SDC Green Statement

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society supports the important work of the Broadway Green Alliance and recommends that all SDC directors and choreographers, as leaders in the theatrical community, create an environment that welcomes and encourages the use of sustainable practices in their productions nationwide. A list of recommended green practices can be found at www.broadwaygreen.com. Our efforts can have a powerful impact on public awareness and acceptance of this important issue.

Small things matter: First Steps for Directors in Sustainable Theater

1. Be open and public with your green intentions. Partner with designers who make sustainability a priority. Request green options from your designers.
2. Elect a Green Captain to the cast on the first day of rehearsal and encourage the cast to follow their guidance.
3. Take time educate yourself on the green practices available to your designers at  broadwaygreeningadvisor.org
4. Whenever possible, use non-paper options.
5. Rehearse in work light instead of stage light in order to conserve energy and turn off the lights at the end of the day.

What Theatre Artists Can Do to Green Their Practice

1. Provide mugs or reusable water bottles for the cast and crew.
2. When working with designers, know what questions to ask, i.e., ask the lighting designer for pre-visualization in order to see the hues before tech; ask for the light base level to be set lower so that brighter moments in the show do not require as much energy; request the set designer use American-produced wood sources.
3. Cut down on paper by printing scripts double-sided or on recycled paper, placing recycling bins in common areas, and emailing audition info, notes, and rehearsal schedules.
4. Borrow, buy, or rent props and costumes from other theatres, thrift stores, and organizations.
5. Be mindful with regard to technology: use rechargeable batteries for microphones and turn off lights and computers at the end of the day.
6. Switch lights to LEDs or CFLs. These lights last longer, create less heat, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
7. Write down everything you use in order to keep track of materials and where they come from. This will help you monitor how much you are using and give you ideas of how to cut back.
8. Once the show closes, before throwing anything away, look for places that will accept your materials. Organizations, such as TDF Costume Collection, Build It Green, Film Biz Recycling, and Materials for the Arts, reuse, repurpose, or donate the materials to local schools and charities.
9. At the conclusion of a production, bring the cast and crew together for a postmortem to discuss which practices were successful and which can be improved upon.

Do you have ideas to share? Write us at info@sdcweb.org. Put Green Ideas in the subject line.