- Read-through: Always begin with a read-through. Some directors don’t do this,
especially if they’re doing a classic – everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet, don’t
they? While your budding star-crossed lovers may know the gist of the story they likely
don’t know many of the details – bringing those to light is why we have a read-through.
- Blocking: Blocking rehearsals are where the major movements of a play are worked out –
where people enter and exit from, where they go, what they’re doing, but there’s much,
much more to it than that. Blocking rehearsals are where you must make sure the actors
clearly understand what they’re doing and why.
- Stumble-through: This coyly-named rehearsal is the first time the actors run through the
entire play on their feet. Many directors don’t even bother taking notes for this – it
illuminates what the actors need to work on so clearly that no notes are necessary. Mostly
this is just a chance for the lighting designer and other technical personnel to get a chance
to see the blocking so they can continue doing the work they need to do.
- Working: These rehearsals are where the major details of the blocking rehearsals are
turned into specific movements and commitments are nailed down. It’s where the banal
reasons of the blocking rehearsals get turned into powerful, actable objectives – this is
where the “meat” of characters is formed.
- Polishing: In polishing rehearsals lines should have long-since been memorized and the
scenes should be run in sequence without interruption – rudimentary technical cues can
even be added at this point if they are available. The actor’s work should be largely
complete, and it’s up to the director to make sure the play has good flow, pace and makes
sense from start to finish.
- Run-through: The run-through rehearsals are the last time actors and directors have with
the play before tech week. Any available technical elements (including costumes) should
be used if they are available, and while the director should give a small number of specific
notes at the conclusion of each run these rehearsals are all about getting the actors used to
the feel of the show as a completed unit.
