Final Dress to Opening Night
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Transcript of Final Dress to Opening Night
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Final Dress to Opening NightWainstein, Chapter 21
+Opening night or first preview?
It will vary from venue to venue…but, following dress rehearsals, the doors are open and audiences are invited in
+Final Dress
• The last run of the show before it is viewed by an audience
• All technical and design elements are in place• Remind actors before final dress that there will be no
stops• Then, once the rehearsal begins, do not stop for any
reason, unless there is a human life at stake• Your role as the director is to relax, breathe and take
final notes• Final notes should be brief, but, they can be very
impactful
+Preparing Actors for the audience Inexperienced actors can be thrown by an audience
response. Remind your company that performance in an interaction between performer and actor
+Hold for laughter and applause
+Invite a small audience
+Final dress is a working rehearsal Last chance for cast, crew and designers Final production meetings are held afterward, usually in
the auditorium or backstage The director needs to focus on what she can fix and
accept what she cannot Trust your collaborators to take care of their
responsibilities
+Setting the show
After the final dress rehearsal, the show is “set” Nothing can change without both the permission of the
director and a rehearsal with the stage manager and actors involved
The production stage manager takes over the responsibilities of the show, ensuring the director’s staging and vision
In some educational venues, the director may continue to “tweak” the performance throughout the run, but the actors should not
Staging doesn’t change, but moments can be intensified
+Previews
Regular part of process for Broadway and regional professional theatres
Tickets are sold, but the show is still evolving Changes are rehearsed during the day and inserted
into performances when ready…this requires the company to remember old and new staging
Rehearsals continue throughout the day GOAL, as always, is to create the best show possible
+Opening Night
+Before the show
A final meeting with the company is always helpful (sometimes this is the final speech after the final dress)
Share, reinforce any important notes Your main goal is to instill confidence and express
appreciation for hard work Check in with designers, stage managers, crews as
possible
+Susan Stroman says thanks
+During the show Watch the show Try to enjoy it Take notes if you want Observe the audience and gauge their reactions If you discover something useful, share
+After the show
Some directors give notes
+Trust your instincts
If you provide feedback, keep it brief, easy and supportive
After opening night, there is a “high” backstage, try not to squelch the celebratory nature of the moment
+THE REVIEWS
+How to deal with reviews
If you read reviews, read them all, there is much to be learned from a bad review
If you don’t agree, don’t be too quick to dismiss Criticism can be useful if you know how to use it
+How to deal with a bad review with the actors Speak to them Address their conerns Reassure them Don’t let the review affect their work Seek out both those with positive and negative notices If reviews affect the production, address these
“changes” quickly…maintain the show you directed
+After Opening Night
Document the production
Production photos
Programs, posters, etc.
If licensing permits, you might videotape
Save reviews
+FINAL THOUGHTS
To learn how to direct, you need to direct Don’t reject opportunities, work in all venues Seek out opportunities Don’t limit yourself, if you cannot find an opportunity,
make one for yourself Build your portfolio, one show at a time Have a great career