What is a major goal of rehearsal in terms of audience perception?

A major goal of rehearsal is to enhance the clarity and impact of the performance. Rehearsals provide an opportunity for actors, directors, and crew to refine their work, ensuring that the storytelling is clear and effectively communicates the desired emotions and themes to the audience. This involves working on various elements, such as timing, diction, blocking, and the overall cohesion of the piece. By focusing on these aspects, performers can adjust their techniques in real-time, which directly influences how the audience perceives the show, ultimately leading to a more engaging and memorable experience.

The other choices relate to aspects that are not central to the rehearsal process. Testing audience reactions to set designs is part of the design process rather than rehearsal; establishing ticket pricing strategies is a business aspect unrelated to artistic rehearsal; and gauging the effectiveness of promotional materials pertains to marketing, which occurs prior to the performance and does not occur during the rehearsal phase.