Staged Reading Vs. Workshop

[romgitsean]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 7:21pm

What are the exact differences, exactly? Does a staged reading not have staging, or does it? I'd like to know for a future project of mine.

[Trainwreck]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 2:49am

I'm actually wondering the same thing.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 9:09am

Usually:

Staged reading = no sets, no costumes, actors all on chairs on stage reading from music stands. One day of rehearsal, tops.

Workshop = direction, choreography, very basic sets and costumes. Think of a really low budget production.

(I say low budget, but you'd be shocked at how much they can actually cost.)

[D2]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 9:17am

A staged reading has minimal blocking, and sometimes minimal choreography if it's a musical.

[Trainwreck]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 12:41pm

Awesome! Thank you both!

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 1:37pm

The information here thus far is either incomplete or incorrect.

http://www.actorsequity.org/library/library.asp?cat=5
http://www.actorsequity.org/library/library.asp?cat=3

Read the rules that govern both. Each one has its own set of restrictions and benefits.

Yes, a staged reading is staged.

"Staged reading = no sets, no costumes, actors all on chairs on stage reading from music stands. One day of rehearsal, tops."

Not in my experience. That is a plain ol' reading, not a staged reading.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 1:44pm

Fair enough. You're right. But of the steps that a show usually goes through, a reading is much more common than a staged reading, at least in my experience, so I was operating under the assumption that the OP meant the former. I should have specified.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 1:54pm

Thanks for asking and answering this question. I've been wondering the same thing too.

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 1:56pm

The plain ol' readings that I've been in have been varied in format and attendance, probably due to the lack of formal definition or code.

Some plain ol' readings have been presented with the chair-and-music-stand format and have either been attended by industry folks or the general public. A few have been in someone's apartment. Very casual.

I agree that plain ol' readings might be more common - at least in my experience. I've done 10 readings, 3 staged readings, and 1 workshop.

[bk]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 7:55pm

Staged readings are allowed 29 hours, including rehearsals and performances. There is nothing governing just a reading of a show. Workshops are something wholly other.

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 8:17pm

"There is nothing governing just a reading of a show."

There is a code governing readings. It's here:

http://www.actorsequity.org/library/library.asp?cat=5

EDIT: This is for staged readings.
Updated On: 3/5/10 at 08:17 PM

[degrassifan]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 11:33pm

Just out of curiousity, does a staged reading or workshop for an upcoming Broadway show have to occur in NYC or can they occur anywhere in the country?

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/6/10 at 12:26am

I'm pretty sure they can happen anywhere. Brooke can correct me if I am wrong.

They usually happen in New York because that's where most producers are based and it costs more to do it outside New York because then you're paying for travel, hotels, per diems, etc. for your New York-based actors. But there's nothing that says they have to occur in New York.

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 3/6/10 at 1:59pm

Yes, Yero is correct. Two staged readings that I've done have been in Los Angeles and one has been in Connecticut. They can happen anywhere.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 3/6/10 at 2:59pm

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it!