Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Staged Reading

Author

Message

Debflo
Star
Star

Joined: 6/06/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60

Topic: Staged Reading
Posted: 8/29/07 at 1:05pm

Hey everyone! I was wondering if any of you have done staged readings of new scripts in the past? I am doing a staged reading of a script that I co-wrote and I have never done a staged reading before. I was thinking of handing out a survey to the house to get their opinion. I think it would be a good way to get some feedback on the script and help me make changes accordingly. So my question is - do any of you know what type of questions would give me the most feedback? Do any of you have experience in this area? How is this normally done?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks so much everyone!

IP Logged

Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 8/29/07 at 9:06pm

I have never seen a survey hand out to the bos's, I don't know if this would work or not. Personaly I doubt I would bother. The first thing I do after a show, is head directly to the dunny or outside for a smoke.
What does work though & the punters generaly like is a meet the cast question & answer session, in this case the authors as well.
However if you believe you can handle direct crits, besides the usual "Oh it was fantastic darling". It might be worth a try.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

biggertigger
Celebrity

Joined: 4/16/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 188

Posted: 8/29/07 at 9:06pm

I know I have done this in the past (and wish I had questionnaires still to give you examples). The few times that I did this the questions focused on everything. I broke them down to scenes (and had audience prepare their responses during this quick break so they would have it fresh in their head).

The questions dealt with Synopsis, characterization, theming, etc. In force that the questions are about the play itself and not the "acting".

Questions like: Would you describe the character of Cinderella as: To wishy-washy, to sweet, a pushover, not sweet enough, etc. Is the evil stepmother: to nice, to mean, just a royal ______?

During scene two Cinderella has a conflict with her step sister, does Cinderella over react, reacts enough, or under states the situation?

Mainly try to stick with quick short answers based on the script. Allow them to add additional information if they want. You also want to know how the script and information flows. Does the scene where Cinderella gets her glass slipper is needed or could that be skipped?

Becareful with suggestions to the show. You may have someone that may come up with a suggestion you will want to use. Be clear that all suggestions that maybe used in future drafts are explicitly the right of the author and no claims of ownership to said suggestions will be acknowledged.

Questions after the show are helpful too. Mostly open this up free of charge and invite as many friends that are going to be honest and sincere about helping you.

The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

IP Logged

Debflo
Star
Star

Joined: 6/06/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60

Posted: 8/30/07 at 6:26pm

Thank you both - very good tips. I didn't even think of the "intellectual property" that Biggertigger suggested. I will definitly write a disclaimer for that one... So I it is looking that a "talk back" after the show may be a good way to go. Maybe hand out the survey after the show and then give them a few minutes to fill it out, take a break, etc.. then start the talk back? Plus I would think having the questions written out for the audience would give us a starting point at the talk back... right?

IP Logged

Other Topics
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Other Topics

Author	Message
Debflo Star Joined: 6/06/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 60	Topic: Staged Reading Posted: 8/29/07 at 1:05pm
	Hey everyone! I was wondering if any of you have done staged readings of new scripts in the past? I am doing a staged reading of a script that I co-wrote and I have never done a staged reading before. I was thinking of handing out a survey to the house to get their opinion. I think it would be a good way to get some feedback on the script and help me make changes accordingly. So my question is - do any of you know what type of questions would give me the most feedback? Do any of you have experience in this area? How is this normally done? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks so much everyone!

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/29/07 at 9:06pm
	I have never seen a survey hand out to the bos's, I don't know if this would work or not. Personaly I doubt I would bother. The first thing I do after a show, is head directly to the dunny or outside for a smoke. What does work though & the punters generaly like is a meet the cast question & answer session, in this case the authors as well. However if you believe you can handle direct crits, besides the usual "Oh it was fantastic darling". It might be worth a try.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

biggertigger Celebrity Joined: 4/16/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 188	Posted: 8/29/07 at 9:06pm
	I know I have done this in the past (and wish I had questionnaires still to give you examples). The few times that I did this the questions focused on everything. I broke them down to scenes (and had audience prepare their responses during this quick break so they would have it fresh in their head). The questions dealt with Synopsis, characterization, theming, etc. In force that the questions are about the play itself and not the "acting". Questions like: Would you describe the character of Cinderella as: To wishy-washy, to sweet, a pushover, not sweet enough, etc. Is the evil stepmother: to nice, to mean, just a royal ______? During scene two Cinderella has a conflict with her step sister, does Cinderella over react, reacts enough, or under states the situation? Mainly try to stick with quick short answers based on the script. Allow them to add additional information if they want. You also want to know how the script and information flows. Does the scene where Cinderella gets her glass slipper is needed or could that be skipped? Becareful with suggestions to the show. You may have someone that may come up with a suggestion you will want to use. Be clear that all suggestions that maybe used in future drafts are explicitly the right of the author and no claims of ownership to said suggestions will be acknowledged. Questions after the show are helpful too. Mostly open this up free of charge and invite as many friends that are going to be honest and sincere about helping you.
	The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.
	IP Logged

Debflo Star Joined: 6/06/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 60	Posted: 8/30/07 at 6:26pm
	Thank you both - very good tips. I didn't even think of the "intellectual property" that Biggertigger suggested. I will definitly write a disclaimer for that one... So I it is looking that a "talk back" after the show may be a good way to go. Maybe hand out the survey after the show and then give them a few minutes to fill it out, take a break, etc.. then start the talk back? Plus I would think having the questions written out for the audience would give us a starting point at the talk back... right?
	IP Logged

Topic: Staged Reading( Topic Closed)