CAST PARTICIPATION, ATTENDANCE, RECASTING & REMOVAL POLICY

Participation in our productions requires a meaningful commitment from both students and families. Theater is a collaborative, time-sensitive art form, and the success of each production depends on consistent attendance, preparedness, and respectful conduct.

 

Attendance, Conflict Sheets & Commitment

All families are required to complete and submit a Conflict Sheet prior to casting. Conflicts listed on the Conflict Sheet are considered excused absences and are taken into account during casting and rehearsal planning.

• Only conflicts listed on the Conflict Sheet are considered excused, with the exception of illness.
• Absences or late arrivals not listed on the Conflict Sheet are considered unexcused, except in the case of illness.
• Repeated illness-related absences may still impact a student’s ability to participate if they prevent the student from meeting the rehearsal requirements of the production.

Excessive absences, chronic lateness, or inability to meet rehearsal requirements—whether excused or unexcused—may affect a student’s role or continued participation in the production.

If a student is unable to commit to the rehearsal schedule required for their role, the directors reserve the right to:

• Reassign or reduce roles
• Recast a role
• Remove a student from specific scenes or numbers
• Remove a student from the production or program entirely

 

Conduct & Behavior

All students and families are expected to maintain respectful, appropriate behavior toward staff, fellow students, and families at all times.

Behavior that interferes with the rehearsal process, disrupts the program, creates an unsafe or uncomfortable environment, or is deemed disruptive or unmanageable by the directors may result in:

 

• Role reassignment or reduction
• Removal from the production
• Removal from the program

 

This includes, but is not limited to, repeated boundary violations, inappropriate communication, or conduct that negatively impacts the well-being of others.

 

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Director Discretion

The directors reserve the sole discretion to make casting, recasting, and participation decisions in the best interest of the production, the students, and the program as a whole. These decisions are final.

 

No Guarantee of Role

Casting in a production does not guarantee a student will retain their role for the duration of the rehearsal process. Continued participation is contingent upon meeting attendance, commitment, and behavioral expectations as outlined above.

 

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Communication Expectations

Communication with staff must occur through designated channels and during posted business hours. Excessive, inappropriate, or boundary-violating communication may be considered unmanageable behavior and subject to review under this policy.

• Mel O’ Musical/Drama is implementing a new late pickup policy to help protect our teachers and their time; we appreciate everything they do for us! Starting January 1, 2026, the following policies will be implemented:

  • We will offer a 10 minute grace period to every family/student after each class or lesson

  • For every 1 minute after the 10 minute grace period, families will owe $1. (For example, if class ends at 4:00, and a student is picked up at 4:16, that family would owe $6)

    • If a teacher needs to leave immediately at their class end time, for whatever reason, they must notify parents by email at least 48 hours in advance. Then families will be charged $1 per minute past the class end time. (For example, if class ends at 4:00, and the teacher emailed 48 hours in advance that students would need to be picked up right at 4pm, and a student is picked up at 4:05, that family would owe $5).

  • Families will be charged through Sawyer if it was a regular registered class, or through MMS if a private lesson student