Amphitryon Rehearsal - Introduction

I wanted to do something a little different for my final project. As someone who doesn't have the least bit of theatre experience, I was interested in looking further into the experience of rehearsals. I have taken the time to attend various rehearsals of Amphitryon and would like to give you an inside look into what I observed.

Please take the time to look at the following posts to this blog in order to get information about the rehearsal process.

Amphitryon Rehearsal - April 25, 2006

Observations (Pre-Rehearsal):

• Set is basically completed
• Doors, windows, paint, vines, etc
• Spoke with set designer about the set
• Balcony is a design that is not commonly used
• Stage manager and Director discuss their notes
• Director plays with lighting
• Masks are now painted
• blocking has been taken off the stage
• Actors circle up
• NOTES
• Timing of the opening night
• Be careful, respect the work
• dont come altered
• Pronouncing practice
• Practice for speed
• Play "YES" game

Action Begins:

• 3rd Dress Rehearsal
• Masks, dress, etc
• Go through the entire performance
• Last night before they have an audience

This performance seemed to have a great deal of energy. There was still not lighting effects or sound effects, but the actors took it very serious. I decided to leave early this evening so I wouldn't see the whole production. I hope my notes helped you to have an insider's look into the rehearsal process. Being involved in a production takes much more work than I would've thought.

Amphitryon Rehearsal - April 20, 2006

Observations (Pre-Rehearsal):

• Set grows
• Railing is complete, walls are painted, statues are in place, rotating walls, background is painted black, shutter on one window
  
• Stage managers tells actors to check props and sweeps floor
• Actors inspect growth of the stage
• Actors don't seem to practice lines tonight
• Director plays with differet lighting options with set builder
• Actors get their shoes
• Physical warm-up
• Clack and actors pair up and warm-up vocally and physically
• Actors form a line of massages much like a conga line
• Stage manager is very quick to get actors back on task when they forget what they are doing (very in charge!)
• Play "YES" game
• Director has the whole group close their eyes and meditate, think about what they are about to do
• Very focused tonight

Action Begins:

• The Director keeps track of the time to see how long the performance lasts
• The actors go through the entire performance without stopping
• Director adds musical cues to the scenes

It was intersting to watch the entire performance from open to close. This process begins to be completed this way every rehearsal after this. At the end of the performance the Director will go over the things he wants to look at more specifically.

Amphitryon Rehearsal - April 18, 2006

Observation (Pre-Rehearsal):

• Additions to the set
• Railing is added to the balcony, black paint, iron-work, blocking still taped on the floor
• Actors show up much earlier (6:30) to work on lines
• they read, some with emotions and some just reading the words.
  
• There is much more tension in the air in reference to the lines
• Some actors read with script and some from memory
• First Ten minutes the actors are instructed to work with a partner over their lines
• Director asks for my suggestions as they practice (VERY COOL)
• Many different things going on
• lines, dancing, etc
• Characters use the masks for the first time.
  
• no paint, first fitting
• Director punches holes for nose
• Director takes the whole group to the bathroom to have them look in the mirror at the masks
• play "YES" game in masks

Action Starts:

• "Start from the top"
• Calls, "HOLD" when he wants to introduce a comment/direction
• Director seems to make very precise notes in a journal
• Sosia makes a lot of adlibbed comments (not so funny)
• Director makes small changes throughout
• The actors tend to stay in character even when they are talking out of scene
• END SCENE

Notes:

• Goes over his notes from the performance
• Demonstrates the importance of "full-out" performance
• looking directly at the audience
• importance of using diaphram instead of chest
• "Need to pick up ques" less long silences
• Lets the group know that the last time to give music to be used in the performance is that night
• Q/A for actors...
• "ENERGY, ENERGY, ENERGY!!!

This rehearsal was much more fun. The actors seemed to grow a great deal just in the few days that I have missed. I had some strong suggestions for certain actors and performances.

Amphitryon Rehearsal - April 13, 2006

Observations (Pre-Rehearsal):

• More details on the set
• Ladder, spiral staircase, walls, balcony floor
• actors inspect the set for growth
• actors discuss their ideas about the set
• Director's assistant sweeps the stage
• Blocking still taped out
• Actors test the set
• walking on the balcony, stairs, ladder

Warm-Up Begins:

• Physical warm-up
• Circle up, stretch legs, practice character "walk" in place, different poses to stretch legs, practice extentions, "YES" games
• Director review notes from the previous rehearsal (suggestions, etc)
• SECOND NIGHT OFF-BOOK (Without script)
• Director PCP - Praise Correct Praise

Action Begins:

• Director - "Start from the top"
• Actors start the play, asking for "line" when they forgot their lines
• The director makes minor changes while rehearsal goes. (Adlibing)
• Director listens to scenes and starts to play music during certain scenes (seems like playing)
• Assitant Director gives lines, blockings, corrections, etc.
• Director laughs at jokes and sometimes mistakes
• STRONG problems with actor playing Sosia
• Lines, blocking, giving lines to the ground
• Director begins to get frustrated and tells actors to consult stage manager to get correct blocking.
• Moves to a different scene

This rehearsal was very rough. There were some significant problems with lines, but it is the second day "off-script." I started to question the productivity of the rehearsal, but there was some amount of growth and practice. The Director was very positive, but very stern about his direction. (PCP) It began very hard to watch though.

Amphitryon Rehearsal - April 11, 2006

This is the first rehearsal that I had a chance to attend. This will be the first look into the rehearsal process.

Observations (pre-rehearsal):

• Only a framed set (wood frame only)
• Blocking is taped out on the stage floor (Eleven different areas)
  
• Actors show up 5-10 minutes early
• Very friendly and talkative
• have detailed schedules on what to work on
• don't seem to be the least bit nervous
• practice lines IMMEDIATLY
• Alone and with other actors
• repeat lines in different tones/dialeques, etc.
• Stage lights get turned on 5 minutes before rehearsal starts
• The actors inspect the set for growth and aspects that are relevant to their characters
• Adapt to the stage, walking around
• Start to do own physical warm-ups (stretches, lunges, etc)
• A LOT of sommunication between actors
• Director shows up a few minutes before seven

Rehearsal Starts (Warm-Up):

• Director shows props/masks to actors
• The masks are rough drafts, no paint and no eye-holes
• Director calls for "warm-up"
• Actors/Director circle up
• House lights go off
• Actors begin to group stretch (physical warm-up)
• Director spends a great amount of time to demonstrate the "walk" that each character will perform (Very detailed and serious about a not so serious walk)
• Actors work very hard on getting the walk correct
• Gives reasoning for every action and direction he gives
• There is little to NO questioning the Director's direction
• Actors and Director play the "YES" game
• The group gets in a circle
• They point at another actor and say "YES" very loudly
• As the actor gets point at, he follows in doing the same thing
• Then the actor will go to the location of the actor he or she points at...
• 5-10 minutes

Action begins:

• Director calls for Scene 6
• Without question, the actors get to their spots and are ready to begin the scene
• Some actors carry the script while others try to do it "off book"
• Actors call out "Line" when the need a line and the stage manager will read it to them
• The Director sits in the audience and even laughs as though he is part of the audience
• Rarely directs during the scene
• END SCENE

Director directs:

• Gets everyone on the stage
• Stage manager details mistakes on blocking, lines, etc.
• Director asks how it "feels"
• Makes comments on what he wants to see at certain points in the scene
• "Begin Scene 7"
• Moves very quickly through the scenes
• gives advice throughout the scene
• Stands on the stage to direct and manipulate the actors
• Adapts things on the fly if he enjoys the way it looks
• "Sharpens" the scene - Really breaks the scene down
• Extremely positive throughout the rehearsal
• Describes the background of the characters to give the actors a better feel for their characters
• PROCESS: Observe, discuss, then direct almost line by line. (VERY DETAILED)
• Uses Blocking to place actors on the stage
• Director moves around the stage in the middle of the action

I know the notes seem rough, but take some time to read through them. It was very interesting to observe the rehearsal. The warm-up through the end of the rehearsal was all new to me. I hope that this gives a better perspective of what it takes to be a part of this process.

The following posts will include common things, but I will leave out much of the detail I have put in this first Blog.