The Director's Toolkit

CHAPTER 17Polishing the Play

 

THE FUNCTION OF THE POLISHING REHEARSALS

Polishing rehearsals are the last stage of the rehearsal process prior to performance. The polishing rehearsals are the opportunity for the director to “refine” the production and bring it to “a highly developed, finished, or refined state.”¹ All of the work from the rehearsals with the actors is combined with the final technical elements in preparation for the audience. By the end of the polishing rehearsals the production should include all elements except the audience and be on track for a solid opening performance and a run of the show with consistent quality. The polishing phase begins with a series of rehearsals, typically run-throughs, designed to allow the actors ...