All-of-us Express
Children's Theatre
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Dress Code and Behavior Expectations
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All-of-us Express is a unique place. Part of the attraction
is that young people are a little more free to be themselves
here than in some other places. But we still expect
participants to behave and not totally ignore the expectations of our
culture because (1) there actually are some good reasons and (2)
we're here to experience theater.
Ideally we'd like everyone to just behave, be reasonable and responsible,
get along and have awesome fun. When that doesn't work, we'll
need to enforce some simple rules.
"Huh. You and what army?
"We don't need an army. You play by our rules, or you are
not allowed to participate. It's your choice. That's part
of our mission, helping young people grow to be responsible adults
who can take their turn at shaping the world. Make the right choices in
life and you'll get a turn at making the rules."
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"You and what army?"
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The dress code is the simple "four B's" used in many high
schools: no boobs, no bellies, no backs, no butts. As in, keep them covered
so we don't have to look at them.
"Are you talking to me?"
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"Yo! Artsy Director. Are you talking to me? "
"Yes, I'm talking to you. You're showing a bit too much in the
front and, we assume (but don't really want to know), in the rear."
"So, what... suit and tie? Suit of armor?"
"Not unless it's your costume. And we don't care about the accessories so
long as they don't impede your movement while you rehearse or cause safety
issues in your crew area. But they
do not go to the performance space with you."
"My hair?"
"If that's the hair you had at auditions, no problem. You were cast on
that basis. But don't make radical changes to your hair without asking the
director if it's okay! "
"Uh, that makes sense."
"Good! If we don't make sense, feel free to call us on it. We're not
doing this to cramp your style; we're doing this because we—all of
us—are here for theater, not a fashion show."
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"I suppose this isn't okay, either?"
"I hope you pick up your lines and blocking this quickly.
No, this is a little bit too touchy-feely
for a theater company that has participants as young as age six,
with nervous parents wandering around watching what the teens
are up to. There are more appropriate ways to show affection
and express your feelings."
"Sitting next to each other? Holding hands?"
"Okay, so long as you don't miss your call because you're busy
staring into each other's eyes."
"A little bit of..."
"Nope."
"'Cause we're here to do theater, not..."
"Exactly."
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"I suppose this isn't okay, either?"
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Questions about the dress code, or about behavior at any All-of-us Express
activity? Ask Miranda.
"Miranda? How do I get to help make the rules?"
"There are two youth members on our Board
of Trustees. That's the place to start. Watch for an open youth position
on the Board. But..."
"But what?"
"When you help make the rules, you also have to be an example of those
rules."
"Ah."
Revised 31 May 2008.
Illustrations copyright © Lisa Lees
It is the mission of All-of-us Express Children's Theatre to
offer young people of all backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles
the opportunity to produce professional quality plays, study many
aspects of the dramatic arts, and develop valuable life skills
while providing outstanding entertainment to the community.
All-of-us Express Children's Theatre is an Equal Opportunity
employer and provides programs and services without regard to
age, color, creed, gender identity, disability, height,
membership in any labor organization, national origin,
parental status, political identification, race, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, or weight.
All-of-us Express, P.O. Box 1871, East Lansing MI 48826,
(517) 394-4118
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