Round-up: Production Preparation

Whether you’re directing your first school show or you’re a seasoned pro, a well-prepared, well-organized production plan has a trickle-down effect on the entire production process. When you have your plans in order, that creates a feeling of calm confidence that puts your students, teammates, and volunteers at ease, knowing that you’ve got things well in hand. Read on for some tips and tricks for ensuring your next school show is the most prepared yet.

Note: Before you begin your planning, reflect on your last production. What worked well in terms of organization and planning, that you could use again for this show? Did anything get missed or left until the last minute? How can you avoid that issue on this show?

Choosing Your Show

• Be sure to select a show for performance that works for your space, your students, your budget, your audience… and one that you actually like. Here are some tips for choosing a show for a class production.

• Get specific about your approach to the script in terms of your overall vision, the setting of the show, and when you’re going to set the show (both artistically and logistically).

• Have a plan in place in case your administrators aren’t crazy about the show you’ve selected.

• If you’ve selected a show that requires a big budget, you’ll want to start coming up with fundraising ideas right away.

Staffing

• Shows are a collaborative effort. Make a list of all the personnel you’ll need for the show (artistic staff, designers, crew, etc.) and who you will approach to fill those roles.

• If you’re staging a musical, make sure that you’re on the same page as your musical director and choreographer.

• Determine whether you’ll take on a co-director, assistant director, or student director.

Auditions

• Start with the basics: share audition notices, get a location booked, and get your paperwork in order.

• Help ease your prospective cast members’ nerves by creating a useful audition waiting area.

• Have your rehearsal schedule (link: /blog/creating-rehearsal-schedule) planned out well in advance and available for students to see at auditions. That way they’ll know what dates to keep available, which will minimize conflicts.

Rehearsal Process

• Rehearsal time is precious; use every minute as effectively as you can and remain focused.

• You might want to start pre-blocking some scenes right away to save time.

• Make sure you’ve included rehearsal time for transitions, sitzprobe, costume fittings, and other special rehearsals. Don’t forget the curtain call either!

• Tech week can be stressful, so get all your technical requirements in order ahead of time.

Share with us your best planning tricks and organizational tips for keeping your show in order!