[NEOPAL]Response to EMK re: Spike and Ike

Mon Apr 10 05:13:11 PDT 2006

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In a message dated 4/9/2006 10:18:02 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
Pommy at neo.rr.com writes:
Which leads me to another problem I see with community theater: It seems 
that every play you try out for wants to rehearse Sunday through Thursday 
every week (and sometimes Fridays). I believe that's one of the reasons not 
as many people show up to auditions these days. Many people are not willing 
(or able) to give up that much time every week for five, six, or eight 
weeks. If everyone does their homework, and doesn't use rehearsal time to 
learn their lines, but to polish them, it's possible to do fewer rehearsals 
and a better quality show.

EMK responded:

 >Hello Pommy....

 >I disagree with this one. You somehow seem to be assuming that 
professional actors need more time in rehearsal than amateurs.

Not sure how you got that out of it, EMK, since professional actors spend 
less time in actual rehearsal than those in amateur theaters.  They may 
rehearse as many nights a week (and spend more time away from rehearsal 
preparing for their role), but the actual rehearsal period is shorter - and 
when they do get to rehearsal, they've already learned their lines and are 
ready to begin rehearsing.

 >Community theater actors already rehearse, on the whole, less than 
"professional" actors,

I don't agree with this statement.  A professional show I was involved in 
last year rehearsed for about 3 weeks.  It's a lot more palatable to give 
up three weeks to intensive rehearsals than it is for 6-8 weeks.

 >whose time is carefully negotiated through union contract.

And they are able to do this because they go about it in a more 
professional manner than most community theater actors (i.e., not wasting 
time at rehearsals and learning lines long before those in most 
non-professional theaters.)

 >I would venture a guess that those that spend thoughtful prep time 
getting all aspects of the show ready for the audience turn out to be the 
strongest shows.

That's odd.  You seem to be saying basically the same thing I 
said.  Thoughtful prep time...leaning lines ahead of time...equal quality 
performance.  We agree!  :-)

 > I agree that eight weeks of rehearsal is excessive... but for a musical 
or a very complex show, it may be warranted.

Again, with judicious management of time I don't agree it is necessary to 
dictate that long a rehearsal process.  And, even if some theaters/actors 
believe it is necessary - that does not change the fact that this, more 
than any other, is the reason fewer people are auditioning for plays these 
days.  It has become more and more difficult for people to commit to 6-8 
weeks of almost-every-night rehearsals - not to mention the 3-4 weekends of 
shows that follow.

--Linda

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<font size=2>In a message dated 4/9/2006 10:18:02 AM Eastern Standard
Time, Pommy at neo.rr.com writes:<br>
Which leads me to another problem I see with community theater: It seems
that every play you try out for wants to rehearse Sunday through Thursday
every week (and sometimes Fridays). I believe that's one of the reasons
not as many people show up to auditions these days. Many people are not
willing (or able) to give up that much time every week for five, six, or
eight weeks. If everyone does their homework, and doesn't use rehearsal
time to learn their lines, but to polish them, it's possible to do fewer
rehearsals and a better quality show.<br>
<br>
EMK responded:<br>
<br>
>Hello Pommy....<br>
<br>
>I disagree with this one. You somehow seem to be assuming that
professional actors need more time in rehearsal than amateurs.<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>Not sure how you got
that out of it, EMK, since professional actors spend <i>less</i> time in
actual rehearsal than those in amateur theaters.  They may rehearse
as many nights a week (and spend more time away from rehearsal preparing
for their role), but the actual rehearsal period is shorter - and when
they do get to rehearsal, they've already learned their lines and are
ready to begin rehearsing.<br>
<br>
</font>>Community theater actors already rehearse, on the whole, less
than "professional" actors, <br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>I don't agree with this
statement.  A professional show I was involved in last year
rehearsed for about 3 weeks.  It's a lot more palatable to give up
three weeks to intensive rehearsals than it is for 6-8 weeks.<br>
<br>
</font>>whose time is carefully negotiated through union
contract.<br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>And they are able to do this
because they go about it in a more professional manner than most
community theater actors (i.e., not wasting time at rehearsals and
learning lines long before those in most non-professional 
theaters.)<br>
<br>
</font>>I would venture a guess that those that spend thoughtful prep
time getting all aspects of the show ready for the audience turn out to
be the strongest shows.<br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>That's odd.  You seem to
be saying basically the same thing I said.  Thoughtful prep
time...leaning lines ahead of time...equal quality performance.  We
agree!  :-)<br>
<br>
</font>> I agree that eight weeks of rehearsal is excessive... but for
a musical or a very complex show, it may be warranted. <br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>Again, with judicious
management of time I don't agree it is necessary to dictate that long a
rehearsal process.  And, even if some theaters/actors believe it is
necessary - that does not change the fact that this, more than any other,
is the reason fewer people are auditioning for plays these days.  It
has become more and more difficult for people to commit to 6-8 weeks of
almost-every-night rehearsals - not to mention the 3-4 weekends of shows
that follow.<br>
<br>
</font>--Linda<br>
<br>
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