STC does that too - everyone is required to be at the Wed morning meeting (which is before the early midweek matinee - so the lucky show that's running has to be at the meeting, skip out early to set up for the mat, run the mat, then take a break and do an evening show). Sigh.
This can backfire, especially at places where the volunteer ladies don't realize the crew works too, or (as in one case) they simply feed as cheap as possible, and you get Italian every matinee day. Try dancing on pizza, let alone staying awake to call a dull show an hour from the meal.
This can work to your advantage if you do it right, tho. I ran an excellent but LONG-ass run of Streetcar, a sign language produciton, and by week's end we were all beat-to-shit tired (sorry if anyone is offended, no other way to really explain) - I started the cast doing a potluck between the Sunday mat and eve. It was more than a morale booster - it got us through the final show of the week! And it created a real family (that started to show up on stage, which was very nice). The performers and crew had fun making things for each other, we all took turns doing the entree/meat part (1/3 of the cast was veggie, the rest serious meat eaters) and creativity reigned. And it gave the supporting cast a focus while they sat there waiting for their scenes, since there are huge chunks of time when most are just sitting around backstage. Because this was 99-seat (an LA-specific beast) we did our own, but it became a really nice space for the actors to let loose w their real thoughts and feelings when things needed to be aired, cuz the producers weren't around. Food is the great equalizer, eh?
