Staged Readings and Concerts
Staged Readings and Concerts
#1Staged Readings and Concerts
Posted: 10/25/15 at 8:47pm
I have noticed an interesting phenomenon of which I was unaware till recently: Instead of producing a play or musical, the producer tests it through a series of staged readings or concerts, to get audience input regarding the final version. I will be reviewing a world premiere play at the very fine Coachella Valley Repertory, in Rancho Mirage, California, that started with two series of staged readings. Gavin MacLeod, who stars in the play and whom I interviewed after one of the staged readings, said that he thinks the cost of producing a play or, especially a musical, will lead to staged readings being used more often -- sometimes without any intent to progress to a fully staged production.
I'm curious what the folks on this board have noticed about this phenomenon, and what you think about it.
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#2Staged Readings and Concerts
Posted: 10/25/15 at 8:50pm
I really wouldn't call this a "phenomenon". It's a somewhat common practice.
#3Staged Readings and Concerts
Posted: 10/25/15 at 10:06pm
I've been attending and participating in staged readings (as a playwright and a director) since the late 1970s. So, yes, it's about the economics, and, no, it isn't anything new. It sucks for playwrights and actors, especially the former who may have spent years writing the play only to see it "tested" by actors sitting in chairs with their noses in their scripts.
But such is the world in which we live. Many if not most people no longer read for themselves anything longer than an internet post. So a staged reading saves them the "chore" of reading a 120-page script (and the expense of hiring somebody else to read it).
The only good I've seen come from a stage reading is that sometimes a playwright who thinks his/her every word is golden will be convinced otherwise by a lack of response to a reading. But even that is rare.
#4Staged Readings and Concerts
Posted: 10/25/15 at 10:11pm
AHLiebross said: "I have noticed an interesting phenomenon of which I was unaware till recently: Instead of producing a play or musical, the producer tests it through a series of staged readings or concerts, to get audience input regarding the final version."
How... were you unaware of this?
I know you're a huge fan of Phantom -- you know what happens at Sydmonton, right?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#5Staged Readings and Concerts
Posted: 10/25/15 at 10:28pm
Since, in my experience, most actors don't sight-sing very well, one may assume a concert or reading of a musical involves some minimal rehearsal. Not always so with a straight play.
#6Staged Readings and Concerts
Posted: 10/26/15 at 1:37am
Lizzie, you're right that I didn't make the connection with Sydmonton, although it sounds like Sydmonton is much more formal than the usual staged reading (which I assume is just another term for workshop) or concert.
It may just be that I rarely encounter new works, and when I do, it's often a niche work written for a community theatre by someone involved with that theatre. In those circumstances, they probably just go ahead and produce the play or musical.
The thing that Gavin MacLeod mentioned about staged readings that surprised me is that he said something about musicals that he thought would remain at the workshop level, and never be produced because musicals are getting so expensive that the producers would try to make their money through staged concerts. I wouldn't be too happy if something like that became common, because the visual aspects of a show are often just as interesting as the book, music, and lyrics.
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
#7Staged Readings and Concerts
Posted: 10/26/15 at 9:28am
I admit I'm biased in favor of content over style, but if CATS and PHANTOM had been done first in the West End and on Broadway as concerts, we might have been spared 35 years of treacle. Give me a bare stage and a creative lighting plot (i.e., A CHORUS LINE) any day.
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