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Services & Pricing

Pricing for Shannon Hall and Play Circle bookings consists of four categories: Room Usage Fee, Labor, Equipment, and Services. More info about each of these areas can be found below.

Once your date is confirmed, you will be sent a Theater Usage Agreement which will include an Estimate of the costs for your event based on info shared. This Estimate can be revised during the advancing process prior to the event to reflect any changes to your needs. Your final cost will include actual labor hours and equipment usage during the event. If you sell tickets through Campus Arts Ticketing, ticket revenue will be applied towards the event costs and the balance will be remitted to you.

Pricing Details

  • Pricing depends on the venue, type of event, and activity. Usage time includes all hours needed for technical load-in, setup, rehearsal, performance, and strike/load-out.

    The Room Usage Fee includes the use of:

    • House Sound System (Public Address plus console)
    • House Lighting System (console and a lighting rep plot including front light, down light, high sides, gobo washes, specials, and lighting for the upstage cyc), plus an additional inventory of lighting fixtures for side lighting booms, specials, or other needs.
    • Soft Goods / Curtains:
      • Shannon Hall - red main curtain, black borders and legs, fullstage black curtains located midstage and upstage, a cyclorama (cyc), a flown projection screen with masking, and black scrim
      • Play Circle - black legs, fullstage black curtain located upstage, and a cyclorama (cyc) located upstage that doubles as a projection surface
    SHANNON HALL ROOM USAGE FEE – Rates Valid Through June 30, 2023
      External Groups & WI Union Members UW Departments, Government/State Registered Student Organizations (RSO)
    Event Day, Performance
    Up to 12 hours

    $ 3,300 $ 2,475 $ 1,650
    Tech / Rehearsal Day
    Up to 12 hours, performers present

    $ 2,400 $ 1,800 $ 1,200
    Load-In Day
    Up to 12 hours, technical crew only

    $ 600 $450 $300
    Lecture, Full Day
    Up to 12 hours

    Rate not available $1,200 $800
    Lecture, Half Day
    Up to 6 hours

    Rate not available $750 $500
    Additional fee for exceeding 12 hours in one day

    $600 $450 $300
    PLAY CIRCLE ROOM USAGE FEE – Rates Valid Through June 30, 2023
      External Groups & WI Union Members UW Departments, Government/State Registered Student Organizations (RSO)
    Event Day, Performance
    Up to 12 hours

    $300 $225 $150
    Tech / Rehearsal Day
    Up to 12 hours, performers present

    $200 $150 $100
    Load-In Day
    Up to 12 hours, technical crew only

    $100 $75 $50
    Additional fee for exceeding 12 hours in one day

    $100 $75 $50

    NOTE: If rehearsal and performance take place on the same day, the Event Day fee applies. If load-in and rehearsal take place on the same day, the Tech / Rehearsal Day fee applies.

  • Labor costs include stagehands and front-of-house staff, billed hourly. The Theater Usage Agreement will include an estimated cost. Your final invoice will have actual labor hours.

    Stagehands

    Technical crew for lighting, audio, video, and backstage needs during your event

    Rates Effective July 1, 2023 External Groups & WI Union Members UW Departments, Government/State Registered Student Organizations (RSO)
    Stagehand Labor, Standard
    Per person, per hour

    $40 $30 $21
    Stagehand Labor, Specialized *
    Per person, per hour

    $60 $40 $26

    * Specialized Labor includes Stage Manager, Lighting Programmer, Followspot Operator, and Livestream Operator.

    An event in Shannon Hall requires a minimum crew of three stagehands (lighting, audio, and backstage) with more needed to depending on the complexity of the event. Play Circle events typically require two to three stagehands. In most cases, shows are crewed by trained student and part-time hourly stagehands.

    Hiring IATSE technicians to supplement event staffing may be necessary if our stagehands are not available, or if the event requires highly skilled or specialized labor (e.g. rigging, wardrobe). Hiring IATSE crew is more likely necessary for weekday, daytime events occurring during the academic year, or for multi-day events that require the same crew throughout. Actual IATSE Labor costs will be included in the final invoice. If you prefer to work with IATSE technicians, please request at the time of booking your event.

     

    Front-of-House

    Includes house manager and usher(s) during your event 

    Rates Effective July 1, 2023 External Groups & WI Union Members UW Departments, Government/State Registered Student Organizations (RSO)
    House Manager
    Per person, per hour

    $23 $21 $19
    Ushers
    Per person, per hour

    $22 $20 $18

    The quantity of front-of-house staff is dependent on the venue and type of event. The Play Circle frequently requires one house manager and one to two ushers. Shannon Hall requires one house manager and four to 12 ushers. Events that require more ushers include events with more than 500 guests, reserved seating ticketed events, events anticipated to be at full capacity, and events wishing to have a standby line.

    Other Labor

    Labor charges may also be incurred for other needs such as Security Guards.

  • The Room Usage Fee includes a sound system, lighting system, and soft goods (see above for more details). Additional equipment is available upon request, as follows:

    1. Equipment available at no cost includes choral risers, curtains and other soft goods, cyclorama, lectern, music stands, orchestra chairs, platforms, and folding tables (among others) for backstage use. Learn more
    2. Equipment with additional costs includes things such as wireless mics, use of projector, etc. Visit our Technical Details page for more info.
    3. Equipment charges may also be incurred for use of Union equipment in theater or lobby spaces (e.g. covered tables, a 70” TV)
    1. Ticketing or RSVP support provided by Campus Arts Ticketing. Please reach out to Christina Majchrzak, Director of Ticketing, at csmajchrzak@wisc.edu to inquire. More information will be added to the website soon.
    2. Livestreaming and/or Recording the event. Details available upon request.
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