The Strike happens immediately following the Closing Night performance and the outgoing show MUST be out by NOON on the day following Closing Night so that the incoming show can move in at that time.

All members of cast and crew are expected to be part of the Strike; the Production Manager must approve any exceptions.  The Production Manager will post a cleaning list, a copy of which is available in the Production Manager Forms and Worksheets section of the handbook.

The night before the Strike, the Stage Manager should lock the Walterdale dumpster, so as to avoid it being filled by other parties before the Strike.  The dumpster must not be overfilled.  If any items stick out above the top, garbage collectors will not empty the dumpster.  Excess items must be stored for disposal as per the Building Director.

Each member of the cast and crew will sign up for a duty.  It is recommended designers and builders sign up for duties within their own production area.  Once production members have completed a duty, they will continue to aide in other areas of the Strike until all duties are complete.  The Production Manager is responsible for ensuring that all of the cleaning is done before the Closing Night Party begins.

It is highly recommended that the Production Manager, Set Designer, Master Builder, and Lighting Designer of the next production be in attendance.  They should discuss with the Production Manager of the current production which set materials and lights they would like the current production to not take down during the Strike.

Closing Night Party

After the Strike is over, it’s traditional for the cast and crew to have a Closing Night Party.  The Production Manager is responsible for co-ordinating the details of this event.

If the party is held at the theatre, the party footprint must be confined to the Rehearsal Hall and Green Room.  All other areas of the theatre shall be secured once the clean-up of that area is complete.  The Walterdale Board of Directors must approve use of the theatre auditorium for any portion of a party; a party on the stage would be very rare.

If the party is at the theatre, the production will identify a production member who will ensure that the Green Room and Rehearsal Hall are cleaned up after the party, so the needs of the next production are not impaired.  This production member will remain at the theatre until all others have left and ensure the various areas in the building and the building itself are secured.

Walterdale does not, at any time, allow smoking on the premises, including at Closing Night Party.