Got three months? Then you can be ready for your first Shakespeare festival performance!
The following suggested timeline is based on two weekly rehearsals of about 40 minutes to an hour each.
Three Months to Go
Three months (twelve weeks) before Festival – Select your piece! Give students some choices, and allow them to vote. They will be more enthusiastic about a play they are excited about.
Eleven weeks before – Hold auditions and cast your piece. Remember to decide on a technical crew such as stage hands, sound, prop manager, etc., as well.
Ten weeks before – Make any additional cuts to suit your cast (double up roles, omit characters, etc.). Meet with your students twice a week to rehearse.
Two Months to Go
Nine weeks before – Begin to plan blocking and create a prompt book. Continue rehearsals.
Seven weeks before – Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!
Five weeks before – Discuss costumes and props. Remember that less is more! Delegate preparing costumes and props to the costume and prop managers.
Four weeks before – Decide on music/sound effects and assign to the sound manager.
One Month to Go
Three weeks before – All students should have lines memorized.
Two weeks before – First run-through with sound effects.
One week before – Complete run-through with sound, props, and costumes.
