Akademik

Engagement
   The engagement of a star or a full company meant that they were contracted to perform in a given theatre for a specified length of run. One-night stands were debilitating, so it was preferable to play towns large enough to support half-week engagements (usually three evenings and a matinee) or full-week engagements (six evenings and two matinees).

The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. .