BUGS Constitution

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Monday 9/1/08, 9pm: Board meeting in Nick's apartment.

BUGS News

5/5/08: Director's applications are now closed. The fall production will be Patience, directed by Peter Hatch!

4/3/08: Director's applications for the fall production are now open! Click here to apply.

3/19/08: Ticket reservations for The Mikado are now open. Click here to reserve a ticket.

11/24/07: Applications for directors of the spring semester show are now open. Click here to apply!

11/5/07: Ticket reservations for Yeomen are now open. To reserve tickets, click here.

9/21/07: There will be supplimental chorus auditions this Wednesday from 7-9pm in Wilson. Please come try out!

9/7/07: Please check out the information on BUGS' fall production: The Yeomen of the Guard. Auditions are this week!

4/20/07: Interested in directing the BUGS fall semester show? Apply by May 6th. Contact Jessica Marquardt for more information.

3/16/07 BUGS Spring production of HMS Pinafore is coming. The shows will be held on April 6th and 7th. Reserve your tickets now!

3/9/07: Interested in attending the BUGS Sing-in '07? Register now!

News Archives

Constitution
of
Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan
Revised and updated this 4th day of the month of May in the year 2006
Preamble

WE, the people of Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan, in order to expand the realm of topsy-turvydom to new areas, do hereby declare the existence of a new group on the campus of Brown University.

Article I Name, purpose and membership
§ 1 Name.  The name of the group shall be Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan, hereinafter referred to as BUGS. 
§2 Purpose.  The purpose of BUGS shall be the performance of the various works of Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan and Sir William Schwenck Gilbert for the amusement and edification of the greater Brown University community.  BUGS productions shall be open to as many members of the Brown community as finances and space permit; limitations will be at the discretion of the director,
§3 Membership.  Membership in BUGS shall be open to all Brown University undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni, staff, faculty, and administration.
§4 Associate Membership.  Associate membership in BUGS shall be open to all interested community members.  Associate members of BUGS are not eligible to vote in BUGS meetings or elections, but they shall enjoy the other privileges of BUGS membership, including invitation to BUGS meetings, productions and events.

Article II Executive Board (D’Oyly Carte)
§1 Membership

    1. The executive board shall be known as the D’Oyly Carte in all official documents.
    2. The D’Oyly Carte shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Chair, Publicity Chair, Technology Officer, and Archivist, alternatively known as the Lord Chancellor, Ward in Chancery, First Lord of the Admiralty, Grand Inquisitor, Queen of the Fairies, Pirate King, Sorcerer, and Mistress of the Doehounds, pursuant to Article II, §§2-9.

§2 President (Lord Chancellor)

    1. The president shall be known as the Lord Chancellor in all official documents.
    2. The Lord Chancellor shall be the chief executive officer of BUGS, and shall perform the additional duties enumerated in this section.
    3. The Lord Chancellor shall chair all meetings, except those specifically excluded by Article III §2 b-5.
    4. The Lord Chancellor shall be responsible for planning and coordinating all community service and community outreach projects undertaken by BUGS.
    5. The Lord Chancellor shall have the authority to call emergency meetings of the D’Oyly Carte.
    6. The Lord Chancellor shall be a current undergraduate student at Brown University.

§3 Vice President (Ward in Chancery)

    1. The vice president shall be known as the Ward in Chancery in all official documents.
    2. The Ward in Chancery shall perform all BUGS-related duties assigned to her/him by the Lord Chancellor.
    3. The Ward in Chancery shall assume the duties of any board member who leaves his or her office until a replacement can be elected.
    4. The Ward in Chancery shall perform the duties of the Lord Chancellor in the event of the Lord Chancellor’s absence.

§4 Treasurer (First Lord of the Admiralty)

    1. The treasurer shall be known as the First Lord of the Admiralty in all official documents.
    2. The First Lord of the Admiralty shall formulate a budget plan for approval by the D’Oyly Carte.
    3. The First Lord of the Admiralty shall keep all financial documents relating to BUGS, including but not limited to bank statements, receipts, and checkbooks.
    4. The First Lord of the Admiralty shall be responsible for all reimbursements.
    5. The First Lord of the Admiralty shall maintain a current account of all of BUGS expenditures and income.
    6. The First Lord of the Admiralty shall be responsible for a smooth transition to the regime of the new First Lord of the Admiralty at the end of his or her term.

§5 Secretary (Grand Inquisitor)

    1. The secretary shall be known as the Grand Inquisitor in all official documents.
    2. The Grand Inquisitor shall record minutes at all BUGS meetings and distribute them to the BUGS membership.
    3. The Grand Inquisitor shall be responsible for the reservation of performance and rehearsal spaces, including a “green room” and any equipment contained within the spaces that may need to be reserved separately.
    4. The Grand Inquisitor shall remind members of meetings prior to their occurrence.
    5. The Grand Inquisitor shall be BUGS’ liaison to all University offices not enumerated in Article II §7.

§6 Social Chair (Queen of the Fairies)

    1. The social chair shall be known as the Queen of the Fairies in all official documents.
    2. The Queen of the Fairies shall be responsible for the organization of the “cast party.”
    3. The Queen of the Fairies shall organize at least one social gathering prior to each performance.
    4. The Queen of the Fairies shall provide all necessary refreshments at rehearsals.

§7 Publicity Chair (Pirate King)

    1. The publicity chair shall be known as the Pirate King in all official documents.
    2. The Pirate King shall be responsible for the design, production, and distribution of all BUGS tableslips and posters.
    3. The Pirate King shall alert the following organizations of all upcoming BUGS performances: NEGASS; the Departments of Music and Theater, Speech & Dance; the Student Activities Office; graduate students; all student theater organizations.
    4. The Pirate King shall be responsible for all ad sales, in conjunction with the Housekeeper to the Tower, pursuant to Article III, §4.

§8 Technology Officer (Sorcerer)

    1. The technology officer shall be known as the Sorcerer in all official documents.
    2. The Sorcerer shall be responsible for the maintenance of the BUGS website and BUGS facebook.com group.
    3. The Sorcerer shall arrange for the recording of at least one performance of each production.

§9 Archivist (Mistress of the Doehounds)

    1. The archivist shall be known as the Mistress of the Doehounds in all official documents.
    2. The Mistress of the Doehounds shall store and maintain copies of all recordings of BUGS productions.
    3. The Mistress of the Doehounds shall store and maintain all properties, costumes, scores, and miscellany belonging to BUGS.
    4. The Mistress of the Doehounds shall assist Sullivan in distributing music to cast and orchestra members.

§10 Communications Chair (Duke of Plazatoro)

    1. The communications chair shall be known as the Duke of Plazatoro in all official documents.
    2. The Duke of Plazatoro shall facilitate all communication both within the group and between the D’Oyly Carte and the administration.
    3. The Duke of Plazatoro shall maintain the BUGS, BUGSTECH, BUGSPIT, and BUGSBOARD listservs.
    4. The Duke of Plazatoro shall create and maintain listservs for the cast, pit, and staff of each production.

§11 Design Chair (Jack Point)

    1. The design chair shall be known as Jack Point in all official documents.
    2. Jack Point shall design any graphics that the group may need .

§12 Member At-Large (Old Adam)

    1. The member at-large shall be known as Old Adam in all official documents.
    2. Old Adam shall fulfill those duties not specified in the duties of another D’Oyly Carte member.
§13 Duties of the D’Oyly Carte

    1. The D’Oyly Carte shall unanimously appoint Gilbert.
    2. The D’Oyly Carte, with consideration to Gilbert, shall appoint Sullivan.
    3. The D’Oyly Carte shall select the Spring production which shall not repeat within a four year period.
    4. The D’Oyly Carte shall review applications for the Fall production in the Spring.
    5. The D’Oyly Carte shall only select a show from the works of Gilbert &/or Sullivan.

Article III Production Staff (Aesthetes) & Crew (Flowers of Progress) 
§1 Production Staff Membership

    1. The production staff shall be known as the Aesthetes in all official documents.
    2. The Aesthetes shall consist of the Director, Music Director, Stage Manager, Production Manager, Choreographer, Costume Designer, Set Designer, Lighting Designer, Hair & Makeup Designer, and Props Manager, alternatively known as Gilbert, Sullivan, Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor, Housekeeper to the Tower, Mad Margaret, Fleshly Poet, the King of Utopia, Professor of Abstract Science, Lord High Executioner, and Wilfred, pursuant to Article III §§2-10.
    3. At the discretion of Gilbert and Sullivan, productions may elect not to fill every position.

§2 Director & Music Director (Gilbert & Sullivan)

    1. The director shall be known as Gilbert and the music director as Sullivan in all official documents.
    2. Responsibilities of Gilbert
      1. Gilbert shall have the final say on all artistic decisions involved in the production (s)he is directing, including lyric alterations, cuts, insertions, and all other artistic and musical aspects of the show.
      2. Gilbert shall be responsible for the assembly and selection of the Aesthetes, with the exception of Sullivan, who shall be chosen jointly by the D’Oyly Carte and Gilbert, pursuant to Article II §10.
      3. Gilbert shall formulate and distribute at the first rehearsal a clear and equitable attendance policy, to be enforced by the Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor, pursuant to Article III §3.
      4. Gilbert shall be responsible for the staging of all scenes and the non-musical preparation of all actors.
      5. Gilbert shall chair all meetings of the Aesthetes.
    3. Responsibilities of Sullivan
      1. Sullivan shall be responsible for the assembly, preparation, and conducting of the orchestra.
      2. Sullivan shall be responsible for the musical preparation of all actors.
      3. Sullivan, assisted by the Mistress of the Doehounds, shall acquire and distribute music to the cast and orchestra.
    4. Joint responsibilities of Gilbert & Sullivan
      1. Gilbert & Sullivan shall audition and cast the production together, with all decisions based on current auditions.
      2. Gilbert & Sullivan shall formulate and distribute a rehearsal schedule within one week of the announcement of the cast, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Article IV.

§3 Stage Manager (Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor)

    1. The stage manager shall be known as the Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor in all official documents.
    2. The Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor shall be responsible for all rehearsal attendance, pursuant to Article III §10.
    3. The Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor shall keep and update a database of cast and orchestra contact information, and shall contact those members of the same who miss the beginning of a rehearsal without excuse.
    4. The Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor shall record all notes given by Gilbert & Sullivan to the cast and orchestra and shall prompt cast when necessary.
    5. The Head Jailer & Assistant Tormentor shall be responsible for assembling the Flowers of Progress.

§4 Production Manager (Housekeeper to the Tower)

    1. The Production manager shall be known as the Housekeeper to the Tower in all official documents.
    2. The Housekeeper to the Tower shall be responsible for the design and creation of programs, including working in conjunction with the Pirate King to obtain advertisements.
    3. The Housekeeper to the Tower shall be responsible for obtaining ushers, organizing reservations, collecting money at performances, and all other front-of-house activities.
    4. The Housekeeper to the Tower shall ensure that all Aesthetes and Flowers of Progress are accomplishing their tasks in a timely manner.

§5 Choreographer (Mad Margaret)

    1. The choreographer shall be known as Mad Margaret in all official documents.
    2. Mad Margaret shall be responsible for all dancing and choreographed movement in the production.

§6 Costume Designer (Fleshy Poet)

    1. The costume designer shall be known as the Fleshy Poet in all official documents.
    2. The Fleshy poet shall be responsible for designing, maintaining, and supervising the construction of all costumes necessary for the production.

§7 Set Designer (King of Utopia)

    1. The set designer shall be known as the King of Utopia in all official documents.
    2. The King of Utopia shall be responsible for designing, maintaining, and supervising the construction of all scenery necessary for the production.

§8 Lighting Designer (Professor of Abstract Science)

    1. The lighting designer shall be known as the Professor of Abstract Science in all official documents.
    2. The Professor of Abstract Science shall be responsible for selecting, obtaining, maintaining, and running all lights necessary for the production.

§9 Hair & Makeup Designer (Lord High Executioner)

    1. The hair and makeup designer shall be known as the Lord High Executioner in all official documents.
    2. The Lord High Executioner shall be responsible for selecting, obtaining, maintaining, and applying all hair and makeup products necessary for the production.

§10 Props Manager (Wilfred)

    1. The props manager shall be known as the Wilfred in all official documents.
    2. The Wilfred shall be responsible for selecting, obtaining, maintaining, setting on- or offstage, and removing all props necessary for the production.

§11 Crew (Flowers of Progress)

    1. The crew shall be known as the Flowers of Progress in all official documents.
    2. The Flowers of Progress shall create costumes, scenery, and props; run lights; apply makeup; style hair; and perform front of house duties as directed by the Aesthetes.
    3. The Flowers of Progress shall accomplish all tasks that must be accomplished during performance as directed by the Aesthetes.

Article IV Rehearsal Schedule and Casting
§1 Rehearsal schedule parameters

    1. No performance shall be prepared in fewer than 8 weeks.
    2. Rehearsals shall occur no fewer than 2 and no more than 5 days per week, excepting the week prior to the show.
    3. The first staging and the first musical rehearsal must occur within two weeks of one another.
    4. All cast members are expected to attend rehearsals in case of illness, unless the illness is easily communicable or extremely debilitating.

§2 Casting parameters

    1. All casting shall be based solely on audition.
    2. No decision shall be based on ethnicity, religious beliefs or lack thereof, sexual orientation, gender, age, or country of origin.

Article V Ratification and Amendment
§1 Ratification.  This Constitution may be ratified by a simple majority of present BUGS members. 
§2 Amendment 

      • This Constitution may be amended by a 3/4 majority of present BUGS members.
      • Amendments may only be ratified at a previously announced general body meeting with at least half of the D’Oyly Carte present. Once an amendment has been approved, it shall be given to the UCS Coordinator of Student Activities at least two (2) full days before the next regularly scheduled full council meeting.  Upon receipt of a simple majority from UCS, the amendment shall be considered a formal part of the BUGS’s constitution.

Article VI Finances
§1 Student Activities Office.  All expenses of BUGS shall be paid through the Office of Student Activities, and all funds collected by the group from any source shall be deposited with the Office of Student Activities.  BUGS agrees to follow all regulations regarding all financial transactions as set forth by the Office of Student Activities

 

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