Does anybody have any ideas or recipes for food for singers and actors during a show or for practice during the breaks.  We're all getting sick of oranges and lemonade!

Thanks

The cast I am working with right now seems to be enjoying Twizzlers.

L.

I do not think that food should be backstage during a performance.  You eat before you come to the theatre or after the show.  We do provide the cast with water, tea and hard candies and/or throat lozengers.

As SM I usually give them hard candies right before the show to get their blood sugar up, then only water backstage.  At intermission in the green room they can have Twizzlers and/or fruit (grapes, apples, oranges).  I find that the sugar boost helps their energy levels.  Some cast members bring their own lozenges/candies.  As long as they aren't too 'chewy' or interfere with speaking/singing.

For long rehearsals (4 hours) with a large cast I lay out a spread for the break:  baked goods, tea/coffee/juice, Twizzlers, fruit, cheese & crackers.  For short rehearsals and smaller casts I let them bring their own food for break time.  Our policy is:  healthy snacks for breaks and no food and only bottled water in theatre/rehearsal/stage area.

For rehearsals I always have some kind snack for the actors: crackers and peanut butter, pretzels. Nothing so appealing that the kids can't keep out of it, but all too often I have had someone rush in late from work and they haven't had anything to eat. I find if they aren't thinking about their stomachs, they can listen to me. As soon as the costumes arrive there is never anything sticky or greasy. I always have water and tea at performance time and some candy always seems to sneak its way backstage. Like I said for this show it is Twizzlers. The last show it was jelly beans. I tell my SM  to confiscate anything that looks like a problem, otherwise I just ignore it.

L.

We have people bringing in snacks all of the time.  We love Twizzlers, and are big pretzel fiends.

But Tom, As a diabetic myself, it really doesn't matter how well you eat beforte a show.  Anytime during a performance, one's blood sugar could go down.  I usually have a small (really small), sandwich, and a small glass of Gatorade at intermission, so I wil not have any problems with the rest of the show.

We are always told not to eat in costume, but sometimes it has to be done.

We always have Twizzlers (spelling?). Normally strawberry and chocolate. It's a tradition. Twizzlers taste good and can't ruin costumes. Also, this is a youth theater and with kids you always need a little sugary snack at intermission. Besides, everyone love Twizzlers in my theater group!

WISHBONE

Always water.

We do an opening night thank you to each cast.  As I recall for "The Foreigner," there was a load of fresh green grapes and such.

Otherwise, we have a move-in lunch (mostly eaten by techies, who are putting up the set and emptying the truck) and then, on our second Saturday, we have lunch provided between the matin?e and evening shows.

Depending on who's in what mood, anything can show up at practices.  Sometimes, somebody's mom or girlfriend makes something, or even cast members.

I always have an all-day rehearsal (usually a Saturday towards move-in week), and once my buddy brought a bunch of home-made baklava.

We usually have coffee and such, since we usually start somewhere around 9 - 10.  We also go out for a lunch break, particularly if we are going through, say, 3, 4, or 5ish o'clock.

Because many of my students are coming from a sports practice or game before they come to my rehearsals, they are allowed to eat when not on stage.  They must pick up their mess, or they are not allowed to eat ever again.

When we get to dress rehearsals, we have specific meal breaks and actors must change out of costume before intaking anything other than water.

Ha! I am impressed with how healthy you all are.....if our rehearsals run late I send out for pizza.  We did a long run of Romeo and Juliet in a sweltering vineyard last summer ( 90 - 100 degrees and full costumes)  I brought a cooler full of beer and everyone who died got a beer behind the barn.  I made sure that we saved 3 for Romeo, Juliet and Paris.  It didn't seem to do anyone any harm and that run will always have memories of star-gazing with Mercutio, Tybalt and assorted others as well as the tase of an icy cold lager on a hot night.