Mastering the Art of Tech Week: 12 Essential Strategies for High School Theatre Directors
Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week’s email:
BROADWAY BEAT- 2024 Tony Awards Sets Date And Venue | Mind Mangler, New Magic Show From the Goes Wrong Team, to Run Off-Broadway This Holiday Season | Scott Bakula Will Return to the New York Stage in New Jason Robert Brown Musical | See James Monroe Iglehart Transform Into Louis Armstrong for A Wonderful World Musical | For Danny DeVito and Lucy DeVito, Theatre Is a Family Business
HOT TOPICS - Boards trodden by Shakespeare found under the floor of Norfolk Guildhall | Behind the ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Musical: The Broadway Songwriters Who Created It | Little-Known Theater Jobs: Sound Engineer | Hell is Empty: Patrick Page on Villains and Vices
WEST END WATCH - Broadway Licensing Group becomes Broadway Licensing Global | Les Misérables reaches 15,000 performances in the West End | Live Aid–Inspired Musical Just For One Day Will Play London's Old Vic | Broadway's Mean Girls Sets 2024 West End Bow
REGIONAL THEATRE NEWS: Larissa FastHorse and Ty Defoe Make a Show ‘For the People’ | Post-pandemic ‘crisis’ in Chicago’s cultural arts scene is real, new report finds | North American Premiere of Elvis: A Musical Revolution Opens October 11 | 25 Years After Matthew Shepard’s Death, His Story Returns to Laramie Where His ‘Murder Still Haunts the Town’
FALL READERS SURVEY - We want to hear from you! Last Chance!
THE BIG IDEA – Mastering the Art of Tech Week: 12 Essential Strategies for High School Theatre Directors
PLAYSCRIPTS FREE READ OF THE WEEK - The Murderous Mansion of Mr. Uno, a deadly comedy by Don Zolidis
The Broadway Beat
2024 TONY AWARDS SETS DATE AND VENUE by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News - The 77th annual ceremony will move to another new theater.
MIND MANGLER, NEW MAGIC SHOW FROM THE GOES WRONG TEAM, TO RUN OFF-BROADWAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON by David Gordon, Theater Maina - The new comedy stars Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer.
SCOTT BAKULA WILL RETURN TO THE NEW YORK STAGE IN NEW JASON ROBERT BROWN MUSICAL by Talaura Harms. Playbill - MCC Theater is presenting the world premiere work conceived and directed by Daisy Prince.
SEE JAMES MONROE IGLEHART TRANSFORM INTO LOUIS ARMSTRONG FOR A WONDERFUL WORLD MUSICAL by Dave Quinn, People - The Tony winner leads the stage show about the life and loves of the legendary jazz musician.
FOR DANNY DEVITO AND LUCY DEVITO, THEATRE IS A FAMILY BUSINESS by Talaura Harms, Playbill - The father-daughter duo are starring in Theresa Rebeck’s ‘I Need That’ for Roundabout Theatre Company.
Hot Topics
BOARDS TRODDEN BY SHAKESPEARE FOUND UNDER FLOOR OF NORFOLK GUILDHALL by Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian - Oak floorboards discovered at St George’s Guildhall, King’s Lynn, believed to be only surviving stage from Shakespeare’s time.
BEHIND THE ‘ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING’ MUSICAL: THE BROADWAY SONGWRITERS WHO CREATED IT by Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter - 'Dear Evan Hansen' songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul brought on Broadway collaborators, including Sara Bareilles, Michael R. Jackson, Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman to write 'Death Rattle Dazzle.'
LITTLE-KNOWN THEATER JOBS: SOUND ENGINEER by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News - At “SIX,” Jana Hoglund is responsible for mixing the musical — but what exactly does that mean?
HELL IS EMPTY: PATRICK PAGE ON VILLAINS AND VICES by Margaret Hall, Playbill - Page is diving deep into Shakespeare’s villains in his solo show ‘All The Devils Are Here.’
West End Watch
BROADWAY LICENSING GROUP BECOMES BROADWAY LICENSING GLOBAL by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News - The company has been renamed to reflect its expansion, which includes a London office.
LES MISÉRABLES REACHES 15,000 PERFORMANCES IN THE WEST END by Alex Wood, What’s On Stage - 15,000 times hearing the people sing!
LIVE AID–INSPIRED MUSICAL JUST FOR ONE DAY WILL PLAY LONDON'S OLD VIC by Margaret Hall, Playbill - The musical will feature songs by David Bowie, The Who, Queen, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and more.
BROADWAY'S MEAN GIRLS SETS 2024 WEST END BOW by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill - Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph the London premiere after staging the 2018 Broadway production.
Regional Theatre News
LARISSA FASTHORSE AND TY DEFOE MAKE A SHOW ‘FOR THE PEOPLE’ by David John Chávez, American Theatre - Their new play for the Guthrie is a comedy, in large part because that’s what the Native community in the Twin Cities asked for.
POST-PANDEMIC ‘CRISIS’ IN CHICAGO’S CULTURAL ARTS SCENE IS REAL, NEW REPORT FINDS by Stefano Esposito, Chicago Sun-Times - But there is hope, according to the study commissioned by the city. Organizations representing people of color grew with the addition of full- and part-time employees.
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF ELVIS: A MUSICAL REVOLUTION OPENS OCTOBER 11 by Margaret Hall, Playbill - Staged at Walnut Street Theatre, the production is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun.
25 YEARS AFTER MATTHEW SHEPARD’S DEATH, HIS STORY RETURNS TO LARAMIE WHERE HIS ‘MURDER STILL HAUNTS THE TOWN’ by Michael Gioia, The Messenger - One day before the 25th anniversary of Shepard's death, 'The Laramie Project' will be staged with performers from the University of Wyoming, where Shepard was once a student.
Fall Readers Survey - Last Chance!
We want to hear from you, and our Fall Readers Survey is just 4 Questions, so don’t wait; follow this link to take our Fall Readers Survey.
The Big Idea
Mastering the Art of Tech Week: 12 Essential Strategies for High School Theatre Directors
Tech week—the final stretch of a theatrical production—is an exhilarating yet challenging phase for any high school theatre director. It's the moment when countless hours of rehearsals and creative collaboration converge into a seamless, polished performance. But with so much at stake, surviving Tech Week requires meticulous planning and expert leadership. In this week’s article, The Scene explores 12 essential strategies that will help not only to survive but triumph during this critical period.
1. The Power of Preparation - Tech week success begins long before the first cue is called. Months in advance, start crafting a comprehensive schedule that allocates ample time for every aspect of production. This roadmap will serve as your guiding light throughout the week.
2. Delegate and Conquer - The director is the captain of the ship, but a successful voyage requires a dedicated crew. Delegate responsibilities to your stage manager, assistant directors, and crew members. Trust them to execute their tasks, allowing you to maintain a broader perspective.
3. Clear Lines of Communication - Open, clear, and efficient communication is the lifeblood of tech week. Foster an environment where your cast and crew feel comfortable reporting issues or concerns promptly. Addressing challenges early is key to keeping the ship on course.
4. Tech Rehearsals: Fine-Tuning Excellence - Dedicate specific tech rehearsals to lighting, sound, and set changes. Isolate each element to ensure precision without overwhelming your cast. This approach transforms potentially chaotic transitions into seamless magic.
5. The Director's Arsenal: Organization - An organized director is a calm director. Maintain meticulous records, including scripts, schedules, and contact information. Having everything at your fingertips reduces stress and allows you to focus on directing.
6. Surviving the Long Haul: The Tech Kit - Tech Week is a marathon, not a sprint. Assemble a "tech week survival kit" that includes snacks, water, headache medicine, and essential supplies for quick fixes. These simple items can be a lifesaver during long hours.
7. A Culture of Support - Create a positive and supportive atmosphere within your production team. Emphasize that tech week is a collaborative effort. Encourage cast and crew to lean on one another for assistance and motivation.
8. Adaptability in the Face of Challenges - Expect the unexpected. Tech week often brings unforeseen challenges. Maintain a flexible attitude and demonstrate your ability to find solutions. Your adaptability will set a positive tone for the entire team.
9. Time as a Precious Resource - Time is your most valuable asset during tech week. Manage it wisely. Prioritize tasks, eliminate bottlenecks, and avoid unnecessary delays. A well-structured plan is your secret weapon.
10. Self-Care for Directors - Directors are human, too. Amid the hustle and bustle of tech week, prioritize self-care. Get adequate rest, nourish your body, and stay hydrated. Your leadership depends on your well-being.
11. Celebrate Every Victory - Tech week can be demanding but also a time of progress and achievement. Acknowledge and celebrate every small victory. These moments of recognition boost morale and maintain enthusiasm.
12. Keeping the Bigger Picture in Focus - As the director, you're the driving force behind the production. Throughout tech week, remember the bigger picture—the art, the creativity, and the memorable experiences you're creating. Keep your passion for theatre at the forefront.
Tech week is the crescendo of the theatrical journey, where artistry meets execution. With meticulous planning, effective communication, and a positive mindset, high school theatre directors can navigate this challenging period with grace and excellence. These 12 strategies will not only help you survive tech week but elevate your production to new heights. Break a leg!
FREE READS
Read entire plays for free! Free Reads titles are perfect for your theatre, school, and competition performances. Click on the play’s title or image to be taken to the Play’s page; once you are there, click the "READ NOW" button, and enjoy!
Free Read of the Week
The Murderous Mansion of Mr. Uno
A deadly comedy by Don Zolidis
The Story: The mysterious Mr. Uno has invited six eccentric guests to his dark and stormy mansion. When Uno winds up dead (several times over), and guests begin dying mysteriously, those remaining must uncover the murderer before it's too late. A wickedly funny parody of the traditional murder mystery, with eleven possible alternate endings voted on by the audience. Mix and match them all!
Murder Mystery/Comedy | 40 - 60 minutes | 5 W, 6 M, (11 actors possible: 5-6 W, 5-6 M) | Set: Unit set. The living room, library, and study of a mansion.
