Calling all pro actors
Fri, 19 Apr 2002, 08:21 pmWalter Plinge3 posts in thread
Calling all pro actors
Fri, 19 Apr 2002, 08:21 pmHI,
Im an Arts Management student of WAAP and need some info for a dummy budget Im putting together.
Could any pro actors out there answer the following.
How many weeks would you rehearse a professional show (theatre play not musical)?
How many days per week and hours per day would you rehearse? Would this increase leading up to production?
How many weeks before would you start rehearsing in the actual venue?
How many rehearsals in total would you be expected to attend for an average size play?
Would you be paid per hour or per week for the rehearsal period?
Could anyone who can help post a response or email me directly.
The reason I ask only pros to answer, is not discrimination but something more valid. In community theatre we tend to reahearse twice a week in the beginning and then build up to three times per week (adding in a Sunday), and we spread it out over about 8-10 weeks. We can do this because we're not PAYING our actors, for starters pro actors get paid double time on a Sunday. In community theatre sunday rehearsals come under something like 'recreation'.
In pro theatre i tend to think they would have a shorter time frame with more rehearsals per week, but I may be wrong.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
Catherine
Im an Arts Management student of WAAP and need some info for a dummy budget Im putting together.
Could any pro actors out there answer the following.
How many weeks would you rehearse a professional show (theatre play not musical)?
How many days per week and hours per day would you rehearse? Would this increase leading up to production?
How many weeks before would you start rehearsing in the actual venue?
How many rehearsals in total would you be expected to attend for an average size play?
Would you be paid per hour or per week for the rehearsal period?
Could anyone who can help post a response or email me directly.
The reason I ask only pros to answer, is not discrimination but something more valid. In community theatre we tend to reahearse twice a week in the beginning and then build up to three times per week (adding in a Sunday), and we spread it out over about 8-10 weeks. We can do this because we're not PAYING our actors, for starters pro actors get paid double time on a Sunday. In community theatre sunday rehearsals come under something like 'recreation'.
In pro theatre i tend to think they would have a shorter time frame with more rehearsals per week, but I may be wrong.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
Catherine
Re: Calling all pro actors
Fri, 19 Apr 2002, 10:55 pmRight. I'll get the ball rolling on this one, before ol' crgwllms starts writing his essays... ;)
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>How many weeks would you rehearse a professional show (theatre >play not musical)?
I would usually assume two and a half to four, but I think any more than four is terrible overkill, especially if you are rehearsing full time. Of course, it depends on the length of show - I was recently engaged in a short children's show that only needed four days full time rehearsal. Or at least it would have, if Glenn Elston's gigs didn't go bust before they got to rehearsal stage so often! ;)
>How many days per week and hours per day would you rehearse? >Would this increase leading up to production?
Some directors like to work Monday to Saturday, which I find fine. Generally hours will be 10 to 6, in accordance with Equity maximums. There are plenty of Equity regulations on working time, and if you are working for more than 8 hours a day you claim overtime, plus there must be a minimum number of hours between calls (ie no 2am finishes backed up with 8am starts). This full time schedule is usually plenty to cover requirements, although I guess call times change once you start evening teching.
>How many weeks before would you start rehearsing in the actual >venue?
Again, it depends on the show and venue. Most of it will rely on the availability of the venue beforehand, and also costs. Unless use of the venue is absolutely necessary for the run, then there is no real reason to get in there too early - but of course, there is no substitute for being in the space, so if you have the opportunity, grab it! For some shows, for example a big one in King's Park, working in the outdoors setting for at least a few days is vital before you start dress-teching or else you will start having performers with damaged voices, which opens up a whole new can of worms.
>How many rehearsals in total would you be expected to attend for an >average size play?
Say 6 eight hour days for three weeks? Of course, it does vary, and I am sure I will get responses that say 'too much' or 'not enough', but it depends on what the director wants and how much he/she wants to gild the lily.
>Would you be paid per hour or per week for the rehearsal period?
Per week as per equity guidelines. Give the Alliance a call on 92277924 and talk to Sandra about the exact rates.
Hope this could be of some assistance...
Cheers
Toby
***********
>How many weeks would you rehearse a professional show (theatre >play not musical)?
I would usually assume two and a half to four, but I think any more than four is terrible overkill, especially if you are rehearsing full time. Of course, it depends on the length of show - I was recently engaged in a short children's show that only needed four days full time rehearsal. Or at least it would have, if Glenn Elston's gigs didn't go bust before they got to rehearsal stage so often! ;)
>How many days per week and hours per day would you rehearse? >Would this increase leading up to production?
Some directors like to work Monday to Saturday, which I find fine. Generally hours will be 10 to 6, in accordance with Equity maximums. There are plenty of Equity regulations on working time, and if you are working for more than 8 hours a day you claim overtime, plus there must be a minimum number of hours between calls (ie no 2am finishes backed up with 8am starts). This full time schedule is usually plenty to cover requirements, although I guess call times change once you start evening teching.
>How many weeks before would you start rehearsing in the actual >venue?
Again, it depends on the show and venue. Most of it will rely on the availability of the venue beforehand, and also costs. Unless use of the venue is absolutely necessary for the run, then there is no real reason to get in there too early - but of course, there is no substitute for being in the space, so if you have the opportunity, grab it! For some shows, for example a big one in King's Park, working in the outdoors setting for at least a few days is vital before you start dress-teching or else you will start having performers with damaged voices, which opens up a whole new can of worms.
>How many rehearsals in total would you be expected to attend for an >average size play?
Say 6 eight hour days for three weeks? Of course, it does vary, and I am sure I will get responses that say 'too much' or 'not enough', but it depends on what the director wants and how much he/she wants to gild the lily.
>Would you be paid per hour or per week for the rehearsal period?
Per week as per equity guidelines. Give the Alliance a call on 92277924 and talk to Sandra about the exact rates.
Hope this could be of some assistance...
Cheers
Toby