There is a superstition that a perfect dress rehearsal does not mean a good opening night. Perhaps there is some sense in this, if it goes wrong on the dress rehearsal then at least the problem is known about. But if it is a technical problem, I would have to ask if there was a proper tech rehearsal? If not, realise you need to do a tech rehearsal after the chaotic dress rehearsal. And if you must, you can do a walk through with the performers too. Technical problems can of course occur any time, but being prepared for failure requires a knowledge of what may happen.

Yes! And always listen to other people even actors. Good ideas can come from anyone, and smart people listen to any and all!! I have had on more than one occasion had, even an actor, suggest a very creative soulation to a problem. And, guess what they solved the problem! So stiffel your ego and listen!!!!!!

Solve the problem, what else? Besides - it's a dress rehearsal, isn't it? Bad dress rehearsal - great premiere! And now LinkedIn says a lot of words would be a lot of help. 125 characters at least... okay, is that enough now?

Chaos is Your Greatest Teacher When your dress rehearsal is in chaos because of a technical problem, you’re not dealing with a failure—you’re staring down an opportunity. This is where real leaders emerge, where adaptability becomes your greatest skill, and where you show what you’re made of. 1?? Pause and Own the Moment Panic is contagious, but so is composure. Take a breath, assess the situation, and figure out the root cause. Identify the most critical issue first—don’t try to fix everything at once. Focus brings clarity, clarity brings solutions.