A friend of mine passed this list on to me. While some of these questions require some delicacy, they are all things you will want to know from the production manager/managing director/whoever can answer them before you sign anything, or at least very shortly thereafter. These questions are useful for any production, equity or not.
- Where is/are the: fire extinguishers, first aid kit, nearest emergency room, fire exits, Equity cot?
- Explain the theatre's hierarchy.
- Who is in charge of maintenance of props, wardrobe, electrics, etc.?
- Who is providing rehearsal props?
- Who distributes paychecks? Who deals with questions about paychecks?
- What is the housing situation for the company? Who deals with questions about housing?
- What is the show's cancellation policy?
- What is the show's understudy policy?
- Who cleans the dressing rooms? Who cleans the green room? Who cleans?!?
- What is the smoking policy?
- Who locks up the building at night?
- Is there an engineer on duty?
- Can you get a tech crew in any earlier than tech?
- Who maintains the "in case of emergency" forms?
- What is the company's disciplinary procedure?
- Is there a production assistant?
- Who gets the prompt book when the production is finished?
- Explain the in-house communication system. Is there a phone the company can use?
- Is the Stage manager expected to file daily rehearsal/performance reports?
- Is there an office the Stage Manager can use?
- Where is the heating/AC control? Who controls it?
- Who is the house manager?
- Where can valuables be stored?
- Who's responsible for dimmer check?
