Play Suggestions: First Production

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First Production

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2154
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 4:20pm
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Topic: First Production

Posted By: JoTheater
Subject: First Production
Date Posted: 12/04/06 at 3:15pm

I need some suggestions for our very first production. Because of our funding we must have a cast and crew that includes both students and adults (the students will be generally grades 6-12). No musicals--at least not yet. With minimal costume and sets--or ones that could be easily constructed with minimal cost. I MUST order a play or plays before DECEMBER 31--'cause of grant funding must be expended. Any suggestions would be great---I can even order more than one play.

Another question---our production is to be this spring. Any comments about a good time to have the production. We are considering the weekend of the local high school graduation. We are a small community (2,000) people in a rural area and will be using the school auditorium/theater (graduation is at the gym). What do you think? Any other suggestions about spring time productions.

Thanks.

Replies:

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 12/05/06 at 1:50am

To respond to the second question first, that might be a good strategy, as long as you have enough people to fill out your cast and crew on Graduation weekend. And that is supposing that they won't all be making parties for their graduates -- or going to parties for other graduates. In my town of about the same size that would probably not work. Most folks have a lot of receptions to go to all weekend or even for two weekends sometimes.... Maybe it's different where you live.

To anwswer your first question, maybe you should try a melodrama. They can be as corny as you want and don't require great subtlety in acting technique, but really are not bad to begin with. Often they have various ages which would be a plus for you. Try "Only an Orphan Girl" or "Lily, the Felon's Daughter" -- they also can be done with low tech as opposed to high tech special effects.

Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 12/05/06 at 2:50am

A melodrama is a good choice, the sets are intentionally simple (and not all that realistic, ala cardboard cutout trees), plus melodramas tend to be so blunt about emotions that it would be much easier than trying to direct a bunch of 6-12th graders thru a subtle comedy. As far as doing the show graduation weekend, all I can say is this, in our town (very small) it NEVER pays to go up against a high school event. We don't bother scheduling any shows at the same time as the schools yearly musical and if there is a football game on opening night your ticket sales are likely to show it. Just part of working with the community in these here parts.

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"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

Posted By: JoTheater
Date Posted: 12/05/06 at 12:30pm

Our reasoning for thinking about Graduation weekend is that there would be lots of relatives in town with nothing to do---but we also had the concerns that you all voiced.

We were thinking melodrama as well, thanks for the suggestions. There are just so many melodramas out there I didn't know where to look.

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 12/05/06 at 8:54pm

Our group has done the two mentioned in my post above -- but they are all fairly standard, I think. Although you can find some bad ones, too. Go to the website for almost any theatrical publishing comany - Samuel French, Dramatists Play Service, Dramatic Publishing are a few -- and search for melodramas. There are a lot of them.