The Rehearsal Diaries #1: Boogie Nights Begins
The start of a new show always feels a bit like the first day back at school. There’s that mix of excitement, mild panic about whether you’ve remembered your pencil case (or in this case, your lib deposit), and the quiet buzz of a bunch of theatrical people all wondering who’s going to end up playing who.
After a few months away from performing, walking back into that rehearsal room for Boogie Nights felt like a reset. The chatter, the warm-ups, the smell of coffee and perfume in the air. It’s funny how quickly it all comes back.
This is the first post in The Rehearsal Diaries, a behind-the-scenes look at life inside a local musical society. I’ll be sharing how rehearsals really go, what we’re learning, and what it’s like juggling work, lines, and remembering not to come in too early on a harmony.
The Intro Night
Intro night was brilliant. Chrissie, Hayley, and George, our production team, ran the evening, and the atmosphere was fabulous. There were loads of new members, which always gives the room a bit of extra energy. It’s nice seeing people walk in wide-eyed, not quite sure what to expect. And of course, I got to see some familiar faces too.
We got our libs (the best part of any intro night), and the team talked through the show, the characters, and the overall plan. There’s something about holding a fresh lib that makes it all real. You start flipping through, thinking, Oh, I could see myself as her… and then immediately start panicking that you’ll never learn all those lines or master that melody.
People stayed chatting afterwards, swapping stories about past shows (albeit briefly, because as we all know, when one show ends another soon begins!) and who’s auditioning for what. That’s the part of amateur theatre I love, it’s a community first, production second. Everyone’s excited, everyone’s there for the same reason, and it sets such a good tone for what’s ahead.
First Rehearsal: Celebration
Our first rehearsal focused on the opening number, Celebration. It’s the perfect choice to start with, upbeat, happy, and impossible to sing without a smile on your face.
George, our MD, is great. Calm, funny, and knows exactly when to step in and when to let us find it ourselves. He’s worked with my son Jack before, in The Lightning Thief, so there’s already that nice familiarity there. I mean – we walked carnival together!!!
The session flew by. We worked through parts, smoothed out harmonies, and by the end, the room just sounded alive. There’s something about that early stage when everything’s still rough but full of potential that feels really special.
Audition Prep
Once we’d kicked off the first song, focus shifted to audition prep. My pieces are I Will Survive, Last Dance, and I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper (because of course I’m going for multiple roles), an amazing mix of power, emotion, and pure 70s cheese.
I’ve been learning all three, running through them in the kitchen while dinner’s in the oven and hoping the neighbours can’t hear me. Each one feels completely different, which makes the process both fun and mildly stressful.
We also started working through some lib scenes with Chrissie, who’s such a natural director. She knows how to give feedback that makes you want to go again rather than hide behind your script.
The next session was entirely focused on audition prep. All three of the production team were there, and I got to run my songs and scenes again. The notes were so helpful – specific, encouraging, and the kind that actually make you improve rather than overthink.
Since then, I’ve been rehearsing at home, doing small runs of the songs every day. There’s always that stage where everything feels clunky, and then suddenly, one evening, it all clicks. I’m not quite there yet, but close.
Second Ensemble Rehearsal: The Medley
Our next ensemble rehearsal was even better than the first. We revisited Celebration and then jumped straight into the big medley – Blame It on the Boogie, Love Train, Freak Out, and That’s the Way (I Like It).
It’s full-on disco from start to finish, and the atmosphere was brilliant. Everyone picked up the harmonies really quickly, which made the whole thing come together fast. There’s something so satisfying about hearing fifty voices lock in and blend perfectly, especially this early on.
The room was full of energy with people singing, dancing, and smiling. You could feel everyone relaxing into it and just having fun. It already sounds great, and we’re only at the beginning.
By the end of the night, everyone was super positive and upbeat. You could tell everyone left feeling proud and excited for what’s ahead. That’s one of the best things about community theatre. When it clicks, it really clicks.
Building Confidence
In between rehearsals, I’ve been fitting in extra practice (of course), running lines, checking notes, and trying not to overthink every vocal choice. I’m a lot happier with how everything sounds now. It’s taken a few weeks to shake off the rust, but it’s starting to feel natural again.
This Friday is our final audition prep before the big day. I’m equal parts nervous and excited. There’s always that small part of you that wants to impress, but mostly I just want to enjoy the process. That’s the thing with amateur theatre, it’s hard work, but it’s meant to be fun too.
Looking Ahead
Being back in rehearsals again has reminded me how much I love it. It gives your week structure. It gets you out of your head. You spend a few hours singing your heart out, laughing with people who get it, and you go home feeling lighter.
Boogie Nights already feels like it’s going to be a brilliant show. The team are fantastic, the cast is full of life, and the music is soooooo much fun. This one’s going to be bloody brilliant from start to finish.
Here’s to the start of rehearsals, to the return of late nights and vocal warm-ups in the car, and to a few months of disco in Long Eaton.
Until next time – Nic.
