Play Reading Committee
Current Policies (updated October 2026)
1. Composition
As designated in the bylaws, the Play Reading Committee shall consist of ten members and shall be representative of the company as a whole, including actors, directors, technical staff, production staff, at least one community or audience member, and at least one member of the Executive Board. Members serve two-year terms.
Those interested in the Committee shall submit an application to join, which will be reviewed collectively by the Executive Board at a designated meeting. If a member’s two-year term is up, they may reapply for the Committee. An Artistic Director may take part in the discussion regarding each applicant, but their vote is not weighed more heavily than any other Board member.
2. Execution and Leadership
The Committee holds a standing monthly meeting. The specific meeting date may be adjusted at the discretion of the current committee.
When an Artistic Director is in place, that individual shall organize and lead the meetings and shall serve as note-taker. When there is no Artistic Director, the committee shall select a chairperson to fulfill these responsibilities.
3. Committee Charge
The Play Reading Committee is charged with evaluating submitted productions and recommending a season of mainstage productions to the Executive Board for approval.
4. Submissions and Initial Review
The committee facilitates its work through the review of submissions from interested directors. The committee tends to dismiss submissions that do not have a director attached, or that consist only of a title and a director's name without further detail describing the director's vision for the production. A well-developed production package and a strong director's resume weigh significantly in the committee's consideration.
When multiple submissions are received, the committee shall vote on which submissions it wishes to read and the order in which they will be considered. All submitters should be thanked for their submission.
5. Review of Shows
To review a submission, the committee shall review the script for plays or the book and soundtrack for musicals. For shows with which committee members are not all familiar, the committee shall conduct a table read, with parts assigned to members present at the meeting.
6. Director Engagement
If the committee determines that a show is one it would like to recommend to the Board, the director shall be invited to attend a future meeting to present and discuss their vision for the production. Following this presentation, the committee shall vote on whether to advance the show to the Executive Board.
7. Director Experience
Directors are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one Bridge Players production in a behind-the-scenes capacity – such as assistant director, production manager, or other production staff role – prior to submitting a proposal. While this is not a requirement, it is considered favorably by the committee, as it demonstrates familiarity with how Bridge Players operates and a commitment to the organization. Directors who have not yet had this
experience are encouraged to seek such opportunities before or alongside submitting a proposal.
8. Season Recommendations
The committee shall endeavor to submit a complete season of four mainstage productions to the Executive Board at one time for approval. All recommended shows shall be ones the committee believes have the artistic merit to be produced by Bridge Players.
When lesser-known shows are recommended, the committee shall make reasonable efforts to balance them with more recognizable titles to support marketability. The committee may also seek to develop a unifying theme connecting the four productions of a season, though this is not a requirement.
Once a season has been selected, the committee shall continue to review submitted proposals
with the intention of considering them for future seasons.
1. Composition
As designated in the bylaws, the Play Reading Committee shall consist of ten members and shall be representative of the company as a whole, including actors, directors, technical staff, production staff, at least one community or audience member, and at least one member of the Executive Board. Members serve two-year terms.
Those interested in the Committee shall submit an application to join, which will be reviewed collectively by the Executive Board at a designated meeting. If a member’s two-year term is up, they may reapply for the Committee. An Artistic Director may take part in the discussion regarding each applicant, but their vote is not weighed more heavily than any other Board member.
2. Execution and Leadership
The Committee holds a standing monthly meeting. The specific meeting date may be adjusted at the discretion of the current committee.
When an Artistic Director is in place, that individual shall organize and lead the meetings and shall serve as note-taker. When there is no Artistic Director, the committee shall select a chairperson to fulfill these responsibilities.
3. Committee Charge
The Play Reading Committee is charged with evaluating submitted productions and recommending a season of mainstage productions to the Executive Board for approval.
4. Submissions and Initial Review
The committee facilitates its work through the review of submissions from interested directors. The committee tends to dismiss submissions that do not have a director attached, or that consist only of a title and a director's name without further detail describing the director's vision for the production. A well-developed production package and a strong director's resume weigh significantly in the committee's consideration.
When multiple submissions are received, the committee shall vote on which submissions it wishes to read and the order in which they will be considered. All submitters should be thanked for their submission.
5. Review of Shows
To review a submission, the committee shall review the script for plays or the book and soundtrack for musicals. For shows with which committee members are not all familiar, the committee shall conduct a table read, with parts assigned to members present at the meeting.
6. Director Engagement
If the committee determines that a show is one it would like to recommend to the Board, the director shall be invited to attend a future meeting to present and discuss their vision for the production. Following this presentation, the committee shall vote on whether to advance the show to the Executive Board.
7. Director Experience
Directors are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one Bridge Players production in a behind-the-scenes capacity – such as assistant director, production manager, or other production staff role – prior to submitting a proposal. While this is not a requirement, it is considered favorably by the committee, as it demonstrates familiarity with how Bridge Players operates and a commitment to the organization. Directors who have not yet had this
experience are encouraged to seek such opportunities before or alongside submitting a proposal.
8. Season Recommendations
The committee shall endeavor to submit a complete season of four mainstage productions to the Executive Board at one time for approval. All recommended shows shall be ones the committee believes have the artistic merit to be produced by Bridge Players.
When lesser-known shows are recommended, the committee shall make reasonable efforts to balance them with more recognizable titles to support marketability. The committee may also seek to develop a unifying theme connecting the four productions of a season, though this is not a requirement.
Once a season has been selected, the committee shall continue to review submitted proposals
with the intention of considering them for future seasons.