Open Forum

The Calendar is All

I've been reading a lot on social media from young teachers who are overwhelmed with the basics of how to rehearse a play.

In my early years of teaching, I discovered a tool that controls chaos, saves time, and formats educational experiences: the calendar. I started with a basic calendar and modified it as time went on.

If you already have a rehearsal calendar that works for you, scroll on, but if you've ever had a problem with students meeting deadlines, or if the show just doesn't come together, try this, (or any part of it)

Start with your opening night. Count backwards from there, allowing enough time to rehearse the whole play.

How long do you need to pull this show together? Six weeks? Eight weeks?

Over rehearsing can be just as bad as under rehearsing.

Musicals generally take longer than straight plays.

For purposes of this example, let's say we are going to put on a straight play in 6 weeks.

Auditions and Casting happen before rehearsals start.

Week 1 – 3: Read through the whole play with the whole cast. Review the rehearsal schedule as well. Block the play and run through scenes. Remind the cast every day that they have to have their lines memorized by the end of the third week.

Week 4: Run through the whole show off book with cues, reminding the cast every day that the by the end of the week you'll be running the whole show off book without cues.

Week 5: Run the whole show off book. Add costumes and props if they're ready.

Week 6: Dress rehearsals with all costumes, lights and sound.  You're ready to open the show!

This is all over-simplified, but it works. You'll need to make adaptations to work with the culture at your school. Tech is on a separate schedule that meshes together with the rest of the play in the last 2-3 weeks.

To modify this rehearsal schedule for musicals, start by dividing your rehearsal schedule into thirds:

The first 1/3 is for music. Everyone does vocal rehearsals, memorizes their lyrics.

The second 1/3 is for dance and blocking.

The third 1/3 is for putting it all together.

If you are using an online communication & organization system to stay in touch with your cast & families, and it works, great. Don't stop using good old-fashioned paper and ink calendars. I always printed the calendar on the back of the audition sheet, and handed out extra copies copy to keep with your script and to take home and tape up on the refrigerator.

As with all things, if it doesn't work for you, modify, adjust, and try again.

The Calendar is All

I've been reading a lot on social media from young teachers who are overwhelmed with the basics of how to rehearse a play.

In my early years of teaching, I discovered a tool that controls chaos, saves time, and formats educational experiences: the calendar. I started with a basic calendar and modified it as time went on.

If you already have a rehearsal calendar that works for you, scroll on, but if you've ever had a problem with students meeting deadlines, or if the show just doesn't come together, try this, (or any part of it)

Start with your opening night. Count backwards from there, allowing enough time to rehearse the whole play.

How long do you need to pull this show together? Six weeks? Eight weeks?

Over rehearsing can be just as bad as under rehearsing.

Musicals generally take longer than straight plays.

For purposes of this example, let's say we are going to put on a straight play in 6 weeks.

Auditions and Casting happen before rehearsals start.

Week 1 – 3: Read through the whole play with the whole cast. Review the rehearsal schedule as well. Block the play and run through scenes. Remind the cast every day that they have to have their lines memorized by the end of the third week.

Week 4: Run through the whole show off book with cues, reminding the cast every day that the by the end of the week you'll be running the whole show off book without cues.

Week 5: Run the whole show off book. Add costumes and props if they're ready.

Week 6: Dress rehearsals with all costumes, lights and sound.  You're ready to open the show!

This is all over-simplified, but it works. You'll need to make adaptations to work with the culture at your school. Tech is on a separate schedule that meshes together with the rest of the play in the last 2-3 weeks.

To modify this rehearsal schedule for musicals, start by dividing your rehearsal schedule into thirds:

The first 1/3 is for music. Everyone does vocal rehearsals, memorizes their lyrics.

The second 1/3 is for dance and blocking.

The third 1/3 is for putting it all together.

If you are using an online communication & organization system to stay in touch with your cast & families, and it works, great. Don't stop using good old-fashioned paper and ink calendars. I always printed the calendar on the back of the audition sheet, and handed out extra copies copy to keep with your script and to take home and tape up on the refrigerator.

As with all things, if it doesn't work for you, modify, adjust, and try again.