WWYD/What would you think if this happened?

Totally understand you need weekend rehearsals to get everyone together and to get the long time slots needed for rehearsals. Great commitment from you.

I would spell out in writing, with future plays, what the level if required commitment is. I would spell out what the consequences for non attendance at rehearsals are. Remove the grey areas. Make sure the kids and parents know in advance.

Maybe they got wind of this thread, and just saved you doing the deed!

Weekend rehearsals are very common at my daughter's school. It is made clear at the outset and if you don't attend, barring genuine illness, you're out. Even the genuine illness is frowned on.

But that's the way it has to be to put on something that is of a very high standard and what parents would expect.

My dc all perform (13, 10 and 6yo) -they've just finished doing panto this week.
For all of them I would feel that either if they were the child who had let you down, or others in the group, that it would be perfectly fair to drop them-particularly the one who claimed to have a dentist appointment. Unless you phone the parents and they explain a very good reason.

It spoils things for all if people don't turn up to key rehearsals, and it also lays you open next year for people to think "they got away with it last year".

I think next year, give them a list of rehearsals at the start and ask the parents to mark any they can't attend. If they can't attend key rehearsals as a general rule they can't be in it.

Glad it sorted itself. It might be an idea to spread some mis-information (after the performance) along the lines of you pushing instead of them jumping, just to put the fear of God into future years' cast members.

Break a leg!

Glad it all worked out, I would definitely have been in the "cast them out into the outer darkness" camp. In dd's youth theatre somebody got removed from a speaking part for a similar reason. And slightly off at a tangent, anyone who thinks being in the chorus isn't glamorous enough shouldn't be there at all, once you get beyond the primary nativity play stage.

At DD's school you would be dropped. Commiment and attendence are part and parcel of the performing arts. Anyone who doesn't undersdtand that will not do well.

Teens can be strange creatures, perhaps they got 'the fear'

What a shame for you and the cast though.

Glad it has all worked out.

My DD2 is in an annual am dram panto. They rehearse every Sunday afternoon (and adults mon eve) fof 41/2 months. If they miss 2 rehearsals they are out. It is very strict, but it would be a shambles if they didn't do this.

DD1 is in her school drama club and tonight came home with a letter about a production in May. We have to sign if to commit her to attending every rehearsal before the show.

So yes I think you could/should havd asked these girls to leave.

*EvilTwins still respectin ya.

I should have asked or even known you would have let them know about sunday rehearsals.
I'm glad your problem is solved.
I do tend to come from the importance of extra curricular activities, and juggling so many.
It isn't a problem for dd anymore since the extra curricular became the curricula.
Good luck with the production, break a leg.

Absolutely pull them out.

They presumably knew the rehearsal commitment when they took on the show.

Sunday rehearsals are a fact of life for school productions (hell I have my exam classes in on the Sunday before a practical exam).

You need to send a strong message to everyone else who was committed and did show up.

Re-cast. I was in one of the best Youth Theatres in the country as a teenager and the rule was that you came to rehearsals unless you were dead. A broken leg wasn't an excuse basically...you came in a wheelchair.

As a result of this stringency, most of the kids who stuck it out got places in the best drama schools in the country and the standard of performance was outstanding.

EvilTwins - have they all been warned that not attending rehearsals will put their place in the show in jeopardy? If so, you need to carry through on that.

If they haven't been warned, you need to pull these girls aside on Monday and tell them that if they aren't up to the standard of the rest of the chorus, because they couldn't be bothered to come to the rehearsals, they won't be in the show - end of.

You are right that it is not fair on those cast members who have shown such so mittens for these two girls to get to bunk off rehearsals and still be in the show (risking cock ups because they are under rehearsed).

I think as a parent I would want the teacher to call me. If there's no good reason they missed the rehearsals, then tell the parents that the girls are out. But do speak to the parents first, there may be a genuine reason.

Ragwort, my dd took part in her school play this week, it was a fab production. Over 100 cast and crew so a massive endeavour.

More than - I sympathise with your point too. Dd auditioned for the school play back in Autumn, and had a very minor role. In December she auditioned and got a main role in her dance school production, but couldn't get out of Oliver so has ended up missing a week of dance rehearsals. Luckily her teachers have been sympathetic, and posted the dance stuff on a private FB group. This has meant dd getting home from performance at 10.30 and then learning her dance routines before going to bed. (Not that the teachers were expecting her too, just that dd is a worrier)

At my school we would get rid of them, for all the reasons you have stated. Glory goes to those who work hard and yes it is unfair to all those others.

Be firm.

I would split the difference. Drop the girl who simply didn't show up. The second girl emailed twice - first to say that she had a dance commitment and then to say that she was unwell. Fair enough.

(Last week, you had the chance to pull her up on the dentist on a sunday appointment, but didn't, so let that one go.)

Girl 2 might pull out too, when her friend is dropped, but if she is keen to take part and pulls her socks up then you might let her have a go - or you could warn her that she will end up looking daft as she hasn't rehearsed enough and give her the chance to pull out.

But make a note for next year, and then tell them that for the final 2 weekends, that unless they are on death's door and ask their parents to phone/email in then they must attend those rehearsals. (I used to produce school plays too, and had this rule. We only had Sundays, not Saturdays too, but needed those 2 full days to pull everything together.)

HTH

I'd overlook it. Rehearsals for productions take over everybody's life, and most kids, (at chorus level) and their parents have no idea of the commitment required when they first audition. Just remember next year, if they want to be included, that you have a written agreement.

EvilTwin, my feeling at this stage is not to sweat the small stuff - you've got a show to put on! Come tomorrow morning the girls will arrive at school and realise they've missed out on a brilliant day. They won't feel as part of the company as the others. If their reasons aren't genuine, trust that the committed cast members will let their feelings known. The girls will soon realise they've missed out. You've got enough on your plate. Focus on the important stuff.

My students balk at the idea of coming to school on a Saturday. But these rehearsals are the experiences they will remember long after the lie in they could have had instead. That feeling of hard work paying off, of being part of something, is so memorable. These girls will soon realise they've missed out on this. I reckon they'll quietly admit it to you come the post show party....

Break a leg!

If they wouldnt committ to the rehearsels then thye dont get to be in the play.

When I was at high shcool thye had a big play once a year, it meamt going into school lots of evenigns amd weekends, if you wamted to be in hte play you went to rehearsels amd parents and pupils knew that when they auditioned.

Just get rid of them.

My DS has a lot of sporting commitments, also at weekends, he (and DH and I) fully understand that if he doesn't attend the training sessions he won't get in the team. There is no discussion. I can't remember the last time we have done anything 'as a family' at weekends (unless it is driving to and from matches ).

Morethan - lots of extra curricular activities have to be rehearsed at weekends - when else would you suggest they rehearse? Surely it can't all be done in school lunch times and if you use lesson time that would annoy parents; children are just as likely to have after school commitments as weekend commitments. .

PS: Can I just say we have attended a show at my DS's school this week and it was fantastic, a really high standard. Well done to all those drama teachers out there - my DS isn't into drama at all but watching this performance was a wonderful experience. .

I'd call the parents and ask them if they know anything about it. There could be complicated circumstances at home that the girls don't want to tell you about.

I wouldn't kick them off until I knew they were able to attend rehearsals but chose not to.

Then, morethanpotatoprints, your daughter shouldn't commit to a school production.

Pull them out.