Technical Rehearsals and Tech Week: Turning Rehearsal Into a Repeatable Performance

What “Tech Week” Really Is (and Why It Feels Different)

Technical rehearsals (often leading into “tech week”) are when the production shifts from practicing scenes to building a repeatable, safe, performance-ready machine. You are no longer rehearsing only acting choices; you are rehearsing timing with lights, sound, set pieces, props, costumes, microphones, and backstage traffic. Expect the pace to change: there will be longer waits, frequent stops, safety checks, and very detailed note-taking. This is normal and necessary.

What changes during tech

• More stopping and starting: A single moment may be repeated several times to align movement, cues, and transitions.
• Longer pauses: Teams may adjust lighting focus, sound levels, mic packs, costume pieces, or set hardware.
• Safety becomes a top priority: Moving scenery, low light, cables, fog, trap doors, and quick changes require extra checks.
• Notes become more specific: You’ll track exact prop placement, costume fixes, mic placement, and timing adjustments.
• Consistency matters more than “new ideas”: Big changes are usually minimized so the show can stabilize.

The Main Tech Rehearsal Types (Purpose and Flow)

Paper Tech (if used)

Purpose: Align the director’s staging intentions with the technical plan before anyone steps onstage. This reduces chaos later.

Who’s usually there: Stage manager, director, designers/crew leads, sometimes operators. Actors are often not needed.

Typical flow:

1. Go through the script page by page and identify every technical moment: lighting changes, sound effects, music starts/stops, projections, scene shifts.
2. Clarify triggers: What action or line causes each cue? Example: “On the door slam,” or “When the actor reaches the top step.”
3. Flag risky moments: Blackouts, fast scene shifts, confetti, haze, moving platforms, weapon props, or anything that needs extra rehearsal time.
4. Decide priorities for onstage tech: Which sequences need extra time (often transitions and complex effects).

Beginner tip: Even if you are not invited, you can benefit by marking your script with any known “tech-sensitive” moments (blackouts, sound hits, prop handoffs) so you’re not surprised later.

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Dry Tech

Purpose: Rehearse technical elements without actors (or with minimal actor involvement). This lets crew and operators practice transitions, scene shifts, and cue timing safely and efficiently.

What it often includes: Scene changes, automation (if any), prop presets, lighting looks, sound playback, headset communication practice.

Typical flow:

1. Preset check: Crew verifies set pieces, spike marks, props tables, and any safety gear.
2. Run transitions in order: Practice moving scenery and props exactly as it will happen.
3. Refine timing: Adjust how long blackouts last, how quickly wagons move, and where crew waits.
4. Confirm “traffic patterns” backstage: Who crosses where, and when, to avoid collisions.

Beginner tip: If you are called for dry tech, you may be used as a “stand-in” to test sightlines or timing. Wear rehearsal clothes and be ready to repeat small actions many times.

Spacing Rehearsal

Purpose: Transfer your staging into the actual performance space (or onto the set) so distances, entrances, and sightlines become real.

Why it matters: A rehearsal room is rarely the same size as the stage. Doorways, stairs, furniture, and masking change how you move.

Step-by-step approach for beginners:

1. Walk the stage: Identify entrances/exits, stairs, edges, and any uneven surfaces.
2. Find your landmarks: Note fixed points (a table corner, a stair post) that help you repeat positions.
3. Run each scene slowly: Focus on safe pathways and clean spacing rather than emotional intensity.
4. Check sightlines: Ensure key moments are visible from different audience angles.
5. Confirm prop and furniture relationships: Example: Can you reach the letter on the desk without turning your back too long?

Common spacing adjustment: “Cheating out” more (angling your body slightly toward the audience) while still staying truthful in the scene.

Cue-to-Cue (Q2Q)

Purpose: Practice only the moments around cues (lighting, sound, projections, scene shifts), skipping most dialogue and action in between. This is the fastest way to integrate technical timing.

What it feels like: Start a scene, jump to the next cue moment, stop, repeat, adjust, and move on. It can be mentally tiring because you must stay ready even when you are waiting.

Step-by-step: how a Q2Q usually runs

1. Start at the top of the show or at a designated point.
2. Play until a cue is approaching (often just a few lines or actions).
3. Hold or freeze while the cue is executed and adjusted.
4. Repeat the cue moment until timing, levels, and movement are consistent.
5. Jump ahead to the next cue-heavy section.

Actor survival skills during Q2Q:

• Stay “warm” without over-performing: Mark vocally if allowed, conserve energy, and keep focus.
• Know your cue triggers: If your movement triggers a cue (like opening a door), do it the same way each time.
• Ask before changing anything: A small change in pace or position can break a cue sequence.

Sitzprobe (for musicals)

Purpose: First time singers and orchestra (or full band) put the music together, usually seated (“sitz”). It is about musical coordination, balance, and tempo, not staging.

What to expect:

• Stops for musical fixes: Entrances, cutoffs, tempo changes, and dynamics may be adjusted.
• Balance checks: Voices vs. orchestra levels, especially for ensemble sections.
• Mic considerations: If using body mics, the team may test placement and gain while you sing.

Practical preparation:

1. Bring a pencil and your score/libretto (or approved music pages).
2. Mark conductor notes (breaths, cutoffs, tempo reminders).
3. Sing efficiently: Use good technique; don’t “oversing” to compete with the orchestra.

Dress Rehearsals

Purpose: Run the show as close to performance conditions as possible: costumes, hair, makeup, props, scene shifts, and full technical operation.

Common types: Some productions schedule multiple dresses (e.g., “first dress,” “final dress”). The first may still include stops for safety or major fixes; later dresses aim to run without stopping.

What you should practice during dress:

• Quick changes: Timing, handoffs, and where each item goes immediately after removal.
• Costume movement: Sitting, kneeling, stairs, and any choreography in costume.
• Prop integration: Using props with costume pieces (gloves, pockets, bags) and returning them to the correct place.
• Mic and pack comfort: Movement, sweat management, and avoiding clothing noise.

Preview Performances

Purpose: A performance with an audience before the official opening, used to test pacing, audience response, and technical reliability under real conditions.

What’s different from opening: The show is treated like a real performance, but small adjustments may still be made afterward (timing, levels, transitions, or minor staging clarifications). You should still aim for full commitment and consistency.

Beginner mindset for previews: Perform the show you rehearsed, not the show you “wish it was.” Let the team collect data and notes; don’t improvise fixes onstage unless it’s a safety issue.

How to Work During Tech: Practical Habits That Prevent Problems

1) Detailed note-taking that actually helps

During tech, you may receive notes about props, costume handling, mic use, entrances, and spacing. Notes must be specific enough to repeat.

Use a simple format:

SCENE / MOMENT: Act 1, Scene 2 — after the phone rings (2nd time)  NOTE: Pick up coat with left hand so right hand can open door  WHY: Prevents mic cable snag + keeps timing for light cue  ACTION: Rehearse in quick-change once before next run

Good notes are: short, actionable, and tied to a repeatable trigger (a line, sound, or movement).

2) Expect “holds” and learn what to do during them

A “hold” is a pause to fix or reset something technical or safety-related.

• Freeze safely: Stop moving, keep props secure, and avoid wandering.
• Stay quiet: The team may be communicating on headsets.
• Don’t reset yourself unless told: Wait for instructions so everyone restarts from the same point.

3) Safety checks you should take seriously

Tech introduces low visibility and moving elements. Treat every safety note as non-negotiable.

• Edges and stairs: Learn the feel of steps and platforms in show lighting.
• Backstage hazards: Cables, props on the floor, and tight corners are common.
• Scene shifts: Never step into a crew pathway during a move unless it’s your assigned route.
• Weapons, breakables, or effects: Follow the approved handling exactly; do not “test” items casually.

Backstage Behavior During Tech: Quiet, Communication, and Movement

Staying quiet (and why it matters)

Sound levels are being set, microphones are live more often than you think, and headset communication needs a clean environment.

• No whispering near the stage: It carries and can be picked up by mics.
• Handle props silently: Practice putting items down gently and avoiding clatter.
• Use designated waiting areas: Don’t hover in wings unless you’re next.

Headsets and communication rules

If you are on headset (not always the case for performers), follow strict communication etiquette.

• Only speak when necessary: Keep the channel clear for cueing and safety calls.
• Use clear, short messages: Example: “Actor entering SR,” or “Prop table reset complete.”
• Never talk over a cue sequence: If cues are being called, stay silent unless there is danger.
• Confirm instructions: If you’re given a task, repeat the key part back once to avoid mistakes.

Light discipline (protecting the stage picture)

“Light discipline” means controlling any unintended light sources that could spill onto the stage or distract.

• No phones visible backstage: Screens glow and can be seen from the audience.
• Use only approved running lights/flashlights: If you need a light, use what the production provides and keep it pointed down.
• Close doors and curtains quietly: Prevent light leaks from hallways or dressing rooms.

Traffic patterns: moving like a system

Backstage traffic is choreographed. Treat it like blocking: consistent routes, consistent timing.

• Know your “lane”: Some areas are reserved for crew moving scenery; don’t stand there.
• Cross behind, not in front: If you must pass someone waiting to enter, go behind them to avoid bumping and costume damage.
• Preset and exit cleanly: Enter only when needed, exit promptly, and don’t linger in pinch points.
• Quiet hands: If you brush a curtain, mask, or set piece, do it gently to avoid noise and movement.

Readiness Checklist for Tech and Performance Conditions

Use this checklist before dress rehearsals and previews to reduce preventable problems.

Extra mini-checks that save time

• Footwear: Performance shoes broken in; you can safely use stairs and pivots.
• Hair/makeup compatibility: Nothing blocks mic placement or costume fastenings.
• Pockets and storage: If you carry items onstage, you know where they sit so they don’t fall or make noise.
• Preset routine: You have a repeatable order: check costume, check mic, check props, check entrance path.