Orchestra students & parents—read this!

We are pleased to welcome you to the orchestra of Muse Machine’s Hairspray!

The hard work is about to begin!  Review the schedule with your family and look for any potential conflicts. Plan to arrive at the Muse studio ten minutes before rehearsals begin. We can usually be flexible with conflicts as long as you notify us soon.

Your music is available now. If you are able to pick it up at the Muse Machine office prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, this will allow you to review your score before the first rehearsal (Mon, Nov 21, noon-8:30pm or Tues, Nov 22, noon-8:30pm).

While participating in the Muse musical, your lifeline to important information and communication will be our website. It’s like a toolbox for the students and their families and it’s time to start using some of those tools today!

You reached this information (the page you are currently reading) by going to the MUSICALS & CONCERTS tab on the homepage and then selecting BACKSTAGE on the dropdown menu.

These resources on the BACKSTAGE page will be updated regularly throughout the show. Often, you will receive brief automated calls from us telling you that there is something new for you there.

Right now on the BACKSTAGE page…

• The Orchestra Rehearsal Schedule

• Parents: please complete the Family Info Form ASAP! (orchestra members who are 19 or older, please complete this form for yourself – thanks!)

• You can send messages to the orchestra staff through the website.

• Also check out the other links there, like the Winter Dance, Flower Sale and more!

What will it cost?

There will be other items/opportunities (show T-shirt, winter dance, etc) for the students to purchase if you and they choose to do so. The price you pay for these things generally covers the actual expense and does not bring income to Muse Machine, nor is there a participation fee, like most similar programs. The program can stay afloat on sponsorships and ticket sales. We know that participating families enjoy seeing the show and by purchasing tickets for multiple friends and family members (or encouraging those purchases), you can do your part to sustain the program.

Where can students park?

ABM Parking Services has been remarkably kind to offer wildly discounted parking to musical participants. Parking is now provided in Kettering Tower, less than a block from the rehearsal site (51 N Jefferson St). They are able to offer our student drivers “$1.50-per-park”, which is substantially less than normal rates for any nearby garage (an $8.50 discount every time!). Not to mention, the option is close and monitored by security. Likewise, if students choose to park in a different lot or garage, posted fees will apply and must be paid to avoid towing. ON WEEKDAYS YOU MUST ENTER THE GARAGE AFTER 4:00 OR WE CANNOT VALIDATE YOUR TICKET.

Where do we drop off and pick up students?

Students may be dropped off in front of the Metropolitan Arts Center or on First St next to the Victoria Theatre.  They should arrive 10 minutes prior to the rehearsal time listed on the schedule.  Any student arriving after the scheduled rehearsal time (without prior notification) will be considered tardy.  Every effort will be made to release students at the scheduled time.  If students are being picked up in front of the Metropolitan Arts Center, please remember that buses use the curb lane and cars are not permitted to wait along the curb for an extended time. Please stay in a single line of cars “orbiting” the building to pick up students.

Will students be safe downtown before and after practice?

Muse Machine utilizes volunteer parents and off-duty Dayton police officers to provide security around the Metropolitan Arts Center following rehearsals and during any weekend meal breaks.  Although volunteers and officers can escort students to their cars, we consider the provided parking garage to be a very safe option.  Students can best ensure their safety by simply traveling in groups.

Where can students eat?

There are several restaurants in the surrounding area, with prices and hours that vary. Vending machines are located on the fourth floor, near the rehearsal room.  Students may bring food and eat on the fourth floor near the vending machines or along the hallway. Absolutely NO food or beverages (with the exception of bottled water) are permitted in the rehearsal studio unless Muse has provided it. Breaks occur during rehearsals and encourage all students to bring a beverage and sandwich, snack, etc to keep up energy and good health.

What if students are late or have to miss rehearsal?

We do realize that there will be times when students will be late or need to miss a rehearsal altogether. However, excessive tardiness and absences will result in dismissal from the cast.  Efforts will be made to accommodate requests for absences (there may be NO conflicts during the Victoria Theatre rehearsals in January). These requests must be submitted to the Orchestra Staff via that link on the website.

How do I contact the creative staff?

We share lots of info with all of you on the “Backstage” page of our website. Go to musemachine.com, under the MUSE MUSICALS & CONCERTS tab, select BACKSTAGE. Among other things, you’re able to “Send a message to the musical creative staff”. This is an especially fast way to send a message to the musical staff. During rehearsals, the Rehearsal Stage Manager will receive those messages as you send them. Phone messages left at 937-222-MUSE ext 401 will be collected once each day, M-F.

Can parents watch rehearsals?

In order to keep students focused on their work, parents are not permitted to watch rehearsals.  A selection of rehearsal and performance photographs will be made available to families following the production.

Will rehearsal be canceled if weather is severe?

If the weather becomes severe, an automated phone message will alert all participants to rehearsal decisions. The decision regarding cancellation will be made by 1:00pm each weekday, and by one hour prior to rehearsals on weekends. As a rule of thumb, if downtown Dayton reaches a “level 3 emergency”, rehearsal will be canceled. Although cancelling rehearsals can pose a significant hardship for the production, we will not ask anyone to travel in unsafe driving conditions.

Where can we buy tickets?

Hairspray tickets are on sale exclusively through Ticket Center Stage. You may follow the link on musemachine.com, go to ticketcenterstage.com, call 937-228-3630 or purchase in person at their box office in the Schuster Center lobby. You will avoid certain fees by purchasing in person at the box office.

What is the Winter Dance?

The Parents’ Association throws a Winter Dance at the Packard Museum on Sunday, December 18. It features the finest big band in the area, refreshments provided by the parents and is often described by those who come as “more fun than prom”. All the students are invited, as are parents and musical alum. There is also an optional dinner (pre-planned by the Parents’ Association) which allows for a complete, no-fuss, inexpensive, wonderful evening. Information on both the dance and dinner will be provided in November.

How do we deliver flowers or gifts to students during performances?

If you would like to have gifts delivered to students during any of the performances, the first and last name of the student must be clearly written on the item.  Gifts can be given to a Victoria Theatre staff member stationed near the back right-hand side of the lobby, for delivery to the student.  Only parents who have volunteered for specific duties (and wearing a backstage pass) will be allowed backstage before, during or after performances. Please consider ordering flowers through the Parents’ Association (information forthcoming in November).

Facebook, Twitter and Muse

There are important ways that students and parents can help the musical experience through Facebook: an improved ability to communicate to students and parents and also a powerful way to promote the show.

First and foremost, it is important to know that we are not urging any student or parent’s participation on Facebook. Whether or not anyone has a Facebook account is, of course, a matter for each individual and his or her family. Muse Machine is not encouraging anyone to create an account for our benefit, nor are we asking that you “friend” anyone from Muse Machine. We absolutely respect anyone’s choice not to participate on Facebook. This is simply for those who have chosen to participate.

If you follow our Facebook page, you’ll see that we will post announcements, updates, photos and videos throughout the course of the production. Every time you “Like” one of these posts, it is seen by more and more people. However, the best thing you can do is click “Share” (which is next to the “Like” option). This makes the post and photo appear on your page so that your friends and family see it as well. When tickets go on sale to the public in November, we will post the event on Facebook and by indicating that you are attending (as a performer or an audience member) it spreads the word to many, many more people.

The same ideas apply to Twitter as well – tweeting or retweeting about the show is a huge help!

We will ask your help in the months ahead to make the show successful—all of us want full audiences—and in a time of struggling newspapers, Facebook can be a particularly powerful way to get people to the show. But it only works if all of you participate, “Share” and “Like” the posts, comment and say you’re attending. Together we can fill the Victoria Theatre!