I have found a few things to be helpful!
I create a scene grid outlining who is in every scene. It takes a while to go student by student, but it eliminates a lot of emails and questions for me. I consider costume changes, etc. I also go back to the script and sometimes make sub-scenes like scene 5.1 because the characters in that scene are not necessarily in the first part of scene 5. This allows me to call only the people in certain scenes at a time, not waste people's time, and not have to deal with talking. So far, it's worked.
Here's the working scene grid for Newsies at the moment so you can see what I've done.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x3mUaysPwJ0YznHkHgdGoTEgrif-OzKE/view?usp=sharing
Then, here's a glimpse of our rehearsal schedule for last week and this week. I sent out my information in a digitally responsive newsletter. This allows me to send one email, but if I have to update any information, it will automatically update it for the students/parents when they open the email again. I also tell them that if the letters in the rehearsal schedule are red (orange, yellow, green, etc.), then they have changed since you last looked at them. I try very hard not to change things, but it happens. I'll attach the link.
Then, for the first month or so, we have three different types of rehearsals: music-learning the songs/harmonies, etc.; choreography and blocking.
Rehearsal schedule https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BBACyNvHe779rTn3Kv6NH9eBficQdmxI/view?usp=sharing
Newsies Rehearsal Schedule.pdf
Here's a sample of my weekly newsletter. https://secure.smore.com/n/9tr4kc
I hope something might help!
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Katie Pritz
Theatre Teacher
San Antonio Christian School
TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-26-2024 06:56
From: Kevin Long
Subject: musical rehearsal schedule
Good morning Peter.
Congratulations and thank you for giving your students this opportunity. I am happy to share my working draft for my upcoming production of Guys and Dolls. I first met with my music director and my choreographer - so we can all begin to define what we need, major benchmark dates, sitzprobe, etc.
I always start with the cast simply learning the music. All of the music directors I've worked with really appreciate this time. It usually takes a week. Then when the choreographer and I begin our work, the cast has a firm grounding/start in the music. I also make sure to have several reviews of the music throughout the process. As I start my work and the choreographer starts their work, sometimes, the music will begin to lose the specificity the musical director tried to instill in the cast.
If you every have any questions, please feel free to email me at klong@harpercollege.edu.
Best of luck to you.
Sincerely yours,
Kevin
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KEVIN LONG
Professor of Theatre
Harper College
Co-Author of "Bring on the Bard"
www.kevinlongdirector.com
And let us...on your imaginary forces work
Henry V, Prologue
Original Message:
Sent: 08-24-2024 11:57
From: Peter Kleiner
Subject: musical rehearsal schedule
Hello! I'm a public high school teacher in NYC and about to direct a musical. I've directed a bunch of plays and know how to do that, but I've never directed a musical. I want to create a rehearsal schedule but have never rehearsed songs and integrated that into an overall schedule. Any suggestions where I might find a great sample rehearsal schedule for musicals or tips on developing one? Thank you!
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Peter Kleiner
NYCDOE - Office of Arts and Special Projects
NY
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