A dress run is the name given to the
rehearsal of a
theatrical performance which is (should be!) like a full
performance in every way except for the fact that there is no
audience. The dress run should go smoothly (any
technical problems should have been smoothed out after the
tech run), and should give the
cast the feel for running the whole
production in one go, in
costume, and with all the
lights/
sound/
props, etc.
It should only be a very
serious problem that causes a dress run to be halted - something along the lines of a member of the
cast collapsing on
stage (the sort of thing that would have to stop an actual
performance)
If you're after any other theatre tech information, then do take a look at '
Everything you ever wanted to know about theatre tech, but were afraid to ask'