With the beginning of the MMS drama production comes questions... lots and lots of questions! Therefore, the production team has set up this page to help answer the questions that come up the most. Click on the question listed below and it will take you to the answer. If your question is not on this page, feel free to email Mr. Sorensen and he will do his best to answer it!

• How long do rehearsals typically go?
• Are rehearsals every day, including weekends?
• My son/daughter wants to audition for a non-singing role, do they still have to sing a song?
• My son/daughter got sick during the audition days. Is there any way for he/she to make it up?
• What happens if my son/daughter misses a bunch of rehearsals? Are they at risk of getting kicked out of the show?
• What does the stage crew do? How involved do I have to be?
• My student's part of the show and I want to help. Where do you need me?

THE ANSWERS

• How long do rehearsals typically go?

For the first two months (January & February), rehearsals will be five days a week from 2:30 to 3:45. A schedule will be set and posted on the website. The schedule will indicate when specific roles or choral groups need to be at rehearsal. During this time, leads will have rehearsal 4 to 5 times a week, depending on what parts of the show we are doing. Smaller roles and choral groups may only have rehearsals 1 to 3 times a week. After Winter Recess, we will start holding rehearsal until 5 PM and beyond depending how much of the show we are rehearsing that day. Again, a rehearsal will be kept on the website. However, the schedule is always subject to change, and changes will be sent via email, which makes having an accurate address very important.

• Are rehearsals every day, including weekends?

We do everything possible to NOT hold rehearsals on the weekend. We guarantee that rehearsals will not be held on the weekends before Winter Break. However, when we get back from Winter Break, we have a very short time before the show goes up, and we need every moment possible. Therefore, weekend rehearsals may be scheduled as needed. Students will get at least two weeks notice of any weekend rehearsals, but again, we will do everything we can to avoid them.

• My son/daughter wants to audition for a non-singing role, do they still have to sing a song?

The simple answer is yes! First off, even major non-singing roles end up taking part in production numbers. Secondly, we expect that a quality actor or actress can demonstrate their ability to act, even if they struggle with a song. Therefore, every student auditioning for a lead role is REQUIRED to sing at the audition. Students who are called back will have the opportunity to read lines for various parts.

• My son/daughter got sick during the audition days. Is there any way for he/she to make it up?

Unfortunately, once auditions are over, there are no make-ups. With over 100 students auditioning, it is not fair to those who can make their audition to make special accomodations for those who don't. However, if a student is sick, we will work with the student to include them in the play, whether they serve in the chorus, stage crew, or some other capacity. Some circumstances are often out of our control, but we do want to give everyone the opportunity to participate if they would like to do so.

This is often times a very sensitive subject, but yes, there are a few circumstances under which we would ask your son or daughter to not take part in the play because of attendance.

First, every student is asked to fill out a conflict sheet before rehearsals even begin. For the first two months of rehearsals (up until Winter Recess), we will accept any conflict listed on this sheet as an excused absence. However, if a student misses more than one rehearsal without an excuse, we must ask that student to leave the production. If a student is sick, we expect the student/parent to email Mr. Sorensen regarding the absence, and it will be considered excused. This is especially important if the student leaves school early because his or her name will not be on the attendance list.

Second, we tell all participants that no matter what conflicts they had during the first two months of rehearsals, once we come back from Winter Recess, the other commitments need to go away. Any student who misses rehearsals after Winter Recess may face one of several consequences: 1) The student may be pulled from scenes as we perfect production numbers, dance numbers, and other smaller speaking roles, 2) The student may have his or her part cut or given to another student, or 3) The student maybe asked to leave the show all together.

Again, the x-factor in all of this is illness. We never want to take away a student's ability to be in the show, so we will always work with the student if illness is a problem. However, we can not promise that a part may be cut down if someone is sick. Inevitably, the show must go on.

• What does the stage crew do? How involved do I have to be?

The stage crew has a variety of responsibilities throughout the production of the show. During the first few months, stage crew members will get together to assemble various stage pieces and props needed for the show. After Winter Recess, stage crew members will be needed at every rehearsal to help move set pieces and assist the performers. A student can be as involved as they would like, as long as they indicate that to us up front. If you have individual questions about the various stage crew responsibilities, checkout the list below:

• Set Building - Any students interested in building the various set pieces for the show will be directed and assisted by our set designer and other adult volunteers. Set builders will work during the weeks leading up to Winter Recess, and will finish their work by the first week of March.
• Set Design - This job is for particularly artistic students. They will also work with the set designer and help build sets. However, the few students assigned this job will have more creative input on specific design elements. Students interested in this job must be very responsible and have extra time to meet with the set designer, director, and producer as neede.
• Props - Working closely with the props master and producer, this small group of students will help gather and build the props needed for the show. This is an ongoing job that will last through the running of the show. A few students will also be put in charge of keeping track of the props and making sure the performers who need them actually pick them up before going on stage.
• Set/Prop Painting - Once the set pieces and props are created, they typically need painting, and we will need many students to make sure everything gets done. This job typically starts in February and can last all the way up to opening night. Students who sign up for this job should expect to work after school 2 to 3 days a week.
• Costumes - While we do have a costumer, there are always certain costume elements that need to be collected. We also need students to make sure the costumes get back on the rack and stay organized during the running of the show. Any students who sign up for this job should be organized and have an eye for detail.
• Running Crew - Running crew has two major jobs in the last month leading up to the show. First, they will help move the set pieces between scenes at the direction of the stage manager. Second, a smaller group will help the performers by letting them know where we are in the show. We have limited space in the "wings" or off-stage area, so these runners will help any performers in the hall or dressing rooms by keeping them informed about scene changes and up-coming cues. Both of these jobs are very important, and most of the time they are assigned to those who helped with props, sets, and costumes. NOTE: Running crew members will need to be at every rehearsal starting after Winter Recess.
• Lighting - There are few lighting responsibilities for the show, as a group from DHS typically comes down to help us. However, we will need a small group to assist them. Again, students who get this job must be attentive, patient and responsible.
• Ushers - This is a new responsibility this year. A small group from the crew will be asked to assist the ticket collectors on the nights of the show and seat people.
• Computer Graphics - The production team is currently tossing around ideas to incorporate some sort of computer graphic simulation into the running of the show. We will need students with some background in computer graphic design to assist us with this plan.
  
• My student's part of the show, and I want to help. Where do you need me?

We call on our parents to do several jobs for us throughout the months we work on the show. Below is a list of the areas we need help with:

• Costumes - Parent volunteers help us with measuring students for costumes and sewing various pieces. We are always looking for parents with varying levels of sewing experience to help produce both simple and elaborate costumes. (NOTE: If you have extensive costume making experience and are interested in being our main costumer, please email Mr. Sorensen as soon as possible.)
• Dressing Room Helpers/Wranglers - This is the perfect job for parents who have a busy schedule and can only help the last few weeks of the show. During the last 2 to 3 weeks, including the nights of the show, we ask parents to come in and monitor the dressing rooms to make sure actors know when they need to go out and help those with complex costumes get dressed. This is a very important job because we have a small production staff who needs to be in the auditorium, especially during dress rehearsals. (NOTE: If you are interested in helping organize the Dressing Room Helpers, please email Mr. Sorensen as soon as possible.)
• Pictures & Posters - For this job, we are looking for parents will photography and/or graphic design experience. This group will work to produce publicity materials. They will also work closely with the Publicity team of the stage crew. The parent volunteers' primary responsibility will be taking cast/rehearsal pictures, gathering materials (poster board, markers, etc.), and monitoring/working with students to produce posters for distribution throughout the school and in town.
• Programs - This select group of parents will help collect cast & crew information, gather advertisements, and petition businesses and parents to help support the show. (NOTE: We currently have a program coordinator, but we are looking to train someone to take it over in subsequent years. If you have a student who you know will be doing the play for years to come and are interested in doing programs, please email Mr. Sorensen as soon as possible.)
• Props - Our musical requires a lot of random props that are often times hard to find. It also requires props we need to make. Therefore, we need parents to help hunt down various odds and ends, and others to help our student props crew create various pieces. Again, parents will be asked to help gather the materials for these props and oversee the construction process.
• Publicity - This group will work closely with the Pictures & Posters group to spread the word about our show outside the building. While we have no problem getting support from our Middlesex community, we would like the entire town to know what a great production we put on at MMS. Those with publicity and PR experience will be very helpful, but not required.
• Stage Crew (Builders & Painters) - We have a great group of students to help create our set pieces, but we need parents to help with the heavy lifting and artistic elements. This job typically does not require a ton of time, but if you have experience with carpentry or painting, please join us. (NOTE: We are currently looking for a set designer. If you have any experience with theatrical set design and are willing to take on the task, please email Mr. Sorensen as soon as possible.)
• Tickets - In the weeks leading up to the show, we need several parents to help sell tickets during lunch periods and before and after school. We also need several parents to work the nights of the show and collect tickets as our audience comes in.