Depends upon the
system, some will or might automatically close. Others are perhaps one time use and would not be good to trip unless there is a fire on
stage.
This is a policy and plan that your school and
fire marshal need to consult on, put in writing than supervise the rehearsal of. Very important as you can’t just
wing it.
In general, yes you do want to bring down the
fire curtain and evacuate the audience no matter where the fire is in the building.
Public
address systems might activate with a recorded message or it might be required that those doing sound hop on the PA with some statement that's perhaps pinned to the wall above the gear ready to read. Otherwise I think it common for the
stage manager or perhaps
house manager to do the
address. They have other things to be doing in my opinion.
In a school, it might be a better idea for the teacher/staff to go in front of the
fire curtain to calm and direct the audience out with the say
hand cue assistance and direction to those in the light/sound booth assisting them to
clear the audience or provide other assistance, much less direct them to leave also.
Here is what I might recommend as specific tasks on a
safety procedure - at least as a start for roles and specific tasks. No matter the good intent, people running around like chickens with their heads cut off in attempting to be a hero but without assigned task is almost as dangerous as no plan.:
First have the
house manager rehearse the ushers each show as well as inspecting the exit lighting and
escape door access
etc. in the
house.
Stage manager tests the
fire curtain befire each show and ensures backstage that lighting/
safety is in place. This if not required for the
fire curtain to be down when the theater is not in use as a better idea. Say 30min or at most an hour before the main is drawn is sufficient, and adds a feeling of
safety to the audience to see it’s existence before the show. Also all talent/crew at least twice a year get a full rehearsal. First perhaps with practice, and once or twice more without warning. This given the same basic crew and cast, otherwise two full classes on it would probably be more reasonable.
If in a tornado belt that goes from say North Carolina to Colorado, this can also be a tornado alarm with a completely separate policy. Where do you evacuate a few hundred people in the audience to safely? First 15 rows go back
stage into the dressing rooms or hallways, the others go to the hallways adjacent to the entrance? Have to have a plan in place and it takes someone with a cool head to direct this. Above fire plans, how many schools have audience plans for this? Given they can't use the exit doors, this might be even a more important plan to think about as it's going to be more difficult to coordinate getting them to
safety in time given much more limited
escape routes out of the theater and not much more time.
Box office should if the administration office is not staffed, have a secondary weather alert
system, and shows should be published for early warning by the police department.
House manager than would pull the trigger on such a alert, and be very aware of weather warnings.
Upon fire alarm - no matter where it's triggered,
house lights and work lights come up and
fire curtain goes down. The PA or better yet someone goes to the
stage. Show lighting and sound are put first into panic mode, than brought down and turned off.
FOH:
Ushers open doors - entrance and fire
escape with specific ushers designated to be the ones going down the
line to ensure fire exit doors open and the crowd exits safely.
Box office staff secures their area than assists in the
lobby exit of the crowd. Ushers primary concerns are the doorways in assisting people out and ensuring they don’t
bottle up at them. If there is a balcony, the more senior of the ushers might need to be assigned to the more central doors of the
main floor and assist handicapped people to
escape, or be responsible as below to ensure the audience center is cleared of people. They are than directed by the Staff at the
stage apron, or else dependant upon the floor they are on - balcany/
main floor, to leave by the
house manager or light board operator. Ushers than put themselves at the bottom of the fire
escape exit or entrance doors to ensure nobody gets back in until “all
clear” is given. They should have an assigned fire
escape or doorway they go to afterwards and do not leave until relieved by police or fire officials.
FOH stage hands once they
clear the audience and are dismissed supplement this security.
Sound operator if operating the emergency equipment stays on his or her post until directed by the the light board operator or staff at the theater’s
apron or
house manager to leave. If not required to stay on post, they assist the rest of the crew in the audience area center.
Light board operator brings up lights, stays on post a few moments to ensure all lighting is functioning as needed, than looks for visual thumbs up
cue by staff on
stage apron or if not given pauses than checks in with the sound operator to ensure their post is covered sufficiently. If not they assign #1 follow spot operator to help there or take over there or with any lighting problems. After this, in my own thoughts they have a secondary
role in the balcony to assist and assure all audience and crew have left the room. Otherwise if
main floor, they assist the
house manager in leading the crew/ushers. Light board operator I might charge with being Asst.
House Manager for this floor in an emergency in getting the audience is out. They direct follow spot operators to help or leave and ushers on the floor to leave once inspection is over. This all while in direct communication if only
hand signal and looking at with the staff on
stage overall in control. Once the balcony is cleared by way of inspection, they get the sound person out given they were required to stay on post this long, and have all tech and ushers leave. They than report to the
house manager that audience and crew have left the building. Light board operator than once dismissed from the
House manager, goes around the outside of the building to convey the
house clear to the
stage manager once directed to do so.
Follow spot operators and follow spot operator #1. Ushers ensure the
parameter does not
bottle up, the follow spot operators ensure everyone gets out of the balcony or
main floor dependant upon the theater type. Follow spot person #1 than checks with the light board operator to assist as #2 for lights or sound, while the rest or otherwise afterwards this operator clears the audience and ensures everyone gets out. Critical of the
FOH stage hands is to assist handicapped people to the extent of carrying them out if necessary or appropriate. Follow spot operators might be notified of their charges should there be a problem before the show, otherwise just take note of them.
House right people have some people,
house left no matter if needed or not needed for assistance would at very least get to those people and not leave their supervision until out the door. They might have to wait at their position until the audience clears than go into the audience to help. Their job is to strong arm if necessary any difficulties in getting people out, and to
clear the audience of people. They take direction directly from the Light Board Operator,
House Manager or Staff on the
apron of the
stage, but where needed will do their tasks without supervision. First priority for them should be in helping the handicapped out, second if still available would be to assist and
clear the audience to the doors. They than either escort people out or take over for the ushers at the door who can go to their secondary position. All have eyes looking for both trouble, people needing help and direction by the staff directing them.
Box office secure their posts, than take position at the entrance doors to assist and direct plus prevent people from getting back in. They also if not automatic
call in the fire alarm and if necessary, start to set up a cleared designated first aid station. Most important is for one designated person to get the books on audience, crew and talent in attendance, perhaps even blue prints of the space out to the fire chief so as to assist them.
House Manager does as the light board operator on in the balcony in first ensuring the
box office has put in the
call if needed and is secure, than ensures or directs ushers are in their place or re-directs as needed. Ensures the
lobby and entrance are not having a problem than clears the center of the audience area.
House manager as light board operators final inspection of a above balcany is the final inspection before releasing the ushers and crew. This person than while in coordination with staff on
apron releases the ushers and balcony people from their duties. Main responsibility is with staff on the
apron and
house manager - all others assist and take direction from them.
House Manager than sends the all
clear message by way of light board operator off to the
stage manager, and reports this to the fire chief once completed. The next duty would be to account for all ushers and
FOH stage hands once outside and assist as needed with the first aid - all while in coordination with the faculty/staff that took to the
stage apron.
Stage Manager backstage is as per
House Manager in being the last out in doing an afterwards inspection and directs all others once the
fire curtain goes down. Should they need to be the staff in front of the
apron, the Asst or fly person than takes over in a recognized chain of command. Their job would be to ensure the fire drape is lowered or help where no asst.
stage manager is present,
call cues as needed to assure work lights and
FOH lights were brought up, than
clear the
stage. Once the
stage is cleared, they hit the dressing rooms
etc and ensure cast and crew have gotten out. They than secure the main
stage door until relieved. It’s also then the primary fire fighting person where needed in directing the
stage crew to make their exit. Once they are out, and that door is secure, they report to the fire chief that cast and crew is secure once the ASM or fly person in accounting for all brings that list to them.
The asst.
stage manager if any takes care of
stage left in clearing the
stage but more importantly ensures the fly person is able to finish his duties. This person is also the first on the fire extinguisher and primary person to fight the fire if any. They coordinate with the
stage manager and
clear all rooms or areas on their half the
stage. They then take position at any opposing
stage doors to ensure nobody gets back in by way of assigning crew person at the door or taking it. Their next task is to check off a list of all cast and crew in accounting for them and give it to the
stage manager.
Fly person ensures that the fire drape went down and if necessary and by approval as
SOP, clears the
stage of any flown scenery on
stage. They also if fire ensure the
smoke vents opened and if necessary open them manually. If there is no asst.
stage manager, they than take over in primary / lead fire fighter
role in directing the crew in fire fighting or escaping they than
clear the rooms or areas on that part of
stage.
The crew fights the fire first, than as directed go to designated dressing rooms or areas to ensure the cast has gotten out. They than make their way to the
stage doors in assisting the
stage manager or fly person in keeping that door secure or as needed become the first aid staff in either the area set up by the
box office staff or to those needed back
stage.
Stage crew first is charged with fighting the fire, than in assisting the cast to get out. Once these tasks are done and any specific duties are fulfilled need to leave the
stage so they are not having to be searched for. Once outside, they assist the
stage manager or assistant in any way needed. The amount of time they can
play the hero in fighting the fire or clearing the building of actors is limited. Once directed to stop fighting the fire, they need to assist and
clear rooms than get out. The longer they linger, the more dangerous it will be to others. They must be aware and flexible, but follow the commands by the ASM/SM/Fly person.
All than assist the police and fire people in controlling or especially getting the crowd away from the theater area so there is room for the emergency people to work. Once the situation is well at
hand, there should be an announced rally
point for all cast, crew and
usher people to wait.