creative project that requires complete devotion. This means an exciting adventure for the actors such as they may have never experienced before. It also means hard work! Fun work, exciting work, but hard work.
Attendance at scheduled rehearsals is mandatory. An actor who misses rehearsal creates a gap in the rehearsal process making it difficult to practice and perfect the production.
Attendance at ALL COMBINED rehearsals is mandatory - no exceptions. Lumina must be the actor's top priority and take precedence over other activities including sports and school or other performances. An actor who misses more than 2 rehearsals may have their part or lines re-assigned.
Late arrival/Early departure: Promptness is a form of respect to the director and fellow actors. Late arrivals and early departures disrupt the discipline and effectiveness of the creative process. All conflicts should be noted on the conflict sheet. Lumina does not excuse attendance at rehearsals for school trips, band performances, or any other school activity not listed on the conflict sheet. If an actor misses a rehearsal or is consistently tardy, their part may be adjusted or they may not be allowed to perform.
Sickness & Illness: If an actor is ambulatory and fever-free they should attend rehearsal. Alert the director so that the actor's condition can be taken into account. Email the office prior to rehearsal time if your actor MUST be absent due to illness. They should attend the earliest possible makeup rehearsal.
Lumina Packet
Each actor will receive a packet at the first rehearsal. The packet includes: Measurement Sheet, Conflict Sheet, Hold Harmless, Release form, Volunteer information, How to Buy Tickets information and a rehearsal schedule. Please review and complete the required forms and have your actor return them to Lumina at the second rehearsal.
Production week
The final week of rehearsal is exciting and fun, but also tiring. A packet with information on rehearsals, call times, and answers to frequently asked questions is sent home prior to production week. Please carefully review and follow this information.
ALL PRODUCTION WEEK REHEARSALS ARE MANDATORY!!! There are NO exceptions!!! All actors should be on-call (available by phone) to act as understudies for their role in the alternate cast. If your actor is ill and cannot perform, contact the Production Manager as soon as possible before the actor's call time.
Attire and Hair
Weekly rehearsals involve a high degree of physical activity. Actors should come to all rehearsals:
- With their hair secured off their face (this includes boys)
- Wearing antiperspirant/deodorant
- Wearing clothes that are comfortable to move in
- Tight, short skirts
- Micro-short shorts
- Halter, tube or cropped tops
- Pants that drag on the floor
- Any visible undergarments
Casting
All actors who register for the session will be assigned a role in that session's production and given the opportunity to perform. The exception to this policy is the actor who misses too many rehearsals, or does not adequately memorize their lines. Because the actual rehearsal time with actors is limited, and the scope of the production is challenging, it is Lumina's policy to focus on the quality of the performances, not the quantity of lines for each actor. Roles and line loads will be small - especially for the younger actors. The older and more experienced actors will play the more demanding roles. For all actors Lumina strives to instill a sense of pride in attempting to perfect one's role - whatever the size. Experience has shown that every young person can shine in the role they are given if they give it their best effort.
Behavior
At the first rehearsal actors are informed about the professional behavior and the theatre rules listed below. These expectations form a contract between Lumina and its actors which parents are expected to support.
General Behavior for Actors: The following short list of dos and don'ts can be summed up in one word: "respect"- for the art of theatre, for the director, and for fellow-actors, as well as the actor's self-respect.
- Violence or abusive language of any kind will not be tolerated.
- Derogatory language, teasing of other actors, or negative behavior will not be tolerated.
- Lumina is NOT a place for after-school chatting and "horsing around"- this is a distraction for all.
- The actor is here to rehearse and be directed. If the director desires an actor's opinion it will be requested. Otherwise the actor should refrain from offering opinions or instructing other actors.
- Whenever actors enter the studio or theatre they should be attentive to the director. Converse quietly and run lines quietly with fellow actors and be listening for instruction. When the director calls for quiet (by saying "Actors") the actors will immediately be focused and attentive.
- Actors are responsible for the care of their costumes and props. They will leave the dressing room and stage exactly as they found it - neat and tidy, with costumes hung up carefully.
- Any actor leaving their costumes, props, or personal belongings for the directors or production team to pick up will be fined $1 for every piece, each time.
- During performances and rehearsals when the Director announces that "Theatre Rules are now in effect," the actor is expected to remember and observe the following:
- Absolutely no offstage talking or noise whatsoever.
- Actors should follow their scripts offstage to silently review lines and be ready to make their entrances on cue.
- Actors will not watch the play from the audience, through the set, or entrances.
- Actors may wear or touch only their own costumes and props and may not touch or interfere with any other equipment in the theatre or studio.
Learning Lines - An Actor's Most Important job upon receiving the script is to memorize their lines. Lumina has learned through experience that the following is a successful way for actors to learn their lines:
- Actors should make a spare copy, then take a yellow highlighter and highlight THEIR lines and blocking (stage movements).
- They then should take a different colored highlighter and highlight their CUE lines (the lines immediately before their lines).
- The actor should then memorize their lines, cue lines, and blocking.
- Once they are comfortable with the lines, a parent must run their lines and blocking with them (parent saying the cue lines). This is very important as it is a way for parents to check if their actor is on target. Particularly with Shakespeare, every word must be accurate - no paraphrasing.
It is no surprise that the better an actor knows their lines the better their performance will be, and the more the actor will enjoy a feeling of mastery. It is that simple.
If an actor's lines are not memorized by the due date, we reserve the right to reallocate lines to other actors or delete them.
A schedule will be given out with scripts as to when specific sections of the script are due, but in general all lines and blocking are due letter perfect from the actors by the second rehearsal of October for the Fall session and the second rehearsal of March for the Spring session.
Actors are responsible for their scripts at all times. This means:
- Making a copy of the script and keeping in a safe place. Lumina does not replace lost scripts.
- Bringing the script to every rehearsal and performance
- Taking the script home after every rehearsal and performance
Actor Behavior Policy: The following procedures govern actor misbehavior. Usually the infraction will be about something clearly laid out in this policy section (horsing around, chatting during rehearsal, insubordination, disruptive, uncooperative or disrespectful behavior):
- First infraction - Actor will be warned verbally and parents notified.
- Second infraction - Actor warned again and parents notified. A parent and actor conference will be arranged as soon as feasible to discuss the situation.
- Third infraction - Actor will be dismissed from the rehearsals and the program.
There will be no refund given for an actor who is dismissed. While Lumina treasures each actor's unique personality, it is expected that all actors bring basic courtesy, respect, and socialization skills. Lumina does not excuse or overlook inappropriate behavior for any reason.
It is imperative that parents notify the office about any child's learning challenges or potential behavioral problems before the child is registered, and provide the appropriate information in the Acknowledgement Sheet in the actor's packet.
Costumes
Lumina provides costumes that remain the property of Lumina. Actors may be asked to provide appropriate footwear including shoes, socks, stockings, and tights, and hair supplies. These items remain the property of the actor and should be labeled. ALL actors are required to wear antiperspirant/deodorant whenever they are in costume.
Cancellations and Closings
Lumina does not always follow Montgomery County Public School decisions regarding the cancellation of rehearsals. Always check the website or your email before assuming that rehearsals are cancelled.
Lumina does not close for any holidays other than Thanksgiving (Wednesday through Sunday) and MCPS spring break. See the calendar page for specific dates.
Photography
Lumina has photos taken for promotional opportunities. If you do not wish your child to be included in photos or videos, please complete the 'release' page in the packet.
No photography, video or audio recording of any kind is allowed during rehearsals, production week, and performances without the explicit consent of the Managing Director.
Ticket Sales:
- Tickets are sold in advance on-line at www.brownpapertickets.com
- The office does not handle ticketing matters.
Seating Policy
- Tickets are sold based on the number of seats in the house.
- We offer a "wait list" for tickets that are not claimed
- All patrons must watch the show from a seat. There are no "standing room only" viewing areas.
- All ticket holders must be seated 10 minutes prior to curtain time.
- Any unclaimed will-call tickets will be sold to the wait list beginning 10 minutes prior to curtain time.
- There is NO SEATING later than 10 minutes after curtain time. After this time, patrons may watch the performance on the lobby monitor.
- It is recommended that all ticket holders (and wait-list patrons) arrive at the theatre at least 30 minutes prior to curtain time.
