Hello everyone, my name is Operatigger, aka, Steven.  I hope this is the right forum to introduce myself.  I live in Massachusetts, beautiful Cape Cod to be a bit more exact.  I love theater, and have since as far back as I can remember.  I've performed in musicals with my high school and community theater groups (both in New Mexico and here in Massachusetts).  I've also performed in operas, with a small regional company and college, where I got my degree in voice and opera.  I was just recently elected to the position of Business Manager with a theater group I'm a member of.  This took me from the General Board to the Executive Committee (within a year of me being elected to the board).  And Part of my new job is audience development.  The last Business Manager kind of let that part of her job lax a bit, and I'm hoping to turn that around.  Which is how I came across this site.  I was looking for community theater forums/sites, you know, places where I can swap ideas and what not and found this place. 
 I can't wait to start swapping ideas and hopfully make some new friends here on the board.  Well, I need to get going, my wife and I have a holiday party to get to.   Thanks for letting me ramble on.  

Originally posted by jayzehr Welcome to the group, Steven. Not to speak for everyone, but I'd guess "audience development" is always one of the biggest issues for everyone in community theater. We're in the process of picking up the ball again on that one, too. It's not really my strong point but feel bounce any ideas you have! Jay

True, "audience development" is an issue for most community theater groups.  We have a good following already, so we're not in immediate trouble.  However, if we don't start developing something now, we will have a problem.  You see, our audience, like most I'm sure, is of the older generation...not all, but a good number of them are.  Well, thanks again for letting me ramble.  Have fun and I look forward to talking with everyone.

Steven

Hi I too just stumbled across this site a few days ago. I work with several small theatre groups in Delaware and we all share the same audiences and talent so it gets spread thin at times. We do have a large retirement population here who are the main supporters. And because of that we have to be careful what shows to choose as we have small  stages and a lack of younger people who audition.  Luckily there are some great shows for "older" talent!

Originally posted by neilfortin Hey welcome Steven! We're just up the coast on the South Shore in Hanson. We get some great press in the paper and have our local following, but we always try to include new actors so it brings in a new crop of audience members as well!!

Hanson!  That's totally cool.  I live in Cotuit, but 'Play' in Barnstable.  We've received some good press from the paper, so that's usually not  a problem for us.  We wish it could be more, but we understand that there are a lot more theater groups out on the Cape than just us.  We actually have a great following, I just think we need to start building on it.  It's never a bad thing to build on your audience base. 

Originally posted by Topper Actually, I've always wanted to see productions of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Free to Be You and Me," "Really Rosie" (or any other show traditionally cast with younger talent) done with a cast of seniors. I think it would be beyond charming. Perhaps that's just me.