That's a good question which brings another question to mind (which might better be posted in a different location...)

How do you market to a twenty-something audience? We write lots of news articles which are published in almost all of the newspapers in the area, but I don't think 22-year olds are reading the newspapers.  They also are not listening to the radio stations which are willing to give us free publicity. 

Probably the best way to get young people in the audience is to cast their friends and, yes, Tristan, you have a very good point in the material being a key element.  We need to be appealing to all ages. 

We have just been struggling with the same question. We are setting our season for next year and we want to do something that will attract a younger audience and younger members. I was really struck by the ages of audience that came to see our last show, The Music Man. We sold out every performance, but well over half the audience were grandparents with their grandchildren. There was almost no one 20 to 40. Our theater is on the second floor of an historic building. In a couple of years most of the audience will not be able to manage the stairs.

We are going to take a bold step and do a rock musical. There are even a couple a four letter words in it! Some of the board members are skeptical, but sandwiched in between 2 old chestnuts is going to be an edgy new musical! (Keep your fingers crossed we can get the rights!) The interesting thing is that, even though the production is a year away, young people are already asking about auditions. The pit is already shaping up with some the best young musicians in the area asking to be involved, and one the best young music directors is already on board.

L.

As I was reading throught the topic again, I was just struck with anothe thought.  The reason I decided to so this was a trip I took through the AACT websites last year, basically for the same reason, just to see what is being done.     

The thing I noticed last year was Fiddler on the Roof was being done by everyone (at least that is the way it seemed).  This year Fiddler  is only on the schedule for five theatres.  It did not even make the top ten.  We may be doing a lot of the same "old chestnuts", but ever those come and go.

John

One of the theatres I work with does 2 old standards a year along with 2-3 newer pieces. This seem to work out well for them. They sell a lot of season tickets so they were able to draw in some of the older folks to the Newer shows. Jeckle & Hyde and A Man of no Importance did very well for them. To bring in the younger crowd we did The Rocky Horror Show around Halloween. It was the best selling live show in town 2 years in a row. We sold out 30 preformances and had to turn people away! Now Rocky may not work for your older folks but it sure will pack em in!