Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: starting community theater

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bakthtr
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Joined: 5/24/06
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Topic: starting community theater
Posted: 5/24/06 at 2:50am

I am thinking of starting a community theater. There are a few parents that are not happy with the local theaters. Are there any suggestions on how to go about doing this? Or, does anybody have any suggestions on how to tell the local theaters that we are unhappy? I am worried that it might harm my childrens chances of landing good roles.

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Gaafa
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Posted: 5/24/06 at 6:56am

Try the American Community Theatre site.
On starting a theatre group.
http://www.aact.org/start/index.html
Or the front page here of the ?Greenroom? will help as well;-

http://www.communitytheater.org/articles/DOliability.htm

As for your tin lids not getting roles, this is always on anyway, even with adults who are in other groups.
Possibly what may be better for you & the other parents is get elected as Office Bearers to the Committee of the Group that?s already set up. It will possibly easier than starting a new group!

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}

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Joan54
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Posted: 5/24/06 at 8:09am

You don't say why you are unhappy with the existing community theater. Starting up a new theater group takes ten times more work and money than you can possibly imagine. Think long and hard before you do it especially if you are in a small town and the number of actors available will be limited. You will be competing with the other more established theaters not only for audience members but for talent too. It may be a better idea to join in the general meeting of the existing group and make your concerns known. There may be others in the community that feel the same way you do and you may be able to change what you don't like.

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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Topper
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Posted: 5/24/06 at 9:05am

I agree with Joan, running a theater is more work than most people could possibly imagine. And starting a new theater just to spite the existing one is getting the entire project off on the wrong foot.

Even though there are several community theaters in our town who are in direct competition with each other, there is a great spirit of community. Loaning out props, costumes or set pieces is common practice among these theaters, each helping the other to put on the best productions possible.

If you have a beef with your present theater, speak up! Most theaters I've worked in welcome comments from their patrons both good and bad. (Good and bad comments, that is, not good and bad patrons -- whatever)

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Joan54
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Posted: 5/24/06 at 1:26pm

Yeah...and the chances of your children landing good roles should have nothing to do with anything but their ability to act and their work ethic as a cast member.

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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castMe
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Posted: 5/24/06 at 6:01pm

To elaborate on Joan and Topper's comments a bit, it's usually easier to effect changes from with-in than from the outside.

Investigate. Imagine. Choose.

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epetterson
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Posted: 6/22/06 at 4:34pm

hello, we have to move because of the heating costs. There is a possibility of having a 40x100 building donated to us, with parking, we are wondering how to convert it to a theater. We could add a kitchen outside of the existing building, as well as a lobby, but the stage would be limited to 40 feet. Our usual audiences have been 20-100 people lately. We would like to allow for more. Selling the current building would not net us much above outstanding mortgage (unfortunately).

epetterson

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castMe
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Posted: 6/22/06 at 5:38pm

epetterson, does your theater company know an architect? A designer? Can you go on road trips to view other nearby (or not so nearby) theaters? Check out your local library for theater mags that may contain photos of a variety of college and professional venues. I don't know how large your current space is, but a 40' wide stage sounds delicious. How high are the ceilings? How would you like to seat...proscenium? arena? three quarter thrust? Wanna be able to change from one to another? Good luck and have fun with your beautiful, new blank canvas.

Investigate. Imagine. Choose.

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 6/23/06 at 10:03am

only a 40' wide stage?

ONLY?

lol

I've done major musicals - complete with corps d'ballet - on 20' wide
stages.

I'm not sure I'd know how to fill up a 40' stage LOL

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
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Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:04am

Given the 40? is wall to wall, so taking in account of the off stage area, it would come down to around a 30? proscenium opening, which would be normal!
But remember to give yourself as much space, as you can for the stage depth!

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}

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Running Your Theater
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Theater Administration :Running Your Theater

Topic: starting community theater( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
bakthtr Walk-On Joined: 5/24/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: starting community theater Posted: 5/24/06 at 2:50am
	I am thinking of starting a community theater. There are a few parents that are not happy with the local theaters. Are there any suggestions on how to go about doing this? Or, does anybody have any suggestions on how to tell the local theaters that we are unhappy? I am worried that it might harm my childrens chances of landing good roles.

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 5/24/06 at 6:56am
	Try the American Community Theatre site. On starting a theatre group. http://www.aact.org/start/index.html Or the front page here of the ?Greenroom? will help as well;- http://www.communitytheater.org/articles/DOliability.htm As for your tin lids not getting roles, this is always on anyway, even with adults who are in other groups. Possibly what may be better for you & the other parents is get elected as Office Bearers to the Committee of the Group that?s already set up. It will possibly easier than starting a new group!
	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

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 5/24/06 at 8:09am
	You don't say why you are unhappy with the existing community theater. Starting up a new theater group takes ten times more work and money than you can possibly imagine. Think long and hard before you do it especially if you are in a small town and the number of actors available will be limited. You will be competing with the other more established theaters not only for audience members but for talent too. It may be a better idea to join in the general meeting of the existing group and make your concerns known. There may be others in the community that feel the same way you do and you may be able to change what you don't like.
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 5/24/06 at 9:05am
	I agree with Joan, running a theater is more work than most people could possibly imagine. And starting a new theater just to spite the existing one is getting the entire project off on the wrong foot. Even though there are several community theaters in our town who are in direct competition with each other, there is a great spirit of community. Loaning out props, costumes or set pieces is common practice among these theaters, each helping the other to put on the best productions possible. If you have a beef with your present theater, speak up! Most theaters I've worked in welcome comments from their patrons both good and bad. (Good and bad comments, that is, not good and bad patrons -- whatever)
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 5/24/06 at 1:26pm
	Yeah...and the chances of your children landing good roles should have nothing to do with anything but their ability to act and their work ethic as a cast member.
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

castMe Celebrity Joined: 11/02/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206	Posted: 5/24/06 at 6:01pm
	To elaborate on Joan and Topper's comments a bit, it's usually easier to effect changes from with-in than from the outside.
	Investigate. Imagine. Choose.
	IP Logged

epetterson Walk-On Joined: 6/16/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/22/06 at 4:34pm
	hello, we have to move because of the heating costs. There is a possibility of having a 40x100 building donated to us, with parking, we are wondering how to convert it to a theater. We could add a kitchen outside of the existing building, as well as a lobby, but the stage would be limited to 40 feet. Our usual audiences have been 20-100 people lately. We would like to allow for more. Selling the current building would not net us much above outstanding mortgage (unfortunately).
	epetterson
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castMe Celebrity Joined: 11/02/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206	Posted: 6/22/06 at 5:38pm
	epetterson, does your theater company know an architect? A designer? Can you go on road trips to view other nearby (or not so nearby) theaters? Check out your local library for theater mags that may contain photos of a variety of college and professional venues. I don't know how large your current space is, but a 40' wide stage sounds delicious. How high are the ceilings? How would you like to seat...proscenium? arena? three quarter thrust? Wanna be able to change from one to another? Good luck and have fun with your beautiful, new blank canvas.
	Investigate. Imagine. Choose.
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 6/23/06 at 10:03am
	only a 40' wide stage? ONLY? lol I've done major musicals - complete with corps d'ballet - on 20' wide stages. I'm not sure I'd know how to fill up a 40' stage LOL
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Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:04am
	Given the 40? is wall to wall, so taking in account of the off stage area, it would come down to around a 30? proscenium opening, which would be normal! But remember to give yourself as much space, as you can for the stage depth!
	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