Update:  Maybe THIS IS the way things hoppin' -  The jackets/uniforms/hats are on their way, maybe they WILL get here in time for dress rehearsal; all the women's/girl's dresses are being made by a seamstress in the church.

 

We did our first beginning-to-end rehearsal Wednesday:  it went as well as could be expected (that is to say, it didn’t go flying off the tracks!).  The timing was a lot better than I thought it was going to be: 1 hour 20 min vs. the two hour monster I was nightmaring about.  We only had one song without a singer (she had to leave to take her father home – you would think an eighty-six year old man could drive himself – it wasn’t that dark!).  Only two of the songs went longer than they should (how can “Sleigh Bells” last 6 minutes?)

 

Four of the six flats were constructed and the other two will be done today.  I have been assured that there IS an angel who will please me with her painting of the necessary cabin and outdoors scenes. (When?)

 

The VIP session – the one I wanted between dress rehearsal and opening/closing night:  I changed the time from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 because Martha (main character) is a bridesmaid (in real – whatever “real” means at this point – life) that day at 6:00 p.m. – but now it turns out that the wedding is six hours away, so – no way, Jose, will she be able to attend that “little” session.  I’m leaning toward dress rehearsal and VIP session as one and the same – what other choices have I, my friends?

 

We have lights! Yeah! And sounds.  Wow, do we.  Our little church is beginning to look a lot like CT – Yes!

 

I started a blog, Shenandoahachristmasstory.blogspot.com to give those asscociated with the play a chance to see where we are/give their thoughts/etc.

 

Our light/sound tech brought a Union jacket/Sword/Sabre/authentic civil war rifle to rehearsal last Wednesday.  I’m not sure, with the frame of mind that I am in, that it is a good idea to bring any kind of firearm.

Don't forget to scedule at least one tech rehearsal, which a lot of comeatres tebd to scrub around or believe they are actualy a dress rehearsal.
It is a Cue to Cue rehearsal prinarly for the technical side of the production.
The warm props [luvvies] hate this, as they nothing more than warm props.
Most tech rehearsals can be done in slick time moving from each cue to the next cue, with cast cast just fiving in thier places the 'first & last lines [action]. Leading into a  scene  then jumping to the line prior to  giving the 'Go' cue &/or the action leading to the cue  & the line/action just past the cue.
This gives everone a  condenced  experiance of where they are in thier places on stage  & how it looks  prioor to the cue & where they need to be after & for the next cue. Cut out everything Between each cue  & the next Stand by cue  or  the actual  GO Cue.
Normally on a musical this will take longer than a play, especialy if there is a lot of cues & scenery moves, but even aon a heaverly cued show, it can be acomplished in leass than hour. where by a number of cue - cue rehearsals can take place in the course of one night.
Normally with musicals while I chop out the dialagoue betwen cues, I get the cast to do the musical numbers completely, which helps them to focus & relieves thier boardom of just being stale bottles of milk, being shunted from cue to cue. There is no need for the cast to bother with costume changes, unless thier may be a tight & quick changes needed. To assist them &/or the dressers, I factor this in by doing that part of the show, that allows them to go thru  the actual change, to experiance * get the timing into thier head, but this is a rare situation.
I use 3 types of cues "Stand By' - 'On Cue' Cue GO' designated by Lighting  - Numerical, Audio - Alphabetical  &  staging cues - Moves numerical.scene [Move 1, 2 or 3 = for each scene change/action] the music cues relates numericaly the same as the score number Or it is done using the old 'traffic lights' system. Red/Amber stand by, Green GO]
In your situation I would imagine you will leave it to the Operator techie  & the MD  {which is not always a good option} At least have a cued running sheet for the Operator & marked script, so they have an idea of the time & position of the show at a glance, to ready a preset cue or whatever.
Me i never leave it up to the operators to do thier own thing, where or when ever, I always ensure the show os Called no matter what &/or the techies protests.
As you are having a fixed set, the only thing I would include is the hand & set props/furniture changes in the tech rehearsals.
 

JoeMc:

Ten more days until Opening/Closing night.  I'm kinda expecting a call from the Governor granting a reprieve.

 

It’s Thursday (today) and we had tech rehearsal on Wednesday.  It was illuminating (no pun intended, however, I’ll except any comic relief!) and our little play is actually beginning to look like the real thing.

 

We had a beginning to end rehearsal tonight and to say I am very disappointed would be a major understatement.

 

It seems that everyone wants to rewrite my play.  My play.  The one I wrote. 

 

I’ve been very open to suggestions and ready to write in changes as they have to do with areas that I know nothing about (for example, not being a military man, I listen very carefully to what the dialog would be between a real Captain and Major).  However, a lot of what is going on is laziness on the part of players not memorizing their lines.  And did I mention the blocking, or lack thereof?

 

Our meeting, after today’s rehearsal was not a very nice meeting.

 

There is a part where Charlie stands behind Martha and puts his hand on her shoulder.  As she speaks, she places her hand on his.  The non-verbal communication gets lost if Charlie never stands there.  Why is it so hard to explain this?

 

There is a song called “Sleigh Bells” and it is sung by adults and children alike.  However, one child, Gabe, has not arrived on the scene yet and there are people who think he should be in the group to sing with the other children.  HE DOESN’T EXIST IN THE STORY YET! 

 

Am I being overly sensitive?  I mean, after all, it’s just a little church play..

 

That I wrote.

Originally posted by neilfortin Choose your battles wisely sir, especially with COMMUNITY theater...there are some things you just can't fight.

I have to disagree with this. I really dislike the whole "it's just community theater" rationale for letting things slide. The more you let your cast get away with, the less they will listen to you.  I'm not saying don't listen to suggestions, but you are the final authority, especially this close to opening.