All theatre students can tell you that working on a show brings a great amount of joy, but also a great amount of stress and exhaustion. For weeks upon weeks, all the students and faculty put in a great deal of work on a show, working late hours in the department to make sure that everything comes together in the end.
Actors rehearse for three and a half to four hours every night of the week. Students and faculty work hard in the scene and costume shops to design, build, and paint the set, and design and sew the costumes. The director and production team is hard at work collecting props, doing paperwork, and making everything for the show is in order.
Even though it is hard work, it is completely worth it on opening night to see everything pay off and audiences react so well to a show. That being said, the rehearsal process is always both an exciting and exhausting process. Here's how it goes:
1. The First Rehearsal
The first rehearsal is always filled with excitement and anticipation as the actors and production team get ready to take on the challenge of a new show! The production team has been hard at work for months before this day making sure everything is prepared, but the cast and crew meeting together for the first rehearsal is always a good time.
2. Middle of the Rehearsal Period
A few weeks in, the actors and crew are both beginning to become tired, both mentally and physically. On top of classes and other jobs that the students and faculty have to do, working on the show is definitely tiring. Late night rehearsals begin to catch up with everyone, and some of the actors and crew will get sick. There is still excitement, however, as the show is coming together nicely. At least, we hope.
3. Tech Week
Tech week is probably the most important week of the rehearsal process. Tech is when the light cues, sound cues, costumes, and last minute prop begin to come into play. The show is working out any last minute kinks and being run over, and over, and over. There are long cue to cue days and everyone's favorite, a 10 out of 12. If you ever hear an actor refer to a 10 out of 12, it is a 12-hour rehearsal day with two 1 hour lunch and dinner breaks. 10 hours of rehearsal, 12 hours in total. Actors and crew also tend to get sick during tech or are at least mentally and physically exhausted. The following GIF is an accurate representation of tech week for all those involved.
4. OPENING NIGHT!
Opening night is filled with excitement. The director finally takes a step back and fully leaves the show in the hands of the stage manager, who runs everything. Run crew take their places and actors warm up and get ready to enter the stage. Any actor in theatre will tell you that the audience is the final piece of the puzzle to having a complete show-- the energy that actors gain from a live audience is necessary for the theatre.
5. Closing the show-- and beyond
After the final bows, the actors and crew are exhausted and just ready to get a little sleep. But not quite yet-- prepare to spend the night after your final show striking the set, putting away the costumes, and cleaning out the dressing rooms. You'll be happy to get home and be able to take a nap in your bed, but soon enough, the post show depression will kick in. You'll wish to go back and do that show just one more time and when the see the audition notice for the next show, you'll begin preparing immediately.
While being involved in a show is a rollercoaster of emotions, in the end, it is 100% worth it. Being able to contribute to an amazing production is a feeling like no other, and for theatre students and those in the industry, it is a way of life.
