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bullet Posted: 9/19/06 at 6:19pm

4 weeks?!  Zounds!  Even rehearsing every night, I don't see how your actors will have time to get off book in two weeks if they are in rehearsal 5 nights a week.  Earnest has such a small cast, it's hard to call them in for rehearsal in segments.  About the only one with a little bit of freedom is Lady Bracknell, who is only one in Act I and the end of Act III. 

Whatever you do, get your read through done the first night (or skip it all together), and get your blocking done by the middle of the second week--no later. 

Even though this is CT and the members are here for bonding with one another as well as acting, you'll need to stress the importance of working on lines, blocking, and character development when they are in the rehearsal but not working with you for the moment.

As a director, you need to be entirely prepared for every rehearsal.  If you haven't pre-blocked your scenes, you want to get those done now in your book, so you only have to dictate the movements and walk through them in the actual rehearsals.

Lastly, start each and every rehearsal ON TIME--even if only 1 actor is there.  Make the other actors stay late to make-up what they missed.

Have a good show!  Earnest is one of my all-time favorite plays!

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bullet Posted: 9/26/06 at 1:35pm
Does sticking the script in your back pocket really work well, POB14?  I've always relied on the "osmosis through the stomach" technique that involves sticking the script into the front of my waistband.  Closer to the brain, I think.  (and easier to peek at when there's a break in the action)
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bullet Posted: 9/26/06 at 1:49pm
I don't know about POB, but when I stick a script in my back pocket, it IS closer to the brain...
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bullet Posted: 9/26/06 at 8:54pm
I was doing Plaza Suite one night (opening night  maybe) when my co-star began to feel my butt.  HUH? I was totally nonplussed.  We where friends, but not that close and she'd never showed any interest in being closer.  Besides that, she was very professional and it seemed so out of character for her.

.......until I realized I had put my script under my waist band in the back after I finished refreshing my memory before my entrance.  Don't know why I didn't just set it down backstage!!?? She was trying to let me know that not only could it be seen by the three people who had, for some strange reason, decided to attend that night, but I'd place it so the title was clearly visable.  What a DOLT !!


......thus began the notion I should begin to direct rather act.  I now only need memorize the title of the show I'm directing.


.........and most of my shows have been three word titles or less.

just wanted to share that
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bullet Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:02am
See Castme this is why I am a SM I get to have my book all the time.
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bullet Posted: 4/27/07 at 2:43pm
Hi.  I actually wrote a manual on directing community theater that you may find very useful.   A friend of mine was going to help me get it published, but then he unfortunately had a stroke, and I just put it on the back burner.  At this point, I've given up on making any money on it but would just love to have someone be able to use it - and I wouldn't mind getting some feedback on whether you found it useful or not.  Please feel free to email me at raydenicsas@yahoo.com if you're interested.
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bullet Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:11pm
FYI:  I'm the "guest" above-- my username didn't transfer when the forum updated.
 
I just finished directing Earnest for my second time in 2 years (the kids asked me to do it, so I said yes)
 
I gave them their books on March 30, and they performed May 17 and 18.  They had to be off book before the first rehearsal on April 16 (we had Spring Break, Senior Trip, and a Youth Conference in between auditions and April 16).  We basically rehearsed 3 days a week for 2 hours a day for 4 weeks.  It was possible, but only because the kids were pretty much off book on April 16. 
 
Our schedule was (1 day per act) 
 
Week 1--blocking
Week 2---working
Week 3--act runs
Weeks 4 & 5--tech/dress/performance
 
It was a success because my students were such hard workers, but I wouldn't suggest such a short rehearsal schedule again.
 
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