Berto_Tony_201307_PhD .pdf - University of Guelph

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production used their own cars for transportation and shared hotel rooms rented by
Grignard for the production. (Professional productions often house out-of-town actors, but
normal practice allows actors individual accommodations, not shared). The set for the play
was minimal; only a papier-mâché cherry tree and a few props were used. Grignard's
mother ran a box office by setting up a card-table at the theatre's entrance, and no system
was in place to reserve tickets; audience members bought them on a first-come-first-serve
basis. Grignard did purchase a liquor license and served local beer and wine from another
table at the back of the theatre. This service was presumably offered to off-set the cost of
the production.
Theatre Workers
Grignard economised by using entirely non-professional personnel, although all
would have been somewhat familiar with industry conventions through their training. The
four actors had either been accepted into the BFA acting program at the University of
Alberta, or were in the BA program there (where they have the possibility of moving into
the BFA program) (Program, Orchard). At this early point in their careers none was a
member of Equity which allowed them to perform in the play on terms they had agreed to
with Grignard. At the close of the production, Grignard was able to pay each actor a $100
honorarium. The crew, a stage manager, technical director and a production designer were
all also in BFA Program at the University of Alberta in their respective disciplines (inhouse
technicians, members of CUPE, were also employed as a part of rental agreements
for the Black Box space) (Simmons 1).