You are not signed in. Sign In or Register
Broadway's Better Practices for Production
PRACTICES
  1. COMPANY AWARENESS & IMPLEMENTATION OF BETTER PRACTICES
    1. With the first call put out to the actors and staff regarding schedule and location of rehearsals, let them know that you will be incorporating greener practices into the production, including emailing out the schedules and contact sheets to everybody who is willing to participate
    2. On the first day of rehearsal, point out the ways that the production will be trying to implement environmentally better practices:
      1. offer the use of mugs instead of disposable cups
      2. offer re-useable bottles instead of disposable cups for water
      3. point out that recycling is mandatory and make the recycling containers easily accessible
      4. In those rooms without motion sensing light switches, post notices by all light switches (especially in bathrooms) reminding people to turn off the lights when they leave a room
      5. point out that the paperwork that they are given, if any, has been printed on either post-consumer recycled or scrap paper
      6. remind colleagues that they will receive some of their notices by email instead of hard copies
      7. Use tissues made with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content in the rehearsal room - the cast will notice and several will in turn make the extra effort to buy greener products for their homes (Go to www.nrdc.org/paper for a list of environmentally preferable tissue products)
      8. Encourage the company to recycle their payroll envelopes - on payday, offer a place for them to put their envelopes to be returned to the company manager
    3. Use power strips and turn off all computers, printers, sound systems, and any other electronic equipment that you have in rehearsal at the end of the day
    4. Use only the air conditioning that you need for rehearsal, and make sure it is turned off at the end of the day
    5. Use CFL's instead of regular light bulbs wherever you can

  2. CONTINUING AWARENESS
    1. As you move into the theater, remind the cast that some of the better green practices will continue in their new space.
      1. Give the cast a tour pointing out the recycling areas
      2. Make sure that the cast knows where their mugs and water bottles are, give them labels to attach to their water bottles, and make sure they have dish detergent and sponges at their disposal to keep them clean
      3. Post these reminders in the dressing rooms:
        1. Turn off the lights when you leave the room
        2. Turn off the A/C when you leave the room
        3. Unplug all appliances when they are not in use
        4. Unplug your chargers when they are not in use
        5. Turn off your computer if you are not using it

  3. REDUCING PAPER WASTE
    1. Keep the storage of inserts to the program to a minimum or, if it's possible to print them on an as-needed basis, don't keep copies of inserts at all.
    2. If you must store inserts, print 6 per page instead of 4 per page
    3. If you can print your own stuffers, put all listings on one half-sheet.
    4. Use only 100% recycled paper
    5. Print on the back of scrap paper whenever possible
    6. Use old inserts as note pads/scratch pads
    7. Use both sides of the paper on spiral notebooks or legal pads

  4. DEPARTMENTAL
    1. Wardrobe
      1. Use eco-friendly detergents (Go to www.nrdc.org/greenadvisor for a list of suppliers)
      2. Wash clothes in cold water
      3. Recycle old t-shirts to use for rags
    2. Sound
      1. Recycle partially used batteries
      2. Use re-chargeable batteries whenever possible
    3. Carpentry/Props
      1. Use proper disposal of toxic wastes such as paint, paint thinners, glues, etc.

  5. LONG-RUNNING SHOWS
    1. Have a meeting with the entire company to discuss the implementation of these better practices, and point out the recycling areas in the building
    2. post reminders for the company throughout the building
    3. Make a "green" package to hand out to new company members along with their welcome package, and make sure they are aware of where the recycling areas are, and give them a list of the ways that the company is trying to reduce their carbon footprint
GOALS

Within One Year:
  1. Industry-wide Proper Disposal of Waste
    1. Get a list of what is considered toxic waste, and hand out guidelines as to the proper disposal of old appliances, etc. (ie: how do you properly dispose of an old iron?)
    2. Set up times and places that items can be delivered to for proper disposal, and make sure that all shows are aware (electronics, batteries, etc.)
  2. Community Commitment
    1. Get a commitment from 100% of the currently running Broadway shows, and at least 75% of the new Broadway shows to participate in this initiative.
  3. Develop and distribute a list of guidelines for all Broadway shows on how they can reduce their carbon footprint
  4. Develop a carbon calculator (based on London's Green Theatre carbon calculator) that can be used for every Broadway show
  5. Have a bi-monthly newsletter that will be distributed to every show running on Broadway that will include:
    1. Tips on how you can take your green practices at work and implement them into your home
    2. Fun facts on energy conservation
    3. Interviews and articles written by people in the industry about their own personal efforts
    4. Spotlight on a particular show or organization, describing and sharing their green efforts – alternate new shows, running shows, regional theaters, offices/unions
  6. Develop a website to catalogue better practices, including one area for industry and another for fans to share ideas and information
Within Five Years:
  1. Measure the carbon footprint for every show running on Broadway
  2. Have the implementation of these better practices become routine
    1. Elect a "green deputy" at the beginning of rehearsal who will oversee the efforts
    2. Get a structure in place for all new shows to help make these practices part of their routine
  3. Create an annual brochure for new producers and shows, with suggestions of how their show can be built, run and recycled greener.
  4. Run bi-annual forums for the community to share new ideas and information
  5. Include greenification as part of all League outreach initiatives