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A Brief Overview of the Rehearsal Process

Actors begin working on the basics of their blocking the first week. Scenes are begun to be run through by the second week. The director begins to see his vision being played out. Actors slowly walk through their scenes delivering lines. This can be a very tedious process as the Director and cast, continually make adjustments as needed. For the next few weeks, scenes will be run over and over. Actors become familiar with their own characters, each other and each others characters all while learning 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.

Straight plays have a 6 week rehearsal period, 4 nights a week, 3 hours a night. Usually by week 4, lines 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 are extremely intense and focused. It is during this time that the show is run from top to bottom with as little stopping as possible. Week 6 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 these last 4 days. The entire set has been assembled and is ready for use. Lights have been hung, and now, they must be focused. 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 taking away props and everything else involved with a scene change. There is much to be done in these 4 days before a show opens. A lot of people, action and pieces must be coordinated to acheive the final product. This is even moreso in a musical.

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. 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.