Putting on a show is a collaborative effort. One person cannot possibly do it alone. It involves lots of people willing to accept responsibility for all the different aspects of the project. While the director has the overall vision, the costumes, sets, props etc, should be ‘handed over’ to people willing to take them on after the initial designs, colours, styles, etc are agreed upon.

Your cast needs to be committed and enthusiastic. A cast is an ensemble and every single person contributes to the performance in some way. Being in a cast is a bit like being in a sports team. Think of the performance as the Grand Final. Only those who attended all training sessions and are committed to the doing the work should be part of the final game. Cast members who don’t attend rehearsals and don’t learn their part tend to disappoint others and significantly hamper the building of the show. Continually reward and encourage your cast and crew. Note all their achievements, celebrate their progress and remind them of the excitement of opening night!

  1. Select a show, organize hiring and performance rights and arrange performance dates, venue and time.
  2. Organise your crew: Choreographer, musical director, stage manager, technical crew, sets and props crew, wardrobe manager, front of house crew, publicity.
  3. Hold auditions and select cast. Be sure to choose principals who are enthusiastic and committed. Sometimes it’s better to have a child who is a little less naturally talented but more willing to put the work in than someone who does not have the commitment and therefore hampers the progress of the play.
  4. Distribute to staff, parents and children a time table of rehearsals, dress rehearsals, performances, etc. so that everyone is clear right from the beginning what commitment is involved.
  5. It’s best to begin work on the musical items straight away. At first, the cast just need to learn the song lyrics thoroughly and to sing them in tune.
  6. Begin to choreograph the songs. This doesn’t just mean dance steps but also movement around the stage, the visual appearance and style of an item.
  7. Work with the stage manager, wardrobe, sets and props crew and technical crew on the design of the show so that they can be working on these aspects while the cast is building the play. Decide on colours, period, style, cast numbers and placement for each item, etc.
  8. Continue rehearsing on the musical items and work with the principals on their roles.
  9. Enlist anyone willing to help with just going over song lyrics, lines, dance steps etc. These helpers don’t have to be particularly musically gifted; just willing to take the cast through their items so they get loads of practice.
  10. Begin to refine the scenes involving the main roles and the musical items. Add that extra pizzazz to each piece. Talk about expression, volume, enthusiasm, posture and general theatrical presentation and polish.
  11. Finish the sets, props and costumes.
  12. Begin publicity about 3-4 weeks before the show although there would have been regular newsletter ads and information distributed throughout the whole play building period.
  13. Begin final rehearsals and give the cast the opportunity to work with their sets, props and costumes so they are familiar with them.
  14. Organise dress and technical rehearsals in the performance venue. Transports sets, costumes and props and arrange for their safe storage.
  15. Organise your front of house crew to enlist ushers, sell tickets, programs and put up the front of house display.
  16. Organise a final talk with your cast and crew. Iron out any problems or concerns.
  17. It’s show time!