Advice for starting theatre groups

[Alex LaVelle]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 2:05pm

Alright, a few of my friends and I are trying to start a theatre program through one of our local arts groups with the intent to produce a musical during the summer while we are all home from college. Any advice that anyone might be able to offer would be appreciated, particularly when it comes to selection of the show.

There is a lot of theatre in the community already, but little during the summer. In past years, local groups have performed H2$, Into the Woods, Jekyll & Hyde, Once Upon a Mattress, and Guys and Dolls (to name a few). Ideally, we are looking at a show with a small to medium sized cast that would not require a huge budget. Dancing should not be much of an issue, and we have plenty of talent to draw on. I would be directing, and I have experience both in that and virtually all facets of tech.

Any advice/suggestions/imput/comments/etc would be greatly appreciated.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 2:59pm

A couple of my friends and I did the same thing about 6 years ago. We were interested in bringing some edgier stuff to our area but were faced with the inevitable problem of getting financing. We compromised by doing YAGMCB, which we were able to cast using ourselves and some old friends very easily. A local high school allowed us to use their space and we ended up making a killing. After that we reinvested the money in productions of Zombie Prom, Blood Brothers, and Violet. By then we were all going off to other things (grad school, jobs, etc.) so we split the money and went defunct.

I can only assume by your membership on this website that you are savvy enough to be sick and tired of the shows constantly being produced in your area (as I was). My recommendation would still be to choose a small (and thus inexpensive) show you can mount easily and that you know will sell like gangbusters. Then with some name recognition under your belt you will have more creative flexibility to do whatever else you really want to.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 3:01pm

HAVE $$$