Thomas Jefferson Shakespeare Troupe

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The TJST is a non-profit organization committed to the study, performance, and enjoyment of the works of William Shakespeare. The TJST is based firmly on the belief that TJHSST needs an organization that will continually present Shakespeare's works to the school community. To this end, the Company focuses the majority of its efforts on the production and presentation of the writings of Shakespeare.

The primary activity of the TJST is organizing, preparing, and presenting dramatic interpretations of Shakespeare's works, whether it be his plays, poems, or sonnets. The goal of the TJST each year will be to present at least two shows to the TJHSST community and to attend the Folger Student Shakespeare Festival. Any monies collected will go only to paying expenses incurred in that production or for future activities. Secondly, the TJST will organize and present opportunities for the study of Shakespeare, including an annual Shakespearience! program.

The TJST itself consists of any eligible individual who attends a meeting of the company or is involved in one of its productions or programs. Any person who has been involved in any official capacity for two of the prior three full-length TJST shows for which they were eligible is a voting member ("member"). Any person who has attended 8th period meetings regularly (one block per month for the previous three months) or participated in at least one past TJST events is a voting member(“member”). All members may vote at meetings, subject to the following requirements and exceptions:

• Seniors may not vote for matters that will not take effect during their enrollment at TJHSST: play selections for the year after they graduate, elections of officers for that period, etc.
• Members must be enrolled at TJHSST to vote. Persons who have participated in events before coming to TJHSST may count those toward voting membership, but they may not vote prior to their freshman year at TJHSST.
• These requirements may be modified on a case-by-case basis by a unanimous vote of Council IF AND ONLY IF a quorum is not reached. A quorum must be present for any vote to be official and binding. (Not all persons comprising the quorum must vote; they may be present and abstain if they so wish.)

All productions must have at least one director. Potential directors shall read and research their plays and present their ideas for a SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE at a meeting convened for the purpose. Any requirements on participant eligibility shall be outlined at this meeting (e.g., a "new actors only" show). Council shall have determined prior to any show-selection meetings the number of productions to be done the following year. Voting may be held at this meeting or at a meeting following it, per the decision of the Council. A majority vote shall determine the production to be done.

 The cast for productions will be chosen through auditions conducted by the director(s) of the production in the method of their choosing. Director(s) may select heads of technical positions or may delegate this to a technical director of their choosing. It is the responsibility of the director(s) to work with actors, technicians, production personnel, and the Council to ensure that a production is coordinated and successful. In the event that a director cannot continue with their show, Council shall call a meeting of the cast/crew whereat voting shall be held per the procedure stated below for director changes.

The executive power of the TJST lies in the Shakespeare Troupe Council, or "Council", composed of five members. The election of these officers will take place every year in June (for the upcoming school year) and within two weeks of the beginning of the 3rd quarter (for the second semester). Any interested member of the TJST will declare his or her candidacy or be nominated (nominees must approve their nomination), and in a general meeting of the TJST convened for the election, a vote will be held. Every member present at the meeting, subject to voting restrictions outlined above, will have 5 votes. The ultimate decision will be by majority vote. A Council elected for the second semester of the school year must include AT LEAST one non-senior. If TJST members have voted otherwise, the current Council will hold a meeting with all eligible nominees to decide the next course of action.

Officers will take office immediately following election if elected for the first semester of the coming school year, or at the beginning of the second semester if elected for that period. One term for all offices is one academic semester. Should a member of Council withdraw from TJHSST, choose to resign from his or her post, or show a prolonged lack of commitment (so deemed by the other Council members and/or the current faculty sponsor), the remaining members of current Council shall choose a replacement from amongst the TJST membership.

All official meetings of the TJST shall be conducted by a member of Council. Council shall meet on a regular basis and shall keep the Troupe informed of its activities and decisions. A member of Council shall act as Secretary at Troupe meetings (unless someone else is designated). Directors of shows in rehearsal or in planning (but which have been selected) may attend any and all council meetings and are expected to communicate with Council on a regular basis.

• Communicating with the sponsor, the Drama Club, and administration
• To obtain building use permission for performance and rehearsal dates
• To oversee the carrying out of responsibilities for productions and to address formal complaints:
• In the event of a conflict between the cast/crew of a show and the show's director(s), a petition to remove or replace director(s) signed by one quarter of the cast/crew shall be given to Council. In this event, Council shall have two school days in which to call an "all-hands" meeting of all persons involved in the production. Concerns should be addressed and the director(s) shall be asked to speak in their defense and resolve conflicts. At the conclusion of this meeting, a vote shall be taken, with all members having one vote except the director(s) and members of Council: members may vote to leave the show as-is, to dissolve the show, to appoint a certain other director, or to have Council appoint a new director. In the last case, Council shall have two school days to name a new director. In the event of any and all director changes, the new director shall assume all the responsibilities of the original director(s).
• To work in conjunction with the Treasurer, the Directors, and the Technical Staff to budget money for both the TJST in general and specific shows.
• To review the TJST Constitution at the end of the semester, and if they choose to, propose any necessary changes.
• To keep track of the voting membership and preside over general meetings.

Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be elected in May for the upcoming show season, and shall hold office for a full year. The Treasurer shall work in conjunction with the Artistic Board and the director(s) to form a budget for each show and shall be responsible for distributing funds. The treasurer must understand and comply with all FCPS regulations covering the distribution of money. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for the training of the newly-elected treasurer at the close of his or her term.

Shakespearience! Board of Directors (SBOD!) – SBOD!, comprised of five members, will be in charge of the planning and execution of the annual Shakespearience!, a day of Shakespeare and theater-related workshops for children K-8th grade. SBOD! shall be elected the September preceding that year’s Shakespearience!.

The TJST Constitution shall be adopted by a simple majority of a TJST meeting convened for that purpose.

Any part of the TJST Constitution may be changed upon a unanimous vote of Council or a simple majority vote of the TJST at a meeting convened for that purpose.

TJST event: any performance, workshop, or other presentation made by multiple members of TJST.
quorum: at least one-half of the voting membership of the TJST, per the records of Council.

• "Activities" now specifically mentions Shakespearience!
• Membership can be attained by participating in one event and regularly attending Eighth Period meetings
• Removed clauses in membership section referring to ushers and rehearsals due to lack of relevance
• Artistic Board renamed Shakespeare Troupe Council
• Seniors may be on Second Semester Council; however, those councils must have at least one non-senior
• Added a clause allowing the removal of Council members for incompetence
• Added to the list of Council's responsibilities that of revising the Constitution
• Added SBOD! to list of other positions
• Removed definition for "full-length show" and replaced it with that for "TJST event"