The hardest part of directing a children's theater show is coming up with a working rehearsal schedule. With the unpredictability of kids and their families and their school and sports and lessons and social obligations, as well as winter wellness and weather issues, we are having a dickens of a time keeping on track! The few hours we are able to see the students each week makes forward progress an almost insurmountable task.
I have done summer theater camps in 30 dedicated hours in a 2 week timeframe, and tuition-based Children's Theater shows in 30 hours of rehearsal time in an 8 week time frame, but doing a school show as an after-school club offering in 30 hours of stolen minutes spread out over 10 weeks --- that is more than difficult -- it is a nightmare! I do not recommend it. Thirty hours over a shorter period is much more reasonable, depending on how complicated the show is. Our main problem seems to be that our 40 minutes here and there does not give us adequate time to string scenes together. We might get one scene finished and then go on to work something else. Then, by the time we get a chance to come back to it a week or more later, the kids have forgotten everything. What a challenge!
I have done summer theater camps in 30 dedicated hours in a 2 week timeframe, and tuition-based Children's Theater shows in 30 hours of rehearsal time in an 8 week time frame, but doing a school show as an after-school club offering in 30 hours of stolen minutes spread out over 10 weeks --- that is more than difficult -- it is a nightmare! I do not recommend it. Thirty hours over a shorter period is much more reasonable, depending on how complicated the show is. Our main problem seems to be that our 40 minutes here and there does not give us adequate time to string scenes together. We might get one scene finished and then go on to work something else. Then, by the time we get a chance to come back to it a week or more later, the kids have forgotten everything. What a challenge!
Heart, Star, Sunshine and Smile icons indicate specific groups of students
Hopefully, our longer Friday rehearsals coming up and our few 3 hour Saturday rehearsals can save us. We are at the "five weeks to go" count down. Time to step it up and get things really set. We haven't even started working with props and set pieces yet. And then there are the awkward moments learning to wear and perform in the costumes. Yikes! Wish us luck!
The good news is that the kids are adorable and are singing well. Some of them are really starting to get into their characters. The dances are almost finished with polishing yet to come. Now if we can get off book and cut out the silliness we ought to make great strides in a short time. For goodness sakes, the message of this show -- "Never Cry Wolf" -- is WORK. We had better start practicing what we preach!
The good news is that the kids are adorable and are singing well. Some of them are really starting to get into their characters. The dances are almost finished with polishing yet to come. Now if we can get off book and cut out the silliness we ought to make great strides in a short time. For goodness sakes, the message of this show -- "Never Cry Wolf" -- is WORK. We had better start practicing what we preach!
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