I was wondering if people wouldn't mind sharing how they go about selecting plays for a season. I work with two theaters. They have very different ways of putting together a season. One involves directors from the beginning of the process. The other selects plays then trys to find someone to to direct them. I just wanted to see how other theaters go about this process.

Linda

 

For the last 50-mumble years, our group has had a committee that selects plays, usually 12-20, and submits the list to the board. The board then invites approved directors to submit to direct shows off the list. Over the years we've developed some modifications to those rules, such as that a list remains viable for 5 years and allowing Directors to submit shows not on the list, subject to board approval.

We also have a play selection committee which selects five plays (we do four a year, but have one in reserve 'just in case') then our Artistic Director tried to find directors.  Usually she ends up directing most of the plays as we have a dearth of directors around here. 

This year the AD only has to direct the Christmas musical as I directed the spring play and we found someone to do the June play.  We are forcing the woman who wrote the fall dinner theatre to direct it herself (long story behind that).

Another CT near us has directors/members submit plays they want to see, then their selection committee picks out of that pot.  We tried that but none of our members sent anything in!

Thank you. This has been very helpful. The first theater that I work with has a very similiar process to most of you. Letters are sent out to prospective directors and suggestions are processed by a committee and presented to the board. Sometimes a director will make a presentation to the board if the board has questions, or the show involves original music or is an original script. For the most part the seasons are balanced and there has been little problem in finding directors.

I have been asked to be part of the programming committee for the other theater. Their process has me baffled. For the most part it consists of quessing. I wanted to give them some options on how other theaters select seasons. Now we are suppose to go find the directors for these shows we guessed people would want to direct. It is frustrating.

Barb: To answer your question about finding producers. In the theater where I do most of my work  producers volunteer from the board after the season has been selected. There are 12 members on the board, so ideally 1/2 the board is involved in producing every year. Some people really like producing and volunteer more often. We like for there to be two producers. It helps defray burnout. We have actually put together a manual. It has information on just about everything from applying for rights, to lists of local musicians, and who to call get to get oil delivered. It includes check lists, timelines and contact information. We update it fairly regularly. It has helped standardize the process and people are more willing to volunteer to produce.

Thank you all for your input. I am going to suggest that the second theater look hard at their process and come up with an alternative.

Linda

We have done it both ways -- director input and selection, then find a director.  Both worked, but having the director's input has been more effective for us.  We are fortunate enough to have hired a director for the entire season this year and he will be full-time for us next season.  Because of his knowledge of theater, he has been instrumental in providing suggestions that have helped in improving the quality and variety of our programming.  In turn, our attendance has steadily increased.

Of course, our board has the final say into selection of the season.  We use a committee to make recommendations, usually from the director's suggested list, then approve it with the entire board.  Sometimes it gets fine-tuned a bit, but everyone has had input before it is decided.  It works for us.