Your first production rehearsal typically comes with butterflies, plenty of excitement and anticipation, and lofty goals for the months ahead. While you may be wrapped up in all the exhilaration, remember that setting the right tone during your first gathering is key to the success of your show. If you’re not sure where to start, On The Stage can help.
Before your cast and crew walk in for the first rehearsal, you should be locked and loaded – prepared for any variables. The best way to achieve that is by planning way ahead. A few things to do before rehearsal one include:
You want your team solely focused on the success of your show. To accomplish that, ensure everyone has their cell phone on silent. You’ll want to ensure all other distractions are covered, turned off, or removed from the space. It’s all about the art today!
There’s absolutely no shame in feeling nervous, anxious, or shy on the day of your first rehearsal … but as the leader, you should work to break the ice. Whether it’s improv games, silly icebreakers, quick intros, or something else entirely, loosening up your team before the real work begins will lead to greater performances down the road.
Your first meeting is the time to let your team know what you expect and when you expect it. Go over your schedule, lay ground rules, and set goals.
Since you’re the ship’s captain, it’s also your responsibility to ensure your team feels safe, uplifted, and set up for success. Ensure the team knows they can come to you with any questions or concerns; you should be, after all, a safe haven for everyone involved in your production.
After goals are laid out, ice breakers are played, and your team is ready to move forward, ensure their voices and bodies are ready to rehearse. Vocal and body warm-ups will get the blood flowing.
While you may not have time to go through your entire show, do a quick table read of a few pivotal scenes to ensure your cast gets their footing. This first read can establish cast chemistry and excite people for the coming months.
Take questions – Before you release your team for the day, ensure they feel confident and ready to move forward. Open the floor, and remember, there are no silly questions on day one!
In the entirety of theatre’s storied history, there’s probably never been a rehearsal that went off without a hitch. So, take some time after your cast and crew have left to reflect on the day and move forward. You can ask yourself the following questions:
You can’t – and shouldn’t – restructure your rehearsal timelines after one meeting. But it’s always a good idea to remain flexible and listen to the people around you. This is a group effort, after all!
On The Stage can assist with every facet of your show – from the first rehearsal to tech week, performances, and your postmortem after the curtain close.
Excited to get started? Explore the latest updates to our Patron Manager, and chat with our team today to see how these tools can take your theatre to new heights!