The Rehearsal Process

Follow the Rehearsal Process of Illinois State University's production of The Women of Lockerbie by Deborah Brevoort.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Prep Prep Prep

So here we are, Crew View Eve. Tomorrow is the first day that we will have the crews reporting for duty. This is awesome and terrifying. A lot has to be done prior to their arrival and due to many other things having to be done during rehearsal, Tech Prep is not always on the top of the list. This whole week, my assistants and myself have spent time during rehearsals prepping the necessary paperwork that we use frequently during tech. Whether its charting entrances/exits of actors, or locating where every prop is during the show at any given moment. Lucky for us, this show has no more than 20 props....if you don't count the clothes.

This weekend that we are heading into can be extremely exhausting considering we are putting in over 18 hours of rehearsal for Tech in 3 days...and then we begin dress rehearsals with costumes!

No matter how crazy and ridiculous this whole process sounds, it's exactly why I do Theatre. It is an insane amount of work, but the amount of gratification that I receive when I call that first cue on opening night is worth every moment, good or bad. It's hard for some people to understand what we do and why we do it, but it certainly is a lifestyle that we all have chosen for some reason. In the end, we all do it because it's what we love and are passionate about. I wish expressing these feelings through type did it justice, but it really doesn't. I invite you sometime, whether it's helping a local high school or a community theatre, to get involved with a production. Just see what it's like.

It seems to be the perfect fit for all of us involved in this production atleast.

Andrew Blevins
Stage Manager