Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Production Management and Safety (Face-to-Face)

THEA 3343-01

Course: THEA 3343-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Theatre, Dance, & Arts Admin
CRN: 33922

Course Description

A practical overview of the organizational tools needed to plan and implement a season of live stage productions. Work is focused on planning the production side of live events including organizational management, season selection, scheduling, season and production budgeting, as well as the role of the production manager in regards to both employee safety (OSHA) and life safety (NFPA). (Fall - Even Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Required Text:          The Production Manager’s Toolkit, (1st Edition) Gillett, Sheehan
                                    ISBN 978-1-138-83884-0 
                                    (Available through the Library for Free)

Optional Text:           Safety and Health for the Stage, (1st Edition) Reynolds
                                   
ISBN 978-0-8153-5326-3

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze and apply federal safety laws and consensus standards bodies’ guidelines and how these apply to the live entertainment industries.
2. Apply life safety code rules to the creation of a performance space within a black box.
3. Create a theoretical performance organization within a group format with the purpose of generating season planning materials.
4. Generate, select and evaluate a season of productions for this organization using production resources as the guiding principle.
5. Estimate overall season budget requirements as well as per show requirements for this season.
6. Plan a proposed season calendar for these productions and evaluate your proposal based on schedule limitations as well as benefits.
7. Apply federal laws and other information in regards to employee procurement, retention and release.

Course Requirements

OSHA Project: Using the right to know laws produce a written synopsis of a common chemical you have seen or
used in live entertainment. These papers should not just recite the information in the SDS but simplify it down
to a point that a lay person can understand easily the information they need to use that product.

PPE Project: Following OSHA guidelines for personal protective equipment write a policy that will govern how a
future organization you will lead can integrate those laws into common practice. These policies should cite the
OSHA codes and establish rules governing time and place of PPE use as well as training and record keeping of
use. Once written you will then exchange yours with another group member who will be your consultant in
revising or reworking your policy.

Life Safety Code Project: Using the NFPA 101 language create on paper a workable performance space that
follows the guidelines of audience safety, egress and capacity. Once created a paper will be written describing
how various sections of the code were applied to your space and reflect on any particular difficulties or success
you had in implementing these guidelines.

Organization Project: Working in groups of three you will develop a theatre organization with a specific mission,
purpose and geographical location. In developing this organization you will need to consider market conditions,
geographical limitations and possible marketing solutions. These choices should be made with considerable
thought as they will impact many of your upcoming project work.

Season Project: Working in groups read propose and identify six productions or engagements that will fulfill
your mission. In evaluating the season selections you will need to consider production budgets, staffing and
possible income streams for each production.

Season Budget Project: Taking the information selected for your season produce documentation detailing
staffing and financial needs for the overall season of shows. This must include resources for capital purchases
and maintenance and repair.

Production Budget Project: Working in groups you will select two shows of your season to produce fully
thought out and realistic numbers detailing what actual costs could be given a basic sense of the artistic
treatment.

Calendaring Project: Using the budget information create a viable and realistic calendar for your season of
shows. Each group will then evaluate each calendar for pros and cons selecting one version that will become
their template for their season. An evaluative paper will be written describing why the selection was made and
what made the other options undesirable.

Hiring Project: Produce a job description and duties list for a possible employee of your organization. This must
include a one paragraph listing that could be used to post on online job boards. In addition to this description
you must also create forms and policy that govern pay raises and review processes of employees as well as
termination.

Course Outline

Week One: Safety, Risk, and OSHA in Theatre — Introduces theatrical safety, risk assessment, OSHA regulations, and the responsibilities of theatre organizations in maintaining safe working environments.

Week Two: NFPA and Organizational Missions — Examines NFPA standards and how fire and life-safety regulations intersect with the mission, operations, and responsibilities of theatrical organizations.

Week Three: Organizational Values, Mission, and BHAG — Explores organizational values, mission statements, and Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) as tools for establishing organizational identity, direction, and long-term priorities.

Week Four: Management and the Organizational Project — Introduces management principles and begins the organizational project through planning, goal setting, delegation, communication, and resource management.

Week Five: Calendars & Handrails/Ladders — Develops skills in production scheduling and calendar management while examining safety requirements and best practices for handrails, ladders, and access equipment.

Week Six: Life Safety Code — Examines Life Safety Code requirements and their application to theatre facilities, productions, audiences, employees, and emergency procedures.

Week Seven: Excel and Budgeting — Develops practical Excel skills while introducing the principles of theatrical budgeting, including estimating costs, allocating resources, and tracking expenditures.

Week Eight: Production Planning and Organizational Resources — Applies management, scheduling, budgeting, and safety concepts to production planning while examining how organizations allocate personnel, facilities, equipment, and other resources.

Week Nine: Organizational Communication and Leadership — Examines leadership, communication, decision-making, delegation, and collaboration as essential skills for managing theatrical organizations and production teams.

Week Ten: Organizational Budgeting and Federal Labor Laws — Examines organizational budgeting alongside federal labor laws governing employment, compensation, working conditions, and employer responsibilities.

Week Eleven: Contracts, Personnel, and Risk Management — Explores contracts, personnel management, hiring practices, and risk-management strategies that support effective and legally compliant theatre operations.

Week Twelve: Facility and Production Management — Examines the management of theatre facilities, production resources, maintenance, scheduling, and operational systems necessary to support successful productions.

Week Thirteen: Alliance Theatre, Fire Extinguishers & Employment Law — Uses the Alliance Theatre as a case study while examining fire extinguisher safety and employment laws affecting theatre organizations and their employees.

Week Fourteen: Production Riders and Work Week — Examines production riders, technical requirements, and the planning and management of theatrical work weeks from both organizational and production perspectives.

Final Presentation — Students present their completed organizational projects, demonstrating their ability to apply course concepts in theatre management, safety, budgeting, leadership, and organizational planning.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Like opening, homework due dates are absolute and cannot be changed for any reason. Assignments can be turned in
during class but will also be accepted no later than 5pm on the date due. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED If you
need to be absent, work due during your absence must be turned in ahead of time unless other arrangements have
been made

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required unless excused by the instructor or for official university travel. Students who miss more than one class shall have their grade lowered by a full letter grade with an additional letter grade for every additional absence. Tardiness is defined as being greater than 5 minutes late to class.  Tardies will count as an absence at a ratio of 2 tardies for 1 absence. Any student missing more than 25% of class meetings cannot receive a passing grade in this course.

Course Fees

There are no additional course fees

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.