ThefirstofSchroeter’sseriesofdocumentariesabouttheatricalperformers,DressRehearsalbeganasacommissionbyGermantelevisionforashortreportonthe1980editionoftheWorldTheatreFestivalinNancy,France.Inspiredbyanumberoftheperformersatthefestival,Schroetercreatedinsteadafeature-lengthfilmessay.Inparticular,hefocusesonPinaBauschandhertroupefromtheWuppertalTanztheater,theJapanesebutohdancerKazuoOhnoandtheAmericanperformanceartistPatOlesko.Outofanengrossingandentertainingcollageofvariousimpressionsfromthefesti