Question for Parents of High School Drama Kids

[Christine]

My DD (14) is in 9th grade. She is in a fine arts program in her high school, which basically means that her electives are theater courses. Also, to stay in the program, she has to audition a few times a year for parts to earn "points" and be involved, somehow, with a production--be it tech work, acting, etc.

So, she is now involved in her first play: The Wizard of Oz.

She did not get any part and she is a "skip" for Munchkin Land. They have been practicing/rehearsing since February for their show which just started last night and will encompass this weekend and next weekend.

For the first month, her practices were from 2:30 to either 5 or 6 p.m. for 4 days a week. As a "skip" she is the last one let out of practice, so oftentimes I spent 30 minutes in the parking lot waiting for her. Then, for the last several weeks, the rehearsals went until 7:00 p.m. (which really turned into 7:30-7:40). Last week was tech week and they went until about 9:30 and my DD didn't get home until after 10:00 p.m. and then had to do homework, and then had to wake up at 5:00 a.m.

Last night was opening night and they didn't get home until 11:00 p.m. Today there are two shows, and Sunday there are two shows. Again, late nights. Then the next week, they will do "brush up" rehearsals (several late nights) and then another weekend of shows.

Of course, my DD has a raging cold and she tells me that *most* of them in the show are sick because they are all so tired.

I guess my question is: Is this normal for a high school production?

Then, of course, I had to get character shoes (even though she's a skip), I had to buy her "black" clothing for when she works the lights or any other tech job, and now I have to take her out today and get her "homecoming style" attire for when she has to do "ushering" which is tonight. She thought that dress pants would be fine for ushering (which we purchased yesterday) but then saw all the ushers last night and they were basically dressed in shorter length dressy dresses?

So, is this normal and I'm going to get used to it or over the top?

 

[princesspumpkin]

Pretty much, normal. Since rehearsals take so long, and usually there are segments to each rehearsal, your DD should do her homework during her "down" time at rehearsal. There's always a time when someone gets to just sit around and wait until their particular turn. Tech and dress rehearsals are always the longest (and the best time to get homework or studying done). Shows - you always get out late (can't leave before the show is over). Pick-up rehearsals are usually finished earlier because the kinks have already been worked out - so it's more like an actual "show" - without the intermission and chatting with the audience afterwards. It's too bad that DD has to get up at 5am. Performers are notorius for getting in naps while they're waiting to do their part.
As for the dress code, different schools, different clothes. Some places, it is acceptable for just black pants and top for ushering. You school must like a dressier presentation.

P.S. - "Airborne" is a performer's best friend during rehearsals, tech and show run. Invest in it.

 

[Carl]

What is a "skip?" Is that another name for understudy?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

The late into the night practices are the norm here as well.

 

[Trish5768]

Sounds very normal. Hang in there, it will be over before you know it.

 

[Saphire]

Welcome to the world of High School Drama! It is very typical to have such a schedule. I think it is good for kids to be stretched like this (minus the sickness of course) because it teaches them to muti-task and organize their time. My daughter's drama schedule is just crazy. But as a woman, she will have to learn how to juggle all those responsibilities of home and work, so she is getting great practice now. My sons were in sports, and it was the same...long practices, being gone all day for a meet, etc. It just goes with the territory when they are involved with drama, sports, music...it's a good thing!

 

[Christine]

Pretty much, normal. Since rehearsals take so long, and usually there are segments to each rehearsal, your DD should do her homework during her "down" time at rehearsal. There's always a time when someone gets to just sit around and wait until their particular turn.

Well, this is part of the problem. DD says that they are always in the auditorium or "in the back" and they've kept the lights off. So it is dark and she can't read.

For the person who asked what a "skip" is. I *think* it is one step below and understudy? But basically an understudy.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Well, this is part of the problem. DD says that they are always in the auditorium or "in the back" and they've kept the lights off. So it is dark and she can't read.

For the person who asked what a "skip" is. I *think* it is one step below and understudy? But basically an understudy.

Book lights. No brighter than the lights that crew have.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I don't have a high school student in drama, but I do work as a teacher in the high school and the schedules these students keep are insane. I'm not sure how they keep up with their school work and I know some don't. I teach math so it gets hit hard as we have homework nightly. I know that the schedules for the students in Show Choir or special bands are bad as well. There are other programs and activities that also take up tons of time. I feel for the students.

 

[Christine]

I don't have a high school student in drama, but I do work as a teacher in the high school and the schedules these students keep are insane. I'm not sure how they keep up with their school work and I know some don't. I teach math so it gets hit hard as we have homework nightly. I know that the schedules for the students in Show Choir or special bands are bad as well. There are other programs and activities that also take up tons of time. I feel for the students.

This is my concern. But, oh well, we are halfway through. It all ends this weekend.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I will know all too soon as my son enters high school this fall and will play football and will be in track. Some of the track meets take forever and they are an hour away. Sometimes they don't arrive home till midnight I worry about his health both physically and mentally with the upcoming pressures. DD is a year behind and she's in band and will play bball and run track. She has already figured out she can't be in drama and I find that really sad so she's not participating in 7th grade already. She is a drama queen too I don't remember it being like that when I was in school. I was in band and I know we didn't practice till 9 or 10 pm at night during the week. They have a contest too almost every weekend. And, school work is more important. The percentage of students that "make it" in the arts or sports is very, very low,

 

[Christine]

I will know all too soon as my son enters high school this fall and will play football and will be in track. Some of the track meets take forever and they are an hour away. Sometimes they don't arrive home till midnight I worry about his health both physically and mentally with the upcoming pressures. DD is a year behind and she's in band and will play bball and run track. She has already figured out she can't be in drama and I find that really sad so she's not participating in 7th grade already. She is a drama queen too I don't remember it being like that when I was in school. I was in band and I know we didn't practice till 9 or 10 pm at night during the week. They have a contest too almost every weekend. And, school work is more important. The percentage of students that "make it" in the arts or sports is very, very low,

Yes, I think back to my high school days and no one ever did anything that late at night. I was involved with wrestling and baseball and we never had late nights like these. The competitiveness of high school these days is all new to me. I understand that they have extracurriculars but I never thought that they took a priority over studying and homework. I guess I expected practices until about 7:00 p.m. That's it. And I guess I'm a bit the surprised that the school would condone this--they are SO up our BUTTS about test scores.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Yes, I think back to my high school days and no one ever did anything that late at night. I was involved with wrestling and baseball and we never had late nights like these. The competitiveness of high school these days is all new to me. I understand that they have extracurriculars but I never thought that they took a priority over studying and homework. I guess I expected practices until about 7:00 p.m. That's it. And I guess I'm a bit the surprised that the school would condone this--they are SO up our BUTTS about test scores.

Don't even get me started on test scores!!

 

[agnes!]

Hey, Christine, we must live close to each other. Does your DD by any chance go to WestPo?

I agree about the kids' schedules being *insane* .

My DD is in Middle School & I've always told her she has *one* job...schoolwork. Everything else is gravy. We cut way back on activities this year, since it was her first year in Middle School - I wasn't sure how she would handle the changes. No Girl Scouts & she decided for a variety of reasons to not take Dance. She is in confirmatoin class at church (takes up a lot of time) and also in an advanced school choir (festival, competitions, occasional special events). Her grades have been fine, she's handled everything pretty well, so next year if she wants to add more activities she will.

Yeah, SOLs are *so* much fun, eh ?

agnes!

 

[luvflorida]

I know exactly what you're dealing with! My oldest daughter was very active in performing arts all throughout high school. In fact, she graduated from college last year with a BA in Theatre.

In high school she was in every musical and play. She was also a member of Chamber Choir and was instrumental in forming an all-girl acapella group.

The drama kids spent LONG hours rehearsing and performing shows. The worst was always tech and dress rehearsals. They could stretch into the late hours. The thing that really bothered me was how hard the director would come down on these kids. He never seemed willing to cut them any slack, and was always yelling and creating way too much unnecessary drama.

I know "the show must go on", but this isn't Broadway. I just felt that the director was not being reasonable, especially if a student had to miss a rehearsal, or even part of a rehearsal. He would threaten them with taking them out of the show, etc. All I can say is that the kids HAD to love what they were doing because otherwise they would have walked out and never looked back. I wouldn't have lasted ten minutes!!

 

[wdwfam]

Yes, I agree with all the others. That sounds just like here during "showtime". My DD does her homework during rehearsal time - actually anytime she can fit it in and she is in all AP or honors classes. I'll also throw in that she plays two musical instruments and has constant competitions for that. It isn't always fun juggling schedules, but that is part of life and prepares them for adulthood.

One thing I need to add: When your daughter's schedule does slow down after the show, she'll probably really miss it. It becomes addictive. The kids in musicals and drama are overall usually a great bunch of kids and enjoy being together.

 

[RUDisney]

You've stirred up such wonderful memories of my life from 25 years ago. I was the student director for 4 plays/musicals while in HS. We were in rehearsals many nights before the play opened until 11:30, or so. I went to a Prep HS, so there was plenty of homework to go around. It seemed to me then that they people who could juggle their schedules the best were also the most academically gifted. Many of our players were ranked in the 10 top of the class, they were active in 3 sports in addition to the plays.

We never turned down the house lights during practice. Everyone who wasn't involved on stage was in the audience doing their homework. If the lights were down, those book lights would have been on everyone's books.

Just when you thought you'd physically been beaten down, the excitement of performing the actual play would bring you back... and then the let down of having it be over.

My parents couldn't understand why I was getting home around midnight most school nights, but had they been at rehearsal, they'd understand that we were actually working and it just ran that long.

The person who was our director is still directing the school plays. Frankly, I understand how the kids do it, but I don't understand how she still does it and then puts in a full day of teaching, only for practice to begin again.

 

[Christine]

It all sounds exhausting. My DD seems to be handling it but I guess we will see the fallout in a week or two with her grades. Unfortunately, she is not a "gifted" student. Just very average so I am a bit nervous. Also, she is in a fine arts program at the school so none of this is really optional for her. She has to do it to stay in the program.

Agnes--we are in Prince William County, so no we aren't in West Potomac but I hear they have a big drama program there.