Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
#1Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 11:42am
The theater that I work with is beginning to talk about selecting our new season. I'm needing some help with that, so I thought I'd go to the good people of BWW for expert advice! :)
Couple of questions:
1) Are there any Artistic Directors out there and if so, how do you go about choosing a season?
2) What shows have sold the best at your theater in the past few season?
3) I'm trying to compile a list of plays and musicals that just about ANYONE would know, or at least heard of--not just theater people. What shows (specifically plays) do you think should belong on that list?
4) How does your theater advertise?
I'm really hoping for lots of opinions here, so thanks in advance! :) Private messages are cool, if you'd prefer.
Thanks mucho!
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#2re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 11:56am
I can't answer 1!
But for two, I think at the Walnut Street Theatre, the best selling have been LES MISERABLES (right now), Beauty and the Beast, EVITA, Jekyll & HYDE (I think that was them), & I didn't see it, but I seem to remember West Side Story getting some attention.
For plays, I tend to find a lot of people know Arthur Miller. You could try Death of a Salesman--a lot of people would have read it in H.S. I feel like a lot of people know about A Streetcar named Desire, too? Also Dracula is usually a hit. I'm more musicals, so for well knowns, you could try: EVITA, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph..., Jekyll & HYDE, The Scarlet Pimpernel (based on a play/book...?), Les Miserables (if you can!?), Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, PHANTOM (Y/K, you'd probably get a draw for the name! If you want to deceive!), Camelot, . There's a ton, but those are the ones around me that have been popping up!
The Walnut downtown in Philly has posted street banners on every single lamppost on Broad street, which leads up to city hall. I don't know where your theatre is, or what kind of city/town it's in, but street banners help. I've also seen they've been giving out mini-windowcards that shops/restuarants/businesses put in their windows/doors/whatever.
Hope I was some help!
#2re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 12:13pm
Not knowing the size of your theatre or if you could accomodate a "larger" show like Les Miz or Jekyll & Hyde it's hard to come up with suggestions. But I'll try.
Our Town is a play that most people know. When I was in high school is was part of the cirriculum. I'm not sure if it is anymore. You might want to see what the kids are being required to read this year. There are always plays being read and you might be able to attract school groups. I'm trying to remember what I had to read in HS (it's been awhile). I know we had a different Shakespeare play every year. Our Town, Crucible, Matchmaker, Pygmalion, and that's all I can remember. Any of Shakespeares works and some Greek plays would probably be known.
As for musicals I'd suggest anything from the Rodgers & Hammerstein or Lerner & Lowe canons.
I don't know where your theatre is but, in my experience, people like shows that are about something they can relate to. There might be a play or musical that takes place in your general area or uses situations the majority of your patrons may understand.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#3re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 3:29pm
It probably depends on the clientele of your theater, but, if it's like most (simple thinking older crowd), stick to mainstream classics that everyone has heard of:
Guys & Dolls
Fiddler on the Roof
42nd Street
West Side Story
Grease
Pippin
South Pacific
Evita
Cats
A Chorus Line
The Producers
Les Miserables
Hairspray
You might also want to try things related to stories people know:
Titanic
Jekyll & Hyde
1776
Again, this is from the "selling tickets to a non-theater-goer" perspective. Choices like these would make me far less likely to see a show.
#4re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 3:37pm
I don't think PIPPIN is a show that most non-theater goers would know.
Just to answer the thread title question:
RENT
WICKED
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
EVITA
LES MISERABLES
CATS
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
MISS SAIGON
THE KING & I
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
WEST SIDE STORY
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
CABARET
CHICAGO
HELLO, DOLLY
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#5re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 3:53pm
TITANIC is a great choice, mainly because people will go in expecting the movie, but hopefully will get sucked into the story, and want to stay.
We had huge crowds when we did it.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
Updated On: 7/7/08 at 03:53 PM
gypsy4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
#6re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 3:57pm
shows that have been big hit at my local theatre are.
Chicago
Hello Dolly
The sound of Music
The Wizard of Oz
Into The Woods
Beauty and the Beast
Peter Pan
once upon A mattress
The Music Man
The King And allso Sweeney Todd
Updated On: 7/7/08 at 03:57 PM
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#7re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:38pm
Go to the library and find American Theatre Magazine. Once a year they publish a list of the announced seasons for as many of the LORT theatres they can get--hundreds of theatres. The issue usually come out in late summer or fall.
Go into the stacks and get the issue and sit down and skim the seasons.
What is your budget? For the season and for each show? Most theatres do small cast shows that often have less than elaborate sets and can often be played on a scaled down set plan.
If you do five shows, think a well-known commercial play, a well known drama, a classic, a not so well known work and a small musical. There is a reason Proof was widely performed its first year that it was available: it was good, it won the Tony and the Pulitzer which could be used to plug the show and it had one set where nothing flew and used only 4 actors. It was cheap to put on.
Think along the lines of The Star Spangled Girl (Neil Simon, 3 actors, one set), the aforementioned Proof, Dear Liar (2 actors), and I Do! I Do! (2 actors). The last has been done and done and done to death, but there are only two characters.
You don't have to do these specific shows, but they are all cheap to put on.
As for the classic, nothing pops into my head except large cast comedies like She Stoops To Conquer from the 1700s. However this is a crowd pleaser. Many roles (maybe 16-20), many settings but they could be suggested with props only, and period costumes some of which might have to be built and some could be pulled from stock if you or any other companies have a costume stock room.
Never rule out a terrific and very funny and clever play called Greater Tuna: two actors, about 20 roles, simple sets and not complicated costumes. You do need a large running crew: each actor needs their own dresser, plus lights, props and sound. Find the dvd with the original actors/writers. You'll see what I mean.
Publicize by taking ads almost anywhere, use direct mail, write stories for the local papers even the throwaways, posters where people congregate, school group discounts, senior discounts.
Any play that is really any good will work with virtually no sets, a few essential props, rudimentary lighting and suggested costumes. Every play that you read or see, take away the physical production in your mind's eye, and if the play still works, then it is worth considering.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
MungoGypsy8232
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/07
#8re: Shows That A Non-Theater Goer Would Know?
Posted: 7/7/08 at 7:03pm
Definately Jesus Christ Superstar!
Edit: and Show Boat
Updated On: 7/7/08 at 07:03 PM
LePetiteFromage
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/08
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