How to Run Rehearsals

The stage manager and stage management team should arrive 30 minutes before call time every day. This will give you time to sweep the space, set up props and furniture, post the daily call, and do any other set-up needed for the day. If you find you do not need the full 30 mins, you can adjust accordingly.

Ensure that everyone has arrived on time. If someone is not present at their call time, you need to call them to find out when they will be arriving and communicate that to the director. Note that they were late on the rehearsal report.

Chat with the director before the start of rehearsal to go over the plan for the day.

At the appropriate time, get the attention of the room and start rehearsal.

Your job during rehearsal is to keep the process on track and make sure the director is not running behind.

The department follows Actors' Equity's rule for breaks in the rehearsal room. This means you need to take a 5 min break after 55 mins of rehearsal or a 10 min break after 80 mins. You should alert the director when you are approaching a break. When it is time for a break, alert the director it is time for a break and let them wrap up whatever they are working on. Then call the break: Announce you will be on a break, how long it will be, and what time you are back.

During rehearsal, you and your team will need to do a combination of the following:

• take blocking (see Resources)

• track props and scenery (on the run sheet, see Prop Basics)

• track costumes (making notes of costume changes and where they happen on the run sheet)

• be on book (when actors are off book have someone ready to prompt actors when they call line)

• take line notes (when actors are off book note every time an actor calls line or messes up a line)

• set up props and furniture (before and after each scene)

After rehearsal, stage management will clean up and break down the rehearsal room. If your rehearsal space is also a classroom, this means all rehearsal furniture must be cleared to the side and props put away. Any tables and chairs set must also be put away.

You need to send out your rehearsal report within 12 hours or before the next rehearsal. Generally, reports should be sent out on the day of rehearsal. The next daily call should be sent out ASAP. Weekly calls should be sent out at the end of the week, as far in advance of the next week as possible.