Stage Management, 10th Edition

3

Getting the Play and Understanding It

 

It takes twenty years to make an overnight success.

—Eddie Cantor

 

 

During the readings, rehearsals, and production, you must have a copy of the script and a thorough understanding of it. To expedite readings and rehearsals, make sure there are enough scripts on hand for actors and staff.

Usually, copies of the script are ordered when the rights of production are obtained from the play service (Samuel French, Tams-Witmark, etc.; see below). If, however, you are going into production with one copy of the script, or a vague memory of it, first make sure an adequate number of scripts are on hand. This may be possibly limited to determining how many are necessary, or it may mean actually picking them ...