Organization Description 

 
Shenandoah Conservatory is lacking an essential opportunity for students to take part in the 
production side of musicals. SU is lucky to have so many amazing student groups such as Playwrights 
and Shut Up It’s Shakespeare which give students the chance to work on short works or Shakespeare 
plays respectively. However, students do not have the opportunity to practice their skills in Music 
Direction, Choreography, and Design for full-scale musicals, which for many students is their ultimate 
career goal. 
Providing these opportunities is a necessity for both student and program growth. Nearly 
every ‘Top 10’ Musical Theatre/Acting Program in the United States has a​ t least​ one Student-Run 
Musical Production Company. OCU, a comparable university in size and program to SU, has two. 
From a University marketing standpoint, this is beneficial to future recruiting endeavors. The students 
applying to theatre programs are asking if the universities they are applying to have these programs, 
and SU has the capability to give them the answer they want to hear. 
Beyond the needs of the conservatory, Shenandoah University will reap the benefits of this 
program as well. For students whose majors lie outside of the Theatre Division, the opportunities to 
participate on stage or backstage are few and far between, and the chance to participate in a musical is 
virtually non-existent. Hornets’ Nest would provide students outside the Conservatory to join in on 
the art being made within Ruebush Hall. 
Hornets’ Nest Student Theatre is a brand new student organization officially established in the 
Spring of 2019. Each year this group will produce one musical. Aside from being overseen by a faculty 
advisor, it will be completely cast, directed, designed, choreographed, and produced by students- 
bringing new experiences and enriching their lives in a way that might influence their career goals. 
This student group would be a safe place for students to explore, to fail, and to take risks all with the 
support of their peers. 
Hornets’ Nest has already established an Artistic Board spanning classes as well as majors. 
Through the organization’s advertising, it has established a large interest in the conservatory and is 
currently building interest across the University as a whole. In the upcoming years, Hornets’ Nest 
looks to expand its reach off-campus to high school and middle school theatre departments as well as 
various community outlets such as Nursing Homes, Spiritual Organizations, and Public Events. 
 
Bylaws 
 
1. There will be no set organization ‘members’ 
a. Apart from the Board of Directors, all students participating will change for each production 
2. Conflict with Conservatory Season 
a. No student cast in a Conservatory Production with conflicting rehearsal/performance dates shall be 
allowed to participate in that semester’s HN production. 
i. Exceptions can be made for technical requirements 
 b. Creative Team will be announced after Conservatory Season casting is published 
c. Auditions will be held in the following days 
3. Selecting a Creative Team 
a. Students interested in Directing, Choreographing, Music Directing, Designing, Producing, or Stage 
Managing will submit an application once the show is officially announced 
b. Following Season Casting, the remaining pool of applicants will be interviewed by the Artistic Board 
who will select a candidate to fill each role. 
c. Directors are only allowed to direct one production while they attend SU. 
d. Artistic Board Members are allowed  
4. Casting 
a. Auditions will be held in the days following Season Casting 
b. Director, MD, Choreographer, and Artistic Board President will sit in on auditions. 
c. Auditions will be held in a typical manner including a callback, and a dance call if necessary. 
d. Casting will be announced in a timely manner 
5. Rehearsals will be held from 7 pm-11 pm, Five nights a week (M-F). 
a. Additional Saturday rehearsals are at the discretion of the Director within reason. 
6. Attendance Policy 
a. 2 absences without permission will result in a discussion with the creative team. 
b. 3 absences without permission may result in a participant’s removal from the production. 
7. Mainstage Productions and SU Classes are a top priority for all participants. 
a. All participants must be in good academic standing.