karenJ,
For these national tours, we local musicians each get our book (mine is 123 pages
) two Saturdays before the opening Tuesday - comes via FedEx from the local contractor.
Opening Tuesday: 10 A.M. - 2 P.M. rehearsal full pit orchestra only, no cast members; 5:30-6:30 sound check with the cast (do some numbers to get the microphone levels for everyone); 7:30 curtain - first time with the actors doing the entire show.
Rest of the week shows: wed 7:30, thu 7:30, fri 8:00, sat 2:00 & 8:00, sun 2:00 & 7:30.
When I play for groups like "The Four Tops", "Temptations", "Manhattan Transfer", we get the music that day at the rehearsal
. Then there are one or two shows the rest of the day. Fortunately, I have always been an excellent sightreader.