Starhouse ATC Company Charter

Starhouse ATC is a theatre collective, with business decisions made by a board of directors, and artistic decisions made by the directorial and design teams for whichever project is currently underway, with ultimate oversight from the company Artistic Director and President, Rory Kinsolving, and Vice President, Cassian Grove.

Internal structure 

Anyone who participates in any capacity in a Starhouse production is expected to sign a participation agreement for that season, which lays out simple rules for professional behavior and what one may expect from the company. This agreement utilizes a three strike policy—if a participant is not considered to have broken any elements of the agreement during a season, they are considered in good standing. One’s first rule-break results in a warning, one's second in probation, and any transgressions when on probation result in an immediate cutting of ties. This agreement is updated for each season, and signed anew by everyone participating each time.

Anyone who participates in any capacity in a Starhouse production is welcome to join our company discord server, and to remain there as a participant of the wider Starhouse community unless they receive three strikes by the terms of a season’s agreement. Any participant in good standing at the end of a season may apply to join the board of directors (see below for details). Any member in good standing who participates in a second season or joins the board is automatically considered a Starhouse company member, and is entitled to certain privileges thereof:

  • Company members are given casting priority (as we know we work well together—this is not a promised role, but a strong likelihood of casting)

  • Certain votes, such as seasonal show selection, are opened up to company members as a whole.

  • Company members are given access to board meeting minutes

  • Company members are encouraged to submit topics for board discussion at the next meeting should they desire

The board of directors meets monthly to discuss and vote on business decisions, event coordination, etc (details below).

Board of Directors

The board is made up of 4-10 titled and non-titled voting board members, of equal voting power. Non-titled board members participate by providing creative ideas, participating in discussions, and voting; while titled board members have specific additional duties to fulfill. 

Titles for board members currently filled are:

  • Chair (Rory Kinsolving)

    • Runs board meetings, sets meeting agendas, recognizes motions before they go to a vote, approves minutes.

  • Secretary (Tangent Sacket Pyle)

    • Takes notes during meetings and distributes them, reads minutes/old minutes if need be, runs minutes by chairman before distribution.

  • Treasurer (Rory Kinsolving, interim)

    • Maintains our financial documentation, monitors company finances, helps other departments set season budgets, sets goals for fundraising events, manages post-show reimbursement.

  • Social media/Patreon manager (Cassian Grove)

    • Regularly posts on social media, maintains advertising, keeps Patreon running, maintains Starhouse brand online.

  • Grants and development (Rory Kinsolving and Cassian Grove)

    • Finds revenue streams for Starhouse, sources and applies to grants with the help of directorial teams, leads the planning fundraisers with the support of the board at large.

  • Human resources (Rory Kinsolving)

    • Updates participation agreement each year with the input of the board, resolves interpersonal disputes when needed, responds to reports about incidents, keeps track of member strike system per the agreement.

Titles we would still like to fill include:

  • Diversity Equity and Inclusion lead

    • Assesses scripts and other texts for bigotry, offensive content, or biases and suggests changes when need be, sources other sensitivity readers when appropriate, approves all costume/makeup/etc designs, and advises company in any other DEI matters.

  • Legal advisor

    • Advises company on legal matters, does not need to attend board meetings unless needed for a specific topic, primarily asynchronous consulting.

  • Financial advisor

    • Advises company on financial matters, does not need to attend board meetings unless needed for a specific topic, primarily asynchronous consulting.

Board meeting structure

Meetings follow standard board meeting format:

  • Roll call

    • Note all present members for minutes to track absences

  • Department reports (when relevant)

    • When needed and possible, department heads report on the past month 

  • Old business

    • Follow up on last month’s action items and check in on ongoing projects 

  • New business

    • Start any new projects or important discussions not following up on last month

  • Open floor

    • Anything anyone wants to talk about that didn’t fit into previous sections 

  • Action items

    • What we’ll be doing between now and the next meeting, who’s doing it, etc.

Motions, too, are board meeting standard—one board member formally makes a motion, and if another member seconds it, it goes to a yes/no vote immediately.

Board participation guidelines and application process

The board will have a regular meeting at 6pm on the first Monday of each month. If any board member does not participate in 3 consecutive meetings, their seat becomes open

  • If a board member misses 6 meetings in a year, consecutive or not, we will need to discuss their ability to participate

  • In extenuating circumstances and with prior communication, a board member may participate by reading the minutes and weighing in promptly, but this should be considered an emergency solution and not become the norm for their participation.

  • A board member whose seat becomes open and is in good standing with the company as per the agreement may immediately reapply as long as their seat remains open.

  • Membership in absentia — if a board member knows they will be unable to participate for a certain fixed length of time, their seat can be held for a maximum of a year with prior warning to the company.

The rules outlined in the general Starhouse yearly participation agreement, of course, apply to board members as they do for any Starhouse worker.

Starhouse members may apply to join the board only after having completed at least one full season without having been put on probation by the terms of the participation agreement. To apply, members submit a paragraph to the current board (by emailing it to starhouseatc@gmail.com) explaining what they believe Starhouse’s artistic, business, and philosophical goals to be and what they feel they can bring to the table to assist with those goals. Once received, the current board then votes on the applicant’s suitability and the applicant will be informed on the decision once the vote has been cast.