Play readings: a complete guide for theatre practitioners

Introduction

Before rehearsals

Going public

The preliminaries

Time restrictions

Casting

Model for a play reading

Stage directions

Rehearsal and performance

Before rehearsal begins

Movement, gestures and adapting stage directions in rehearsal

Editing and movement for challenging text and stage directions

Review and tech

Acting in a play reading

Development and presentation

Developing new musicals and operas

Non-developmental readings

After the reading

Audiences and talkbacks

The follow-up

Epilogue: moving forward.