The rehearsals are done, the dates are set and now we reach show week. This is when all the hard work comes together and you invite your audience in. In order to help you survive the week, let's look at what you need to think about in advance.
Planning ahead
- Make sure that you book any teaching cover you might need for show week.
- Ask for support from staff to do the things that will inevitably need doing – running the bar, printing programmes and so on.
- Ensure you have told parents exactly what is going on, where and when.
- Plan your lessons so that you won't be doing anything too full on. Show week could also be a week when students get on with composition work for example.
- Chat with your site team and make sure they know exactly what you will need in advance. They will hopefully support with arranging the performance space, setting out chairs and ensuring that everything is working.
During show week
Show week is full on, and if you are leading the musical you need to make sure you are able to survive. There are lots of things to think about – but don't forget to think about you! Delegate and ask for help. There will most likely be staff who will be more than happy to help. It is also important to get the students and parents on board to make sure the week goes well. Here are some things to make sure you do during show week:
Sort out your lunches and dinners for the week. Batch cooking is a must and you don't want to find yourself eating too much fast food. I know this is Music Teacher magazine, but we offer healthy eating advice too!
Make sure that once the musical is up and running you don't try and change too much. The students will always do their best, but at the end of the day the show must go on.
Having said that, after your dress rehearsal, work out if there are any small things that you can change. I refer to these as easy wins. A small change to blocking, setting or props can make a huge difference.
Remember to keep the students motivated. Try to avoid talking about it being hard, tiring or exhausting. They need you to be the leader and keep them inspired and excited during the week.
Write your thank-you speech before the final night. If it becomes a last-minute thing you might forget someone. Also buy any gifts that you might need to go with the thanks.
Stop, look and listen
Putting on a musical is possibly my favourite thing to do at school. It is a wonderful chance to take young people on a journey and invite an audience to come and watch them shine on stage. Your students will get so much from it. But along the way it can be tough, and there will be some hard moments during the process. But I urge you always to stop, look and listen. Stop and see the joy on your students faces as they get to on stage and perform their hearts out. Look at the product and remind yourself that it was all worth it. And finally listen to all the positive feedback from the students, parents and audience. This will help you remember why you started it all in the first place.
If you are embarking on the process of putting on a musical then let me leave you with a final word of encouragement. You are giving up time for your students that they will remember forever. They are making memories that last a lifetime and experiences they will never forget. Don't take it for granted – this is one of the great privileges of our jobs as music teachers. We have a chance to shape lives and create memories with our students. It is the best job in the world, and I wish you all the best with your next production. (Next stop for me is Les Misérables in Windsor!)
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