<p>Have any of you seen the standards for rehearsal clothing at your schools, if any? At Evansville, theyve instituted a new rule that girls have to provide a white or light-colored solid long-sleeved fitted blouse with center front or back buttons made from woven cotton, silk, or polyester fabric; a solid, dark-colored, instep-length skirt gathered at the waist or shaped with gores made from light wool or soft cotton fabric; a solid, dark-colored skirt of similar make that is below the knee; and a pair of dark dress or character shoes with straps or laces with hard soles and heels up to 2 1/2 inches high. Boys have to provide a white or light-colored solid long-sleeved dress shirt in woven cotton; a pair of solid dark wool dress slacks with a break at the instep and fit at the natural waist worn with a dark, leather belt; a solid, dark dress jacket; and a pair of Oxford shoes. We also have to stitch name labels into each. </p>
<p>Odd. Ive never rehearsed in anything but dancewear and sweats except for dress rehearsals in the past. At least I already have the correct character shoes. Oh, well … Here’s to the next level!</p>
<p>Thesbo</p>
<p>That’s the strangest thing I’ve ever heard…Are you sure you weren’t reading the guidelines for a CHOIR rehearsal? There is no way you, or anyone else for that matter, could be asked to work in a rehearsal dressed like that - a skirt to the instep? Is every show The Crucible? Sounds like it’s worth a phone call to me. Maybe some web lackey had a little too many the night before that was posted to the Evansville website.</p>
<p>Can’t wait to hear what you find out…</p>
<p>It’s apparently for real. I haven’t received the memo, yet, but some upperclassmen have been discussing its oddness on Live Journal. Here’s the rationale …</p>
<p>· Properly fitting clothes allow easy movement. They also allow the director to see actor movement, scale, and form clearly.</p>
<p>· Rehearsal clothes neutralize the actor’s contemporary form. They also encourage the actor to begin to develop the physical life of the character early in the rehearsal period.</p>
<p>· Without an approximation of your costume, you may be able to do movements in sneakers, jeans, and a t-shirt that you cannot do when you get your actual costume.</p>
<p>We’re also supposed to use common sense as to which combination is appropriate for a given rehearsal. We’re supposed to use them for scene presentations in acting class, too. I am gonna call later to make sure it’s not a prank on us poor, naive freshies before I make my trip to the “ugly section.” LOL</p>
<p>Okay…These guys are SERIOUS!!! Yikes…</p>
<p>But we know you - you’ll make anything work!! What a great attitude you have. It has and will serve you well.</p>
<p>Nope. It’s not a prank. I suppose it’s as easy to change into that as tights. I do hope they keep the theatre cool … I guess several blouses are in order, too. I can see the value for period movement, but pre-running-water funkiness? Ahem … I only hope others do the same … No other schools have anything like this? Nobody? 
</p>
<p>Well, from all your posts in the past, I’m sure you’ll somehow make it work. I don’t get it, though. I understand the black leotard, pink tights, “uniform” for ballet dancers, but MT students? Oh well.</p>
<p>why can’t i stop laughing? poor thesbo … you are gonna be … i mean LOOK hawt. its a good idea … REALLY … heehee :D</p>
<p>maybe having to sew in nametags is a sign that they wash them for you?</p>
<p>Thesbo: my D is a college theater major and they also have to wear long rehearsal skirts and character shoes if it fits the period of the play. For her acting styles class (scenes) they had to wear corsets and long skirts and character shoes! This was to teach them (the women) to move properly in a constricted way true to the period. </p>
<p>Perhaps you are required to have these items for rehearsals so they can be worn as needed and you don’t have to then scramble around to find them while at college?</p>
<p>By the way, a very talented actor from our high school and our very best tech person (female) are at Evansville and both like it very much.</p>
<p>Oh, cool! What years are they? Looks like the mainstage season is going to be “Anatomy of Gray,” “A Little Night Music,” “Six Characters in Search of an Author,” and “Taming of the Shrew” plus two unannounced black box productions. Im not familiar with Gray, but what Ive found about it looks cool. Sort of a childrens story for adults. Im going to have to order a copy. I think the outfits are pretty much going to apply to all rehearsals. I can see the benefit of this even beyond just the period movement aspect. The uniformity will add to the sense of ensemble and should bring more focus to the rehearsal process (putting on my team player hat ;)). We’ll certainly look professional! I just hope they keep the rehearsal space cool if we’re going to be in long sleeves all the time. Shoot. I just hope I’m lucky enough to get cast in something! LOL</p>
<p>The actor will be a junior next year and the tech will be a sophomore. Both of them came back to our high school after their freshman years in college and helped as techs with our spring musical, which I thought was so nice of them. If these two are indicative of the caliber of students at Evansville, you will be part of a GREAT group, as both are wonderful kids. The tech girl is just an awesome person, the calm in the center of the hurricane. </p>
<p>And don’t worry–you will be cast. My D is also at a not-so-well-known but still competitive program and she was cast in a mainstage production (ensemble) her first year, directed by the head of the program–a huge honor. And she had a lead in his mainstage production sophomore year. Being a “bigger fish in a smaller pond” has worked out well for her, and I think it will for you too.</p>
<p>Yeah. The down-to-earth personalities of the students I met was a big attractor for me. It is a fairly small pond with only like twenty BFA Performance girls on campus at any given time due to study abroad, so the chances of at least getting cast in a directing project are pretty good. I wouldnt go so far as to consider myself a big fish just yet, though. I saw a rehearsal for their black box production of Three Sisters on my visit and those people were bringin it on a very high level. As you can tell, Im slightly psyched. 
Lets see
Thirty-eight days til move in! Woot!</p>