A theatrical preview is a performance Theatre previews can make or break a showaimed for the technical crew, production team and the actors to see how the lights, sound, sets, props and stage action presents on stage. On lucky occasions an audience will be invited which is often made from students or people who have helped to work on the performance or show at hand.
So in other words a preview show is usually the night before the opening night of the main performance. All those involved in the show get to see and check what elements of the show work and which elements do not and what needs to be changed.
What Could Go Wrong?
Well anything really, from dropped lines, to wrong sound cues, to forgotten props and even the wrong lighting in a particular spot on stage. If something isn’t quite right, this night should show where these issues arise. The preview night allows everyone to note what things to fix up and make right.
Preview Nights and Staff Roles
The stage manager makes notes of the correct layout and timing of the lighting cues in which the action is to take place. Any missed or lighting cues which don’t work is left up to the lighting technical team to fix.
The stage manager also checks on the overall running of the backstage and if any issues arise there it is their job to rectify and fix them. They are basically the people that run the show once the director has handed it over. They take full responsibility for what happens behind and on stage. So their Job is really important to maintain and get right.
The director can note which actors are meeting expectations and completing stage business correctly and those who are not. The director has a huge job on this particular night, which is their last night of direction (on the whole). Because they have worked closely with most technical crew and the actors, they will relay any advice, directions, notes for not only the actors, but backstage and technical crew. it is now that all the hard work comes to fruition, fingers crossed.
Props masters gets to see how the actors utilise the props and Whether they worked correctly and or not. They then make any adjustments and or changes if needed.
The Costume Manager also sees what costumes look light under the lights and if they are a good fit and look on stage and on the actors. Often this is done in the planning and fitting stages, but this is the chance to see their work in all its glory.
The makeup designer will check how if the makeup work well under certain lighting.They will make any needed adjustments if needed.
The lighting designers and operators work closely with the stage managers depending on the production. They will see how well their lighting designs work with the sets and actors. Lighting is great for setting and presenting a certain mood, if this doesn’t quite hit the mark figuratively and literally, they need to work with the director to make any changes. However like most roles,, most of these wrinkles have been ironed out during plotting and setting.
The audio designers and operators check for correct sound levels and fix any feedback and crackly sound issues. They are usually in charge of sound effects, which means if they forget a cue it could really ruin an actors night (from personal experience), this is where they put their planning to use.
Performers should know their entrances and exits and where to stand as well as move on stage. This will all have been blocked by the director during rehearsals. The use of props and stage equipment should be second nature by this stage. Any issues will be discussed and rectified for the opening night.
For more information about What the Difference is between Amateurs and Professionals check out my other post here.
Notes After the Preview Night
After the preview show, there are usually notes and this is true often for both professional and amateur theater. Notes consists of the director going through all the note he or she has taken during the performance.
From the preset scene to each scene in all Acts and the finale. The director will fire notes at and or ask questions from the technical crew and or the cast. Any issues that arise for Instance an actor standing in the wrong place, to dropped lines, to lighting and sound mix ups are often rectified and discussed at this time. Usually professionals take notes and amateurs listen and hopefully remember theirs.
Crew and cast members are often encouraged to ask questions specifically if they don’t understand something.
If you are lucky, notes will only take about half an hour. However some productions have had notes to the wee hours of the night. Not fun especially if you have a day job the next day.
My personal al Disaster Stories on Preview Nights
I was Stage manager for a professional children’s theater production. My husband was the director. I had to start the show by communicating with the guys on lighting and sound to coordinate the music before the show started.
I spoked to them on coms to let them know we were ready. I made sure all the cast were at their beginning places. Unfortunately I was the one who was to open the curtains which you had to do on the side of the stage by pulling the ropes.
When the music started for the preview my cue was to count to 10 and open the curtains. But unfortunately the ropes got stuck and I kept pulling it but the curtains wouldnt open. Hence the embarrassing start. My very demanding husband screamed from the audience…’Stop, Mel what the hell are you doing?’ I sheepishly walked out on the stage knowing all eyes were on me and that it was my fault the show hadn’t even started correctly.
I went back sheepishly to my station and got ready for the retake of show. I never made that mistake again.
Other things which I have personally seen go wrong during a preview performance was the audience being rude to the actors during performances. This is incredibly rude and disrespectful.
Sometimes schools are invited to shows on the preview night so they can see the show for nothing and the cast can see what turns out to work well obviously the show and what didn’t.
This has happened more than once for me, but I have had the displeasure of experiencing a show with the young audience yelling out, laughing and talking during poignant moments in the show.
Sometimes their teachers or chaperones are usually on to their students, it there have been times when teachers just didn’t have a clue at how rude their students were.
In one particular major musical theater production, I have also seen set pieces not move across the stage properly and microphones picking up on loud cast members in the side of the stage. We have also heard cast members go to the toilet and flush while their microphones were live. That has happened on more than one occasion.
In Conclusion
Interestingly however, quite often the opening nights work a breeze after a disastrous preview night. It’s probably due to the embarrassing issues which arose and the strong desire to make any fixes. Ones integrity and possible future employment opportunities could be on the line.
Generally though preview shows run well and often without a hitch. They are a valuable process for all concerned. They allow the crew, production team and the cast to iron out any unfinished business and rectify, then ready for action on the opening night.
