Tuesday, April 19, 2011

What is Repertory?

It is a very busy time at the theatre now the Spring rep season is in full swing.  There are three shows currently running at ASF, "Moonlight and Magnolias", "Julius Caesar" and "Much Ado About Nothing."  This is to help clear up the confusion about the dates for each show and why each one isn't offered everyday.  

So what is repertory?

Alabama Shakespeare Festival puts on a Spring repertory or rep season, usually consisting of three shows.  Repertory is when a theatre company presents work from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation.  A repertoire are pieces (shows) an actor is ready to perform.  The actors in the company are in both Shakespeare performances and 4 cast members make up the cast for "Moonlight and Magnolias."  Whew, that's a lot of lines and a lot of characters.  

There is no pattern for the rotation of the shows but there are several weekends patrons can see all three shows in one weekend and all shows are on the Festival Stage.  The stage crew has to change over the sets between shows and during some change overs the tech director commentates about the building and changing of the sets.  

Julius Caesar (Click for a preview)
Saturday April 23 7:30
Thursday April 28 7:30
Saturday April 30 2:00-Extreme Weekend*
Sunday May 8 2:00-Extreme Weekend*
Saturday May 14 7:30-SWP Weekend~
Friday May 20 7:30-Extreme Weekend*
Saturday May 21 2:00

Much Ado About Nothing (Click for a preview)
Thursday April 21 7:30
Saturday April 23 2:00
Friday April 29 7:30
Saturday April 30 7:30-Extreme Weekend*
Saturday May 7 7:30-Extreme Weekend*
Sunday May 15 2:00-SWP Weekend~
Saturday 21 7:30-Extreme Weekend*

Moonlight and Magnolias
Friday April 22 7:30
Sunday May 1 2:00-Extreme Weekend*
Tuesday May 3 7:30
Wednesday May 4 7:30
Thursday May 5 7:30
Friday May 6 7:30
Saturday May 7 2:00-Extreme Weekend*
Friday May 13 7:30-SWP Weekend~
Wednesday May 18 7:30
Thursday May 19 7:30
Sunday May 22 2:00-Extreme Weekend*
Tuesday May 24 7:30
Wednesday May 25 7:30
Thursday May 26 7:30
Friday May 27 7:30
Saturday May 28 2:00
Saturday May 28 7:30
Sunday May 29 2:00

* Click for more information about the Extreme Weekend Packages
~ Click for more information about the Southern Writers' Project