The dazzling lights, the towering sets, the seamless transitions – Broadway productions enthrall audiences with their clockwork precision. But have you ever wondered how stage managers orchestrate this theatrical magic?
We tapped into the wisdom of Amber White and Tim Semon, stage management superstars with a combined 22+ Broadway shows under their belts (and that’s not counting national tours and Off-Broadway!). They’ve shared their battle-tested secrets for streamlining rehearsals, ensuring every minute is maximized for maximum impact. Here are their top tips for keeping your rehearsals running as smooth as silk.
1. Prioritize the music
“The first thing that needs to be tackled is to be able to sing through the show,” says Amber. It’s like building a house – the music is the foundation. Once the cast feels confident with the score, then the staging, choreography, and other elements can seamlessly build on top of that strong base. This not only makes learning easier for everyone, but also ensures a cohesive and powerful performance come opening night.
2. Create a detailed schedule
Don’t leave your cast and crew guessing! Whether it’s a daily breakdown or a comprehensive production schedule (or both!), Tim recommends ditching the “need-to-know” mentality and creating detailed plans that everyone can access. “I truly believe that anyone who works on a production should get [that information],” Tim explains. “Inevitably, there’s something on there that someone will need to know.” By making the schedule transparent, you empower your team and ensure everyone’s on the same page, leading to smoother rehearsals.
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Bonus tip: Make sure to update the next rehearsal schedule after every rehearsal and send it to the cast and crew ASAP. This way they will know what’s expected of them before they walk in the room!
3. Start by doing the most first
Time is of the essence during rehearsals, especially for your busy cast who juggle outside commitments. Amber and Tim recommend a strategic approach: tackle the most complex scenes (those involving the largest number of actors) when rehearsals start. This ensures everyone gets the most out of their rehearsal time. Once those scenes are at a good stopping point for the day, you can gradually release actors as you move on to scenes with smaller groups. This maximizes efficiency and keeps everyone focused on the most demanding material early on. By opening up rehearsal slots throughout the process, you accommodate your cast’s schedules and get the most out of every minute.
4. Break the script down
Amber and Tim emphasize the power of a good script breakdown. This involves splitting the script into scenes and identifying the actors involved in each one. Think of it as a blueprint for your rehearsal schedule. With this breakdown in hand, you can ensure you’re calling the right actors for the right scenes and musical numbers, maximizing rehearsal efficiency and keeping everyone focused. It’s a simple step that pays big dividends in terms of organization and productivity.
Bonus tip: If you have an MTI license, there’s no need to break the script down yourself! Click here to see how ProductionPro provides script breakdowns for all MTI shows.
And that’s a wrap on part one of our Q&A with Amber White and Tim Semon! We learned some valuable tips for streamlining rehearsals and making the most of your time.
But wait, there’s more! In part two, Amber and Tim delve deeper into the world of tech week, sharing their insights on things like effective collaboration, headset etiquette, and staying calm under pressure.
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