We're just in the process of forming a new community theater.  The only one in our county in rural WV is a high school company that allows adult actors in the summer.  We want ours to be a cut above, and expect it to be as some of us have acted professionally.  We know we have our work cut out for us.  We're discussing what shows to do the first season.  We need ones that are suitable for small casts, are known shows that will draw an audience, minimal set and costumes, are not offensive as we live in a fairly conservative community, can be directed first time directors, and have fairly low royalties.  Any suggestions?

 

 

Over The River and Through The Woods
Neil Simon's Female version of The Odd Couple
To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Bernard Slades Tribute
Any of the Van Zandt/Milmore Farces like Love, Sex and the IRS
On Golden Pond
Steel Magnolias
Three Viewings (a few F words)
Love Letters (one F word)
The Cemetary Club
Sylvia

Thanks for your suggestions.  Can you think of any musicals that would work?  Ones that come to mind for me are "I Do! I Do!" and "Side by Side by Sondheim", but I'm not sure how well they'll go over in our community.  I love "Smoke on the Mountain", but don't know if we have the right talent for it.  Has anyone tried "Clue, the Musical"?

How about 'Take Twelve', based on the storyline of 'Twelfth Night', but updated ...

Take Twelve (3m, 3f) No Chorus Required
Based around Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', this light comedy drama is a mixture of Shakespeare, pop culture, movie making and romance. Whilst it pays homage to the original story, it has been updated for a modern audience. Set in modern California, tender love songs, mistaken identites and a vaudeville-style soft-shoe shuffle all combine to deliver an outstanding musical feast.

... more details on our website www.playsandmusicals.co.uk (yes, we're British!). Look under 'Musicals', 'Two Act', 'Drama'.

best regards

David
Sales Team

I once read that the perfect first play for a new theatre is Neil Simon's [Fill-in-the-blank] Suite.  (The book was written many, many suites ago, and I don't remember which one specifically it mentioned, but for purposes of this thread, they're all the same.)

You get:

• Comedy, which generally sells better than drama
• Doc's name on the marquee, to sell tickets
• Modern-dress realism, simpler for actors and designers
• The opportunity to use three separate casts and directors, if you want to get more people involved
• Assuming three casts, more prep time for the actors
• But the same set for all three shows
• And it's a hotel room, so it's not a difficult set
• And a generally high-quality script.