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An Overview of the Musical Rehearsal Process

Actors begin working on the basics of their blocking the first week or rehearsal. Selected scenes may be run through by the second week. The Director sees his vision being played out for the first time in slow motion. Actors tentatively walk through their scenes delivering lines with scripts in hand.

This can be a very tedious process as the Director and cast, continually make adjustments as needed. For the next several weeks, scenes will be run over and over. Actors become familiar with their own characters and each others characters all while learning lines and blocking. Choreography and vocals are also being learned at the same time as lines and blocking. Gradually, small set pieces and props will be added. During the course of the next few weeks, scripts will be used minimally, costume pieces may be added and the play begins to take form.

Musicals require (min)8 weeks of rehearsal, 4 nights a week, 3 hours a night. Usually by week 6, lines and vocals have been memorized, more props are being used, most of the costuming is complete, much of the set is finished and rehearsals are run as close to production quality as possible. During this time actors continue to hone their characters, and the Director fine tunes all the details.

The last 2 weeks of rehearsals are extremely intense and focused. It is not uncommon for additional rehearsals to be called at this point. At times it may just be particularly difficult sections of a show that will be rehearsed. On Sunday of Week 8 everything and everybody moves to the Opera House stage for Tech Week.

This is a big step as it will be the first time the cast will actually work on the stage. Many things come in to play during the last 4 days known as Tech Week. The entire set has been assembled and is ready for use. All costumes are used and costume changes must be dealt with. For the first time Stage Crew will interact with the cast, spiking set pieces, dressing the stage, making scene changes, adding and removing props and set dressing with each scene change.

Light and/or sound cues are given. Time is spent with actors simply walking to particular marks on the stage so that lights may be focused. There is much to be done in these 4 days before a show opens. Choreography may need to be adjusted. Extra music for scene changes may need to be added. Blocking may need to be altered. The stage crew arrives before the cast to do scene changes over and over so they are as smooth and quick as possible. Costumers arrive early making sure costumes are clean and ironed if necessary. A lot of people, action and pieces must be coordinated before Opening Night. These 4 days and nights are very long ones at times-most especially for the staff and crews.

Day 5, Thursday, is Dress Rehearsal, followed by what everyone has been working so hard towards, Opening Night. If you would like to be involved in any way, there is always something to do.

A peek inside the Fusel Lounge
February 9, 1964

(Front) Charles Rucker, Matt Scharlau Tony Calzaretta, Stephan Panek	'Undecided'
'No Not Much'	'Catering Drill'
'Matilda'	'Scotland the Brave'
'Shangri-La'	'From Rags To Riches'

OPENING NIGHT

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