Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Rehearsal for Murder

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Laff
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Joined: 9/04/07
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Topic: Rehearsal for Murder
Posted: 2/05/08 at 8:07pm

I was just wondering if anyone had ever done or directed rehearsal for murder? I'm a new director only 18 in fact and I need a lot of help from anyone. Thank you.

break a leg!

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B-M-D
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Posted: 2/06/08 at 9:21am

Isn't that the relationship between every actor and director....rehearsal for murder? (cue rim shot)

Sorry kid, it was a softball I just had to hit. Hope someone responds with a legitimate answer.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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sdiehl
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Posted: 2/06/08 at 10:16am

I was in "Rehearsal for Murder" way back in HS, what fun, it was my first play.

We did a really simple set with a bare stage and suggested sets. At the end, Loretta (that was me) came out of the back of the audience. Good luck!

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skyguy
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Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:16pm

Sorry, I haven't directed that show, but I did sound design for it. To be honest, I can't think of a better show to cut your teeth with. Like it was mentioned before... it's a static set (almost) that is set in a theater. You can't get much easier than that! Just focus on the acting since there isn't much else to it.

On a side note... I personally found the ending (or twist) to come from left field. It never really felt clever or anything like that. My reaction to the ending was more of a "huh?"

good luck!

Can I have some more talent in the monitors please?

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Merry
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Posted: 4/22/08 at 10:35pm

I was in Rehearsal for Murder a few years ago, and though in my humble opinion it's not the best-written show, we had a lot of fun with it, primarily because we really delved into the characters' motivations. At one point during rehearsals we had a meeting where we went around the group and asked each actor what the character he/she played really thought of all the rest of the characters. It really helped us to flesh out some things that may or may not be obvious in the script. We also had a bare set, with only a few set pieces that were pulled on and off by the actors. It worked out very well and our audiences seemed to like it. Good luck!

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GoldCanyonLady
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Posted: 4/23/08 at 12:37pm

I have never heard of that play and just searched for it in French and Dramatists web sites; they don't have it. Where did you get the play? I'd like to read it.

Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

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Nanette
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Posted: 4/23/08 at 3:07pm

GoldCanyonLady ... try this link to Dramatic Publishing. http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=1256

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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metoo
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Posted: 10/21/08 at 1:01am

We're doing it now. I think it would be a great play for a first time director, (even though I've never directed). The set is pretty much bare, we had folding directors chairs on one side, and one section curtained off as Monica's study & "Sally" does most of the set moving actually during the show. I agree with a previous post, this is one in which you can concentrate mostly on the acting.

BTW just an amusing note. At one of our cast parties we watched the movie, it was horrible, but quite entertaining after a show.

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Author	Message
Laff Player Joined: 9/04/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Rehearsal for Murder Posted: 2/05/08 at 8:07pm
	I was just wondering if anyone had ever done or directed rehearsal for murder? I'm a new director only 18 in fact and I need a lot of help from anyone. Thank you.
	break a leg!

	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 2/06/08 at 9:21am
	Isn't that the relationship between every actor and director....rehearsal for murder? (cue rim shot) Sorry kid, it was a softball I just had to hit. Hope someone responds with a legitimate answer.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

sdiehl Walk-On Joined: 1/21/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 2/06/08 at 10:16am
	I was in "Rehearsal for Murder" way back in HS, what fun, it was my first play. We did a really simple set with a bare stage and suggested sets. At the end, Loretta (that was me) came out of the back of the audience. Good luck!
	IP Logged

skyguy Walk-On Joined: 1/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:16pm
	Sorry, I haven't directed that show, but I did sound design for it. To be honest, I can't think of a better show to cut your teeth with. Like it was mentioned before... it's a static set (almost) that is set in a theater. You can't get much easier than that! Just focus on the acting since there isn't much else to it. On a side note... I personally found the ending (or twist) to come from left field. It never really felt clever or anything like that. My reaction to the ending was more of a "huh?" good luck!
	Can I have some more talent in the monitors please?
	IP Logged

Merry Walk-On Joined: 4/22/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/22/08 at 10:35pm
	I was in Rehearsal for Murder a few years ago, and though in my humble opinion it's not the best-written show, we had a lot of fun with it, primarily because we really delved into the characters' motivations. At one point during rehearsals we had a meeting where we went around the group and asked each actor what the character he/she played really thought of all the rest of the characters. It really helped us to flesh out some things that may or may not be obvious in the script. We also had a bare set, with only a few set pieces that were pulled on and off by the actors. It worked out very well and our audiences seemed to like it. Good luck!
	IP Logged

GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Posted: 4/23/08 at 12:37pm
	I have never heard of that play and just searched for it in French and Dramatists web sites; they don't have it. Where did you get the play? I'd like to read it.
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 4/23/08 at 3:07pm
	GoldCanyonLady ... try this link to Dramatic Publishing. http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=1256
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

metoo Walk-On Joined: 12/12/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/21/08 at 1:01am
	We're doing it now. I think it would be a great play for a first time director, (even though I've never directed). The set is pretty much bare, we had folding directors chairs on one side, and one section curtained off as Monica's study & "Sally" does most of the set moving actually during the show. I agree with a previous post, this is one in which you can concentrate mostly on the acting. BTW just an amusing note. At one of our cast parties we watched the movie, it was horrible, but quite entertaining after a show.
	IP Logged

Topic: Rehearsal for Murder( Topic Closed)