Rehearsal

Hi, it’s Alexandra again. This time I’m delving into the rehearsal process. I feel learning a little bit more about the process will help everyone appreciate the shows even more. So I attended a rehearsal of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the rehearsals. It turned out to be a different but wonderful experience. When I walked into the gym at Pansophia Academy, the cast was hard at work blocking the day’s scenes. Blocking is the creation and practicing of the movement that is going to happen on stage. As I began to watch their rehearsal, I was quickly surprised by how collaborative the process was. The actors clearly felt free to put in their ideas and usually they would try the ideas out. Erin Tucker, the show’s costumer, was filling in as Stage Manager; she said the rehearsal process doesn’t normally have as much collaboration. She elaborated, saying since there's less dancing in the show Ray Gabica, the director, allows a lot of collaboration.

The blocking seemed to be going at a break- neck pace. Erin said it always goes quickly but it seemed to be going extra fast with this show. The actors and actresses picked up on the blocking in no time. It seemed every time they ran a song, the bold acting choices became bigger and better. Each time they would find a new facial expression or body movement to make their character even more full and rich. Their concentration levels were very high but at the same time they all looked as if they were having fun. I noticed that even when somebody would mess up, the director would just turn and say, “That’s what rehearsals are for, to screw up so you don’t do it in a performance.”

As the rehearsal progressed, I began to wonder when musical director Cheryl Vanduzen receives her music. I was surprised when she said she receives it only about a week before rehearsals start. She spends the first day and half working with the performers on musical notes in their songs. She doesn’t have her first practice with the pit orchestra until Saturday, the end of the rehearsal week. She rehearses with the pit again on Sunday. Finally on Monday, Cheryl will have her first rehearsal with both the pit orchestra and the performers. The cast and crew will continue to work the show for the rest of the week, until the Thursday afternoon opening. Only with the audience in their seats, is the show finally complete.

It seemed crazy to me how actors and actresses could learn a show so quickly. Why, wouldn’t they need an unending amount of practice time? I asked how long each day the cast practices and was very surprised by the answer. The rehearsal day goes from 10 am -1 pm, lunch break 1-2, rehearsal 2-5, dinner break 5-7, and rehearsal 7-10pm. They literally practice all day and are ready in 11 days. It pays off with outstanding performances.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the crazy fast pace of rehearsal. You can think about it when you come to see The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Next time we’ll give you the insight into the quick sewing designers in the costume shop.