JUL
19

Making the Most of the Dog Days of Summer

By Mike Steele 

Mike Steele has been writing and directing as far back as he can remember.  He spent the bulk of his teenage years performing in school and community theatre productions and continued to act through college while he completed a BS in elementary education and sociology.  Mike directs school and community theatre productions and teaches cooperative drama workshops, a process in which he incorporates writing into the creative process. 

Summer Break is in full swing across the country.  You’re loving sleeping in, taking a family vacation, and just enjoying your free time.

Not to burst your bubble, but don’t forget you’re directing next year’s fall show.  Why not spend a bit of your free time getting some pre-production tasks out of the way?  A little work over the summer can translate into a lot less stress during the school year.

Take a look at these summertime school play prep tips...

Choose the show.  Take some time to lounge on the beach...  and kick back with a big stack of perusal scripts while you’re at it.  (Take advantage of Pioneer Drama’s Build Your Own Bundle discount on preview scripts to save money!)  Or download some E-views to read on your tablet on that long car trip.  Don’t wait until the school year begins to narrow down the plays that interest you.  Come late August, you’ll be too busy figuring out how to seat 32 students at 28 desks to stress about the scripts you still have to comb through.  Since your teaching colleagues also might have some spare reading time during these summer months, pass along copies of the scripts you enjoy to the other production staff members and get some feedback on what’s do-able.

Update your audition forms.  If you’re not using Pioneer’s forms from their Director’s Books, spend an afternoon changing the dates on all those files you saved from last year that you planned to reuse for the next show.  Type up the character breakdown, print an audition sign-up sheet, and organize the sides.  Sure, this is something you’re planning to do “one day during prep period,” but something always seems to come up, doesn’t it?  The more paperwork you get out of the way now, the less you’ll have to worry about while addressing the unforeseen headaches of a new school year.  And hey, the line for the faculty room copier is a lot shorter in the summer!

Start collecting costumes.  Summer is the perfect time to visit garage sales and outdoor flea markets.  You’ll have to wait until you’ve cast the show before you know exact clothing sizes, but you can still hunt for those one-size-fits-all pieces you’ll need.  Wigs, capes, gloves, and a bunch of other accessories don’t require exact measurements.  It’s also a good idea to spread the word about those hard-to-find pieces you’ll be looking for.  The more time you give yourself to look for the neon green astronaut costume with a sequined shawl that one of the characters requires, the better.  Don’t forget to talk to your costumer to discuss any way she or he can get a head start, as well.

Clean up last year’s mess.  Does your prop cabinet look like it was hit by a tornado?  What about the costume closet?  Were you so exhausted from last year’s production that the set is still half-deconstructed in the wings?  We all want a little break when a production ends, but somehow, our well-intentioned plans to get the backstage area organized are overshadowed by everything else that comes up before the end of the school year.  Don’t start the next show worrying about everything you forgot to straighten up from the last.  Get into the empty auditorium for a day or two and prepare the space for a new production.  Don’t be afraid to employ a little help, either.  I bet there are some students looking to volunteer service time for the drama program.  And your own kids keep claiming they’re bored, right?

Host a pre-production backyard barbecue meeting.  Invite your colleagues over for a potluck gala to get everyone on the same page so the entire staff can hit the ground running when the school year begins.  Gathering over the summer means you won’t have to compete with all the department conferences, grade-level meetings, and other academic conflicts that come up at the beginning of the school year.  Figuring out how to fundraise enough money to costume a cast of 45 is a lot less stressful when potato salad is involved.  And you’ve been looking for a reason to show off all the landscaping you’ve been doing this summer, anyway!

Begin advertising.  “What?!?”  you’re thinking.  “That’s crazy!  I don’t have a cast, and I’m still begging the new woodshop teacher to sign on as set designer!”  Very true.  But professional theaters advertise before securing a cast and staff, so follow their lead and generate interest in your department ASAP.  Once you’ve selected a show, get the word out there!  Spark some excitement!  Post the title and audition dates on the school’s or drama department’s social media.  Announce the show on the school’s outdoor marquee.  As much as your students claim they’re not thinking about school over the summer, an exciting announcement from the drama teacher will be the topic of conversation at the next pool party.  You’ll begin to recruit auditioners, and all the summer buzz surrounding the production might even pique the interest of that new woodshop teacher.

The new school year will be here before you know it, so take a little time to prepare for all the work that’s to come.  Better to be ahead of the game, because that fall play is going to take a lot of time and energy!  But be sure to spend a carefree day or two relaxing with an ice cold glass of iced tea, as well.  It is Summer Break, after all.