The answer I got from Equity is that it is “a given” that if a performance does not have an intermission, we CAN do a true Run Through (uninterrupted for notes) during the rehearsal process, without stopping for the usual break after 80 minutes of work. However, this “given” indeed is NOT in writing anywhere in the SPT rule book.
This advice came after the Design Run for me, but all of my actors were fine with running straight through anyway. It was the last thing we did that day, so they got to head home a bit early when it was over. I’ve done this before, incidentally, with the agreement of the actors, but in those cases the shows were closer to 90 minutes, so it seemed like less of a stretch.
I expressed to my AEA rep that I’d love to see something like the LORT rule 50(E)(2) in the next SPT book to clarify this issue, and he said I should send an email to that effect and he’d pass it along to the committee. So, colleagues, if you feel the same, please consider contacting your reps about it as well. Seems to me that it would be helpful for both producers and actors, and leave one less issue for debate if we can just open the book and point to the rule…or exception to the rule.
P.S. Matthew, you
had a one act play. You gave it to me for my birthhday (about 200 intermissions ago, for you), remember? Besides, this is only my 10th Intermission Free show in a row...nothing special, really, I'm sure