Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Children and rehearsals

Author

Message

Scott B
Celebrity

Joined: 12/08/04
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 239

Topic: Children and rehearsals
Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:02pm

I would like to know how different theatres handle rehearsals with a lot of children ... like Annie, Oliver or even worse ... The King and I.

I know you have to really have your rehearsal time planned out well so they don't get bored, but do you pay someone or find volunteers to be the official Kid Wrangler to keep them busy and quiet? Or ... do you make the parents come to the rehearsals ... split it up between parents?

Any suggestions at all are appreciated.

Thanks

IP Logged

edh915
Celebrity

Joined: 11/19/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 325

Posted: 9/24/13 at 2:43pm

One (sometimes two) person from the theater group is the official kid wrangler - fully vetted, no police record, first aid certified. Parents are welcome to assist. We try to spread their responsibilities throughout the full rehearsal schedule so we don't suffer parent burnout. All kids and all parents are required to sign off on the absolute authority of the official theater wrangler. Sounds a little aggressive, but you have to take a slightly hard line, or it won't work. Without the authority issue being firmly established, parents and kids often become totally unmanageable.

IP Logged

Majicwrench
Celebrity

Joined: 2/07/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 178

Posted: 9/25/13 at 5:52pm

We certainly don't have anything official like mentioned above. I assign someone to be the Munchkin Master, usually one or two of our theatre people who is not in the current cast or crew.

SOMEONE has to be responsible, with parents it never seems to quite work, although they are welcome to come assist.

Keith

IP Logged

vickifrank
Celebrity

Joined: 9/21/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 332

Posted: 10/04/13 at 12:17pm

The group that I worked with had separate rehearsals for kids, and several teenagers tasked with keeping kids occupied. Those teenagers were sometimes cast members.

They also had a space that was kept separate that the kids could play in between cues or during combined rehearsals. They kept that space stocked with puzzles, crayons & coloring books. Parents could visit the kids there and also volunteered to help them.

The teenagers were asked to escort the kids to various scenes. The teens seemed to enjoy competing to be the favorite among the little kids.

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

IP Logged

Scott B
Celebrity

Joined: 12/08/04
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 239

Posted: 10/05/13 at 9:38pm

I can see where having teens in the cast would help. I would think the younger ones would somewhat look up to those teens and (hopefully) give them a bit of respect.

IP Logged

vickifrank
Celebrity

Joined: 9/21/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 332

Posted: 10/05/13 at 9:57pm

In a production of Oliver, one director hired a second director just for the kids. Separate rehearsals. Separate dance captain. Then at the end the children and the adults were combined for 2(?) weeks.

A different group did King & I. In that production, the infants (we had two) were cared for by their real mothers/fathers and their stage mothers. If the infant was fussy, the infant didn't go on. The kids age 3 and up were kept as a group and entertained together during the show. Rehearsals again were separate for kids. I think they brought "Anna" into the kid rehearsals to get the kids used to her.

Yes you are right, the kids looked up to the teens. And the teens chosen to take care of the kids were great--loved kids, volunteered and were all known to the director. The little kids followed the teens around like ducklings following mama duck.

As Majicwrench says, I've never seen it work out with parents appointed as guardians for the kid cast (except infants of course). I suspect its because parents tend to have two kids, so they have split attentions.

One note about teens: Sometimes its best to assign them in pairs (same gender usually).

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

IP Logged

Other Topics
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Other Topics

Author	Message
Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Topic: Children and rehearsals Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:02pm
	I would like to know how different theatres handle rehearsals with a lot of children ... like Annie, Oliver or even worse ... The King and I. I know you have to really have your rehearsal time planned out well so they don't get bored, but do you pay someone or find volunteers to be the official Kid Wrangler to keep them busy and quiet? Or ... do you make the parents come to the rehearsals ... split it up between parents? Any suggestions at all are appreciated. Thanks

	IP Logged

edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 9/24/13 at 2:43pm
	One (sometimes two) person from the theater group is the official kid wrangler - fully vetted, no police record, first aid certified. Parents are welcome to assist. We try to spread their responsibilities throughout the full rehearsal schedule so we don't suffer parent burnout. All kids and all parents are required to sign off on the absolute authority of the official theater wrangler. Sounds a little aggressive, but you have to take a slightly hard line, or it won't work. Without the authority issue being firmly established, parents and kids often become totally unmanageable.
	IP Logged

Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 9/25/13 at 5:52pm
	We certainly don't have anything official like mentioned above. I assign someone to be the Munchkin Master, usually one or two of our theatre people who is not in the current cast or crew. SOMEONE has to be responsible, with parents it never seems to quite work, although they are welcome to come assist. Keith
	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 10/04/13 at 12:17pm
	The group that I worked with had separate rehearsals for kids, and several teenagers tasked with keeping kids occupied. Those teenagers were sometimes cast members. They also had a space that was kept separate that the kids could play in between cues or during combined rehearsals. They kept that space stocked with puzzles, crayons & coloring books. Parents could visit the kids there and also volunteered to help them. The teenagers were asked to escort the kids to various scenes. The teens seemed to enjoy competing to be the favorite among the little kids.
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
	IP Logged

Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Posted: 10/05/13 at 9:38pm
	I can see where having teens in the cast would help. I would think the younger ones would somewhat look up to those teens and (hopefully) give them a bit of respect.
	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 10/05/13 at 9:57pm
	In a production of Oliver, one director hired a second director just for the kids. Separate rehearsals. Separate dance captain. Then at the end the children and the adults were combined for 2(?) weeks. A different group did King & I. In that production, the infants (we had two) were cared for by their real mothers/fathers and their stage mothers. If the infant was fussy, the infant didn't go on. The kids age 3 and up were kept as a group and entertained together during the show. Rehearsals again were separate for kids. I think they brought "Anna" into the kid rehearsals to get the kids used to her. Yes you are right, the kids looked up to the teens. And the teens chosen to take care of the kids were great--loved kids, volunteered and were all known to the director. The little kids followed the teens around like ducklings following mama duck. As Majicwrench says, I've never seen it work out with parents appointed as guardians for the kid cast (except infants of course). I suspect its because parents tend to have two kids, so they have split attentions. One note about teens: Sometimes its best to assign them in pairs (same gender usually).
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
	IP Logged