2018-2019 Producing Member Ballot Instructions
A Producing Member must notify the Desert Theatre League’s Judging Coordinator by email, a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of a production, to have the production eligible to be judged.
The Producer Member is responsible to make sure that correct Ballot is being used for the production. (Musical, Comedy, Drama, Ballet, Youth, Revue, etc.). However, the Desert Theatre League’s Board reserves the right to decide if a Producing Member’s production is nominated in the correct category and then, if necessary, to move the production to the correct category. Ballots will be emailed by the judging coordinator in a PDF format.
The Desert Theatre League has noticed some Producing Members are not indicating where they have acquired the rights to produce a production in their program. Starting with the 2018 to 2019 season, if a Producing Member does not indicate in the program where they have acquired the rights to produce the production, then the production will not be judged. This rule only pertains to productions for which acquiring the rights is required.
If a Producing Member does a revival of a show within a five year season, the revival show is not eligible to be judged.
If a Producing Member’s production is limited to a single day, any production on a national holiday or a secular/non-secular occurrence ( Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter Sunday), as well as Super Bowl Sunday and the date of the Desert Theatre League’s Desert Star Awards, will not be judged.
A production may have multiple ballots, but all ballots must be in the same judging category.
Recitals will not be judged.
Ballots must be available at the box office when the judge arrives. Judges will identify themselves to the box office using a four digit PIN. Each judge has been assigned a four digit PIN so that the judge’s actual name is not used. If ballots are not available, the performance will not be judged. Complete all lines on the ballot that you want to have judged, including the judge’s four digit PIN and the date the performance is to be judged. DO NOT enter anything in the “SCORE” column.
Overall Production: A production that has a professional director and half or more of the cast consisting of professional actors, not including the “Outstanding Juvenile” category, is placed in the professional production category for “Overall Production.” This rule only affects the "Overall Production" category and does not apply to Youth and Ballet productions.
Stage Reading: Only a complete play (one or more acts) is eligible to be judged. A scene or collection of scenes from a play will not be eligible to be judged.
Artistic Awards: Original Writing should be used ONLY if the script is an original and/or unpublished script, NOT names of published authors.
Individual Awards: On the appropriate line, enter the name of the NOMINEE (person to be judged), a “P” if the person is a professional (see Note below) and the CHARACTER portrayed, for each person you want judged. If necessary, include a description of the Nominee’s appearance - it can be helpful in identifying the character. You do not have to enter a name on every line. DO NOT enter more names for any category than there are lines. Any additional names will not be considered. Include only the best characters. If any of the character parts are double cast, you must designate which performances should be judged. Do not change the ballot to fit your purpose, if you do, the changed lines will not be considered.
There is no age limit for who can be nominated for an Individual Award, except for the “Outstanding Juvenile” category. This rule means that if for example, in the production of “Oliver” the individual cast as Oliver, who is usually under 18 years old, can be nominated for “Lead Actor” or “Lead Supporting Actor” and not only as “Outstanding Juvenile,” as in past seasons. It is up to the Producing Member to decide how the individual should be nominated. This rule applies to all productions (Musical, Comedy, Drama, Revue, etc.) except Youth and Ballet.
To be nominated in the “Outstanding Juvenile” category, an individual must be 18 years of age or under or currently enrolled as a High School student.
An Adult cannot be nominated for an Individual Award for acting on a Youth Ballot. Youth is defined as an individual 18 years of age or under or currently enrolled in High School. For High School and Middle School Ballots, the nominee’s for Individual Award for acting must be enrolled in the school producing the production. Elementary Schools are not eligible to be judged. Also, excluding High School or Middle School productions, if half or more of the cast consists of individuals 9 years old or younger, the production will not be judged.
A person can only be nominated once on a ballot for an Individual Award.
In a season, if an individual is nominated on a ballot for a production, any other productions of the same show cannot have the individual’s name on the ballot for the same role or production capacity.
Technical Awards: On the appropriate line, enter the name of the NOMINEE (person to be judged), a “P” if the person is a professional (see Note below). If you have no set, do not enter a name for set design. Do not enter a name if there is no amplified sound. Only one “Technical Award” will be awarded for each category, e.g., set, sound, light, etc. for all productions, not for each type of production, e.g., Musical, Comedy, Drama, Ballet, etc.
Nominations: It requires two (2) Production Companies to create a category, such as Comedy, Drama, Musical, etc. and requires three (3) nominees to create a category, such as Lead Actor in a Drama, Supporting Actor in a Musical, etc. A Nominee must receive a cumulative score of 35 or higher to be eligible for a nomination.
All copies must be clear and legible with all names spelled correctly. ALL ballots must be identical, or the production will not be judged.
Five judges are sent to judge each production, but not necessarily to the same performance. Please prepare the following for each judge and have available at the box office on the performance date:
1. Two copies of the completed ballot. For each judge, enter the judge’s four digit PIN on the ballot and the date the performance will be judged.
2. A STAMPED envelope, addressed to:
DTL Judging Coordinator
P.O. Box 854
Palm Springs, CA 92263
3. One or two tickets to the performance, as requested. These items should be placed in an envelope and identified with the judge’s four digit PIN. Judges will identify themselves by indicating they are from the Desert Theatre League and will ask for the envelope by PIN number.
Note: PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION
An IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT to be included on the ballot next to the Nominee’s name is a “P” (for Professional) identifying that individual as an equity member or a professional:
A “P” designation should be given to any director, musical director, choreographer, individual performer, or technical/backstage participant who:
1. Is or has ever been a member in good standing of any Theatrical Union, including, but not limited to Actors Equity, Directors Equity, Stage Managers Equity, SAG, AFTRA, AGVA, ASCAP, Electricians Union, Sound and Set Construction Unions, etc.; and/or
2. Has earned his/her living doing whatever he/she is doing in this production. Being presently retired does not erase a professional designation; and/or
3. Is being paid for his/her services in this production a sum that would be considered at least 50% of his current income for time engaged. However, gasoline stipends to amateur performers and technicians shall not be considered professional payment.
Please refer any questions to John Toogood, Judging Coordinator at DTL92263@aol.com.