PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
How to use this schedule:
The numeral in parentheses are suggested minimums
in numbers of days prior to opening night...Except in the Publicity
Director's Schedule where those numerals with an S are days prior
to the Sunday Preceding the Opening. You insert your calendar
date beside each item. You may, of course, do more or less than
what you find suggested here but a fairly close adherence to
these schedules will help assure orderly procedure and a smooth
production.
DIRECTOR'S SCHEDULE
Casting auditions begun (38) _________
Rehearsals begun (31) _________
First third of play rehearsed with all
mimes, actions, etc. incorporated (25) _________
Second third of play ditto (20) _________
Last third of play ditto (15) _________
First run-through (14) _________
Problem scenes worked out (12) _________
Technical Rehearsals begun (10) _________
1st Dress Rehearsal (4) __________
2nd Dress Rehearsal (3) __________
Invitation Preview Performance (2) __________
Final Check-Up Rehearsal (1) __________
First Performance (0) __________
At the first performance and at each subsequent have a script and a pocket recorder or notebook at your side. When you see or hear a mistake take note. After the performance gather the cast and go over the performance noting changes that need to be made and getting feedback. Do this after each performance. When you reach the final performance the director can at long last just sit back and enjoy the perfected performance.
***************
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR'S
SCHEDULE
Lighting Plot compiled (30)___________
Check lighting equipment on hand, order
or begin building needed equipment (30)___________
Check color transparencies for visual
sequences. Order or shoot any that are
still needed and edit into show order. (16)___________
Sound Equipment on hand (15)___________
Sound Tapes or CDs on hand (10)___________
Sync slide sequences with sound track (10)___________
Partial Technical Rehearsals (10 or ASAP)______
Lighting & Sound Equipment Installed (4)___________
1st Dress Rehearsal (4)___________
2nd Dress Rehearsal (3)___________
Invitational Preview Performance (2)___________
Final Check-up Rehearsal (1)___________
Check all equipment - Go for it! (0)___________
***************
BOX OFFICE
TREASURER'S SCHEDULE
Tickets ordered (38)___________
Admission Prices set (38)___________
Subscriber's Ticket allocations made (30)___________
Patron's Ticket Allocations begun (28)___________
Prices Posted at Box Office (28)___________
Public Seat Sale begun (28)___________
Ticket Sales Persons contacted and
Times assigned (10)___________
Ushers/Ticket-Takers contacted
and times assigned (10)___________
Verify Sales Persons and Ushers (4)___________
Invite Sales Persons and Ushers to
Final Dress Rehearsal (4)___________
Final Instructions to Sales Persons
and Ushers for Invitational Rehearsal (2)___________
Final Instructions for Opening Night (0)___________
***************
PUBLICITY DIRECTOR'S
SCHEDULE
First press announcement of the show (40)___________
Press release, 1st players cast (35)___________
Announcements to radio/TV stations (28)___________
Press release, rest of cast (28)__________
Feature stories submitted (27S)___________
1st week-end reader, submitted (20S)___________
2nd week-end reader, submitted (13S)___________
Invitations and free tickets extended
to press (12)___________
Opening-this-week Reader,
submitted w. photos (6S)___________
Items to columnists (6S)___________
Opening-tonight Reader
submitted w. Photos (2)___________
***************
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Biography questionnaires distributed (30)___________
Biography questionnaires collected (28)___________
Biographies written up for
Program's Who's who (21)___________
Biographies written up & sent
to radio & newspaper for interviews (21)___________
These can later be sent to house-organs
or news-letters of cast-member's
organizations such as clubs, vocational
associations. & employing firms,
churches, residential-area newspapers. etc.
***************
PRINTING
Poster design commissioned
(if doing an original design) (45)___________
Poster design approved (40)___________
Poster complete and approved (35)___________
Posters ordered (30)___________
Posters distributed (14)___________
Program copy, including Program
Notes on the play, Who's who in Cast,
prepared & approved by Director
& Producer (14)___________
Program copy sent to printer (13)___________
Proofs checked (7)___________
Programs received from printer (3)___________
***************
ADVERTISING
Schedule prepared for approval
by producer (30)___________
Advertising copy prepared,
submitted to newspapers (20S)___________
Newspaper proofs OK'd (18S)___________
***************
PHOTOGRAPHS
Personal head-&-shoulders photos
of cast principals collected (28)___________
Date set for scene photo-calls
(if using costumes) (28)___________
1st scene photos taken in
costume against blank background (18)___________
2nd Scene Photos taken in
play's scenery (10S)___________
Any photographs of members of
the cast being used in visual
sequences shot on color transparencies (20)___________
Reshoot any of above (14 or ASAP)
*******************
SCENE AND
COSTUME DIRECTOR'S
SCHEDULE
In our Reader's Theater style productions we use few if any props
or costumes other than an occasional change of shirts, addition
or deletion of hats, scarves, shawls, etc. We highly recommend
this style of performance as more in keeping with the simplicity
of the gospel and as being most time and cost effective without
any loss of viewer enjoyment. However, for those of you who wish
to use more elaborate methods, here is your scene director's
schedule.
*******************
SCENERY
Ground plans checked w. Director (35)___________
All drawings completed (32)___________
Warehouse checked for usables (30)___________
Construction begun (29)___________
Other scenery ordered from outside (29)___________
Scenery hung on-stage (5)___________
Technical rehearsals, scenery,
props, lights, sound (5)___________
*******************
PROPS & SET
DECORATION
Prop plot compiled (30)___________
Warehouse checked for usables (30)___________
Search begun for loans (28)___________
Building of home-mades begun (26)___________
Orders sent for rentals or purchases (26)___________
*******************
COSTUMES
Cast measurements taken (30)___________
Costume plot compiled (35)___________
Designs completed (32)___________
Wardrobe checked for usables (29)___________
Orders sent for rentals & purchases (28)___________
Loaners arranged (25)___________
Begin home-mades (25)___________
First fitting (18)___________
Second fitting (14)___________
Dress parade (7)___________
Accessories obtained (21)___________
***************
MY COMMENTS
For those of you who are doing a small scale production using
simple methods much of this schedule is not needed. But what
is needed is order, structure and discipline. Here are some important
ideas as to how to proceed.
1. Choose your script. Research background etc. and know it well.
Free Scripts
2. Choose your cast. I suggest you choose first on commitment
to the Lord, second on commitment to the program, and third on
acting ability. You will find talented but self-centered people
to be square pegs trying to reshape your round holes.
3. Choose your performance date. You will find that you cast
will be ready about 1 day before they need to be, whether that
be 60 days off or 6 days off. People do what they have to do.
4. Insist on punctuality! This is probably the most important
thing you can do if you want a smooth-running and happy group.
I keep an attendance log and if someone is late 3 times they
know not to come back to the next rehearsal (I never had to enforce
this because my cast took me seriously). If you are using people
who are in the work force and have families, etc. you may have
to cut some slack. But at least they should call when they see
they are going to be late and should try to minimize these occurrences.
The reason for this is that you are working with people whose
time is valuable. If rehearsal is at 6:00 P.M., but because of
tardy ones you never really start until 6:15, then the punctual
people, to avoid wasting time, will arrive at 6:12. But then
the habitually tardy see that everyone else comes 12 minutes
late and they adjust their schedules accordingly and don't show
up until 6:25 or so. Now you can't start until 6:30. Then, the
punctual, seeing that they are wasting time again start showing
up 2 minutes before actual starting time. What happens is a total
breakdown in rehearsals at worst, and an inefficient, low moral
rehearsal at best.
Start and end on time! Each time, every time except in emergencies.
5. Be temperate. Especially when using working people or the young. Remember that people have to get home, get ready for bed etc. and that they need their rest. If you are doing these programs for the glory of God then you need to take good care of your performers or you cannot expect God's full blessing.
6. Begin each rehearsal with a brief devotional
thought and prayer. We prayed in a circle with every one joining
hands in the center. Before performances we would have each one
that wished to do so say a sentence or two asking God's blessing
and then the director would close. We would also end each rehearsal
and performance the same way. We also asked the audience to join
us in prayer before the actual performance began.
You will notice that there is more in this schedule than most
of us will ever use. But it may give you ideas about publicity
and preparedness that can be helpful.
We must remember that when working with the gospel we are dealing in the currency of heaven. Here we must work upon higher principles than the worldlings do. We must be cautious to avoid attempts at self-display or harboring of motives other than the glory of God. When our motives are pure we can expect the Holy Spirit to add mightily to our weak efforts. There has been at least one occasion in South Africa when the Holy Spirit has taken the words of one of our plays and actually translated them from English into Aftricanse. From experience I can tell you to expect that if you enter into this work as a ministry, the Lord can use you to give the audience far more than you think you are giving.
For more thoughts on the philosophy of Christian drama see the article I have written under that title. May your heart be pure so that through you others may see God.
Jim Pappas
Playwright
l. Philosophy of Christian Drama - Some thoughts on the morality and motivations of Christian drama.
2. Reader's Theater Techniques - A brief description of this simple, time saving and cost effective method of presentation.
3. How To Finance Your Drama Ministry - A brief look into the hows and whys of raising funds for your drama ministry
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