Backstage At The Beach

Welcome!

This page is designed to help guide you through the backstage crew process here at CSULB as well as keep everyone in the loop on what's happening in and around the Theatre Arts Department.

CURRENT CREW OPPORTUNITIES & SIGN UPS!!! Click here!

For those who need to fill out a Spring 25 activity unit form - please follow the link here:  https://forms.gle/FbSECEaj7sL9Unhu9

FALL 2025 MAINSTAGE AUDITIONS - Information Below!

  1. Everyone auditioning for any or all of our productions this Fall needs to sign up for a time slot to perform your one minute monologue on Monday, May 12th.  Here is the link for the monologue time slots:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B48AFA923A1F85-56395574-fall
  2. For those interested in Carrie the Musical, you'll need to sign up for an additional time slot on Tuesday, May 13th to sing your 16 bars.  Here is the link for the vocal audition time slots:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B48AFA923A1F85-56487116-fall
  3. Some of the shows will be holding callbacks on Tuesday (5/13) evening and the rest will be on Wednesday (5/14). Both days will be between 4pm - 10pm.  If you get a callback, you will receive an email from Ashley or a stage manager.  PLEASE understand that we will be using the email address you list on your audition form. Just because you didn't get a callback doesn't mean you're not cast in a show.
  4. Once you've secured your time slots, please make sure you take the time to fill out an audition form:  https://forms.office.com/r/xAZWiUrSYM  The production office will take care of the printing for you, but you must complete an audition form before you are seen by the directors.
  5. Important dates for all 4 fall productions are listed below. Please double check them and list all conflicts you have (including evening/weekend classes) on your audition form.
  6. We're hoping to have the cast lists posted by end of the day on May 16th at the latest.
  7. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email Ashley (ashley.boehneehlers@csulb.edu).

 

Important Dates for Fall 25 Mainstage Productions (Full schedules will be posted on the callboard):

RADIO PLAYS - SORRY, WRONG NUMBER & THE HITCH HIKER:
Rehearsals: August 25th - September 12th
Tech/Dress: September 15th - 17th
Preview Performance: Thursday, September 18th
Performances: September 19th - 20th & September 24th - 26th


SOMETIMES THE RAIN, SOMETIMES THE SEA:
Rehearsals*: August 25th - September 25th (*there will be some Saturday rehearsals)
Tech: September 26th - 27th & September 29th - October 1st
Preview Performance: Thursday, October 2nd
Performances: October 3rd - 4th & October 7th - 11th 


CARRIE, THE MUSICAL
Rehearsals*: September 9th - October 16th (*there will be some Saturday rehearsals)
Tech: October 17th - 18th & October 20th - 22nd 
Preview Performance: Thursday, October 23rd 
Performances: October 24th - 25th & October 29th - 31st


STUPID F##KING BIRD
Rehearsals: October 13th - November 13th (Dark 11/11)
Tech: November 14th - 15th & November 17th - 19th
Preview Performances: Thursday, November 20th 
Performances: November 21st - 22nd (Dark 11/23 - 11/30) & December 2nd - 6th (both Saturdays are 2pm)

 

There are 2 types of Activity Units that Theatre Arts students can enroll in - cast units and crew units.

Cast Units:

  • If cast in a Mainstage or Theatre Threshold production, students will enroll in THEA 110 A/B, 210 A/B, 310 A/B, 410 A/B
Performance # of Units Role in Productions Requirements 
Thea 110A/B 1 Cast--Freshman Rehearsals and performances, tech & strike 
Thea 210 A/B 1 Cast--Sophomore Rehearsals and performances, tech & strike 
Thea 310A/B 1 Cast--Junior Rehearsals and performances, tech & strike 
Thea 410A/B 1 Cast--Senior Rehearsals and performances, tech & strike 

 

Crew Units:

  • All Theatre Arts students need 4 crew activity units to graduate.   Each crew unit = 60 hours minimum participation time
  • Students enrolled in THEA 142, 146, 148 & 271 have a required corequisite starting in Fall 2024 and those students will need to enroll in a corresponding crew:
    • THEA 142 - Scenic Crews
    • THEA 146 - Costume Crews
    • THEA 148 - Lighting/Sound/Video Crews
    • THEA 271 - SM Teams for both mainstage & Thresholds
      • Scenic, costumes & lighting students also have the option of serving their hours in the shops with approval of the instructor
  • Theatre Threshold will have a few running crew slots open for their season as well.  With Theatre Threshold having a much shorter tech/performance schedule, students will need to crew 2 productions in order to fulfill the 1 unit.
  • Clarity of what roles earn units:
    • Mainstage Crew = 1 unit each
    • Mainstage Assistant Director = 1 unit (could be more dependent on the hours worked)
    • Mainstage Designer = 1 unit + Enrollment in 454A/B/C
    • Mainstage Assistant Designer = 1 unit + Enrollment in 454A/B/C
    • Mainstage PA = 1-2 units
    • Mainstage ASM = 1-2 units
    • Mainstage SM = 2-3 units
    • Mainstage Hang & Focus Crew = 1 unit
    • Theatre Threshold Director = 1 unit
    • Theatre Threshold Playwright = 1 unit (if actively participating in the rehearsal process)
    • Theatre Threshold SM/ASM = 1 unit
    • Theatre Threshold Designer/Coordinator = 1 unit for working on 2 productions (MUST SIGN UP FOR 2)
    • Theatre Threshold Crew = 1 unit for working on 2 productions (MUST SIGN UP FOR 2)
    • (Threshold Assistant Directors and Assistant Designers do not receive activity unit credit on Threshold productions)
Technical Theatre # of Units Role in Productions Requirements 
Thea 140A/B 1 Crew--Freshman Tech, Strike, Performances 
Thea 240A/B 1 Crew--Sophomore Tech, Strike, Performances 
Thea 340A/B 1 Crew--Junior Tech, Strike, Performances 
Thea 440A/B 1 Crew--Senior Tech, Strike, Performances 
Thea 498 (with permit only) 3 Stage Managers, Assistant Directors Rehearsals, Tech, Performances, Strike 

Crew Sign Ups:

  • All crew unit signups will be run through Ashley for both Mainstage & Theatre Threshold.  All crews are first come first serve.  Sign ups all take place online a week before classes begin.

 

 

Crew sign-ups will be available on Wednesday, August 20th at 12:00pm!

Basic Crewing Information for here at CSULB

Being a part of a crew on one of the productions here at CSULB is a huge learning experience.  You'll learn basic skills in your area as well as how to support your peers on the stage from behind the curtain as a team!  Below is information to help answer your questions, feel free to contact a member of the production team if you have further questions.

1)  Sign-up sheets are located electronically through Sign Up Genius. Links will be available on the crew opportunities page.

2)  Next, you must enroll in an Activity Unit from the list of Theatre Arts classes.  Activity Unit classes are listed as 140, 240, 340, 440.  Our backstage crews should enroll in a _40 course, we try and keep the cast members in the _10A/B courses.  Once you have officially enrolled in the activity unit course, please proceed to the next step.

3)  Once you sign up for a specific crew and you have officially enrolled in an Activity Unit course, you will need to fill out the activity form.  Click the button at the top of this section to take you there.

4)  From here, your contact information will be added to the show's contact sheet and a stage manager will contact you before you are called in for the production's Crew Watch.  You can find the performance calendar for each show on the Current Season page of this website as a reference in case of work conflicts.

Please note - you will be graded on your performance as a crew member for our productions.  Breakdown of credit earned, and specifics will be provided once officially enrolled in the activity unit.