Etiquette for the performer

Rehearsal Etiquette

1. Punctuality Always arrive to rehearsal early enough to warm up, greet other cast members, and mentally prepare prior to the start time of the rehearsal. In the event of an unavoidable tardiness, call the stage manager. Make sure you have his/her cell phone number.

Always arrive to rehearsal early enough to warm up, greet other cast members, and mentally prepare prior to the start time of the rehearsal.

In the event of an unavoidable tardiness, call the stage manager. Make sure you have his/her cell phone number.

2. Proper Attire Early in the rehearsal process, as you are in the early stages of discovering the character, dress neutrally—earthtones, all black, no patterns. As soon as possible during the rehearsal process, wear clothing and shoes that reflects the costume you’ll be wearing in its restrictiveness.

Early in the rehearsal process, as you are in the early stages of discovering the character, dress neutrally—earthtones, all black, no patterns.

As soon as possible during the rehearsal process, wear clothing and shoes that reflects the costume you’ll be wearing in its restrictiveness.

3. Using Downtime When you are not the immediate focus of the rehearsal, avoid being disruptive. While it may be important to develop relationships with your fellow cast members and the crew, reserve all socializing for breaks. Use downtime to memorize lines, do beat/character work, review blocking or choreography—independently and quietly.

When you are not the immediate focus of the rehearsal, avoid being disruptive.

While it may be important to develop relationships with your fellow cast members and the crew, reserve all socializing for breaks.

Use downtime to memorize lines, do beat/character work, review blocking or choreography—independently and quietly.

4. Remain Available Stay within earshot of the stage manager, in the event that the director or any of the design or production staff needs you. If you must leave the space for any reason, let the stage manager know.

Stay within earshot of the stage manager, in the event that the director or any of the design or production staff needs you.

If you must leave the space for any reason, let the stage manager know.

5. Respect the Space If you choose to bring food or drink to rehearsals, wait until scheduled break times to eat—then only in designated areas. Treat the acting area as if it were sacred—since our craft is time-honored. Familiarize yourself with the space for practical and safety purposes.

If you choose to bring food or drink to rehearsals, wait until scheduled break times to eat—then only in designated areas.

Treat the acting area as if it were sacred—since our craft is time-honored.

Familiarize yourself with the space for practical and safety purposes.

6. Contribution Make sure your contribution to the rehearsals is in line with the environment that the director establishes. Some directors will want you to participate in the creation of the blocking; others will dictate it to you. Some directors will involve themselves in your creation of the character—to varying degrees; others will view that as your job. It is never appropriate for an actor to give another actor a “note.”

Make sure your contribution to the rehearsals is in line with the environment that the director establishes.

Some directors will want you to participate in the creation of the blocking; others will dictate it to you.

Some directors will involve themselves in your creation of the character—to varying degrees; others will view that as your job.

It is never appropriate for an actor to give another actor a “note.”

Performance Etiquette

1. Punctuality Never arrive late to the theatre. Aim to arrive ten minutes before call time.

Never arrive late to the theatre.

Aim to arrive ten minutes before call time.

2. Preparation Conduct your warm-ups in private, outside the hearing of others. Participate fully and focus during all group warm-ups.

Conduct your warm-ups in private, outside the hearing of others.

Participate fully and focus during all group warm-ups.

3. Tracking Keep track of your own props and costumes. Never leave them lying about for someone to trip over. Work with the crew to find “homes” for all of your personal props and costumes. Some may need multiple homes. Make sure they are neatly restored after usage. Acquire pre-determined and authorized assistance from a crew member if necessary. During a run, do not suddenly change the location of your prop/costume’s home. You might unwittingly infringe on someone else’s space.

Keep track of your own props and costumes.

Never leave them lying about for someone to trip over.

Work with the crew to find “homes” for all of your personal props and costumes. Some may need multiple homes.

Make sure they are neatly restored after usage. Acquire pre-determined and authorized assistance from a crew member if necessary.

During a run, do not suddenly change the location of your prop/costume’s home. You might unwittingly infringe on someone else’s space.

4. Hands Off Policy Never touch or move someone else’s prop! Never touch or move anything backstage or in the wings unless it is part of your “gig.”

Never touch or move someone else’s prop!

Never touch or move anything backstage or in the wings unless it is part of your “gig.”

5. No Loitering Do not loiter in the wings. It is dangerous and disruptive. If you are there, you are a human wall for which the unsuspecting run crew and exiting actor is not prepared. Injuries are inevitable. Your presence is unnecessary more than a few minutes before your entrance. Anytime before that: you are clutter, you are cholesterol, you are unwelcome. A production must run like a well-oiled machine. Clutter is unacceptable.

Do not loiter in the wings. It is dangerous and disruptive.

If you are there, you are a human wall for which the unsuspecting run crew and exiting actor is not prepared. Injuries are inevitable.

Your presence is unnecessary more than a few minutes before your entrance. Anytime before that: you are clutter, you are cholesterol, you are unwelcome.

A production must run like a well-oiled machine. Clutter is unacceptable.

6. Hug the Walls When awaiting your imminent cue in the wings, press your body flush up against the walls and stay there until moments before your entrance.

When awaiting your imminent cue in the wings, press your body flush up against the walls and stay there until moments before your entrance.

7. No chatter Do not socialize backstage—especially in the wings. It is disrespectful. It is disruptive to the actors on stage, the crew, and the audience. It also distracts you from your purpose and focus.

Do not socialize backstage—especially in the wings. It is disrespectful.

It is disruptive to the actors on stage, the crew, and the audience.

It also distracts you from your purpose and focus.

In the words of Stanislavski… “ The actor needs order, discipline, and a code of ethics not only for the general circumstances of his work, but also and especially for his artistic purposes. That is why in the world of theatre we must learn to hold ourselves well in check. Follow this principle: Love art in yourself, and not yourself in art.”