Rehearsal Schedule Information

Prior to starting rehearsals, you should already have lined up your key support staff (assistant directors, stage managers, properties and costume people, set and lighting designs.

The Purchase Players CPAC generally uses a six to eight week rehearsal cycle (with six being closer to the norm).

Your rehearsal schedule will not only give the dates and times of play practice, but it will also set out the deadlines for completing blocking, being off-book, set design and construction completion, hanging and arranging lights, tech week, etc.

Each rehearsal calendar will be adapted to your own schedule; depending on your production, the work you're performing, and the particular needs and resources of your group.

As with any schedule, the ultimate goal here is to get the most value for the time spent on task.  With amateur talent, however, community theatres need to be especially sensitive to the real-life schedules of an all-volunteer cast. Care should be taken to schedule rehearsals in such a manner as to avoid cast members "waiting around". Accordingly, you may want to schedule some rehearsals with certain characters only, and give the rest of the cast the night off, particularly in the early stage of rehearsals. The primary rule is: don't ask your volunteers to show up  unless you have something for them to do!

Oh . . . and remember to schedule a strike set, with all hands (including cast members) the day after your final performance. Get the dirty work done while everyone is still feeling up from a great run!