Private rehearsals / run-throughs (sitzprobes) of Musicals

[wardrobemistress76]

Hello fellow theatre-lovers! I've been coming to this page for years and finally thought I'd join you all. 

I'm looking for some advice and insider knowledge if possible. 

As I approach my mid-forties, I'm looking to get back into singing once safe to do so. As a former costume lady, I miss working on the big shows and I am desperately keen to join an MT orchestra. There are two options for me: Northern Musical Theatre Orchestra or London Musical Theatre Orchestra. I live in Kettering so I'm right between the two of them.

However, I have some questions and hoping someone here can help me understand just how these companies work and operate - mainly out of curiosity. 

- Does anyone here have any experience of either NMTO or LMTO? If so, what is the process?
- Just how do these companies go about their practice? I know that they don't advertise what show they are going to be looking at, but do they get the rights to hold these private rehearsals? Or don't they need to acquire the rights as they are not performing and it's a private 'rehearsal'?

Very curious about the legalities of all this stuff. 

Hope someone can help. 


Pat 🎭

[theatremadness]

Jul 9, 2020 10:09:32 GMT wardrobemistress76 said:

Hello fellow theatre-lovers! I've been coming to this page for years and finally thought I'd join you all. 

I'm looking for some advice and insider knowledge if possible. 

As I approach my mid-forties, I'm looking to get back into singing once safe to do so. As a former costume lady, I miss working on the big shows and I am desperately keen to join an MT orchestra. There are two options for me: Northern Musical Theatre Orchestra or London Musical Theatre Orchestra. I live in Kettering so I'm right between the two of them.

However, I have some questions and hoping someone here can help me understand just how these companies work and operate - mainly out of curiosity. 

- Does anyone here have any experience of either NMTO or LMTO? If so, what is the process?
- Just how do these companies go about their practice? I know that they don't advertise what show they are going to be looking at, but do they get the rights to hold these private rehearsals? Or don't they need to acquire the rights as they are not performing and it's a private 'rehearsal'?

Very curious about the legalities of all this stuff. 

Hope someone can help. 


Pat 🎭

I can very much help with info on LMTO! If you sign up to their mailing list, you get an email detailing what the next sitzprobe will be. They take place on the first Sunday of every month (obviously not during corona!), and then you receive another email where you can sign up to take part. Chorus parts are assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. Principals parts are chosen by the team based on who applies for each part. Either way, it costs £20 to take part. All parts are open to anyone, professional, in training or amateur. The day is long but amazing. Usually starts around 10am, everyone is taught the material. Then after lunch, principals and chorus come together to sing through the show with the assistant MD for the day, with just piano. Then another break, then everyone comes together early evening for the play-through. Around 60 singers and 60 musicians just go for it! All private so no audience, any mistakes just stop and start again but they genuinely hardly happen. It starts and off you go until it ends! It's the most amazing experience.

As for legalities, obviously I don't know the exact ins and outs. But they do acquire the rights for the shows. The cost to take part covers the rights and usage of the building we do it in. I don't know why the rule is in place, but the rule of never sharing what show is being done (even vague references, related emoji's or “witty” puns are not allowed - rule of thumb is if you think you're being funny you're not!) is *because* they have the rights to do the show as a private sitz. If the shows started getting shared, it would make it impossible for LMTO to acquire the rights to the shows that they do!



If you want any more info, please feel free to PM me!