a play with action and special effects
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=2531
Printed Date: 11/25/24 at 12:02am
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Topic: a play with action and special effects
Posted By: neilfortin
Subject: a play with action and special effects
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:00am
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In order to please our mundane/small town audience, we usually have to play up the style more than the substance during our runs. People would much rather see smoke and mirrors, breakaway glass, and a good gun battle than true acting, but that is neither here nor there (a good topic for another discussion, however) but, we DO need to find a show that fits in this system. something with a great story line and the overwhelming ability to entertain an audience who loves tricks, special effects, some great action/fighting. Lighting and sound are a huge componant as well, its all in the challenge! Any ideas gang?!
------------- Community Theater makes us smile |
Replies:
Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:06am
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Are you looking for a straight play or musical? ------------- The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes. |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:27am
MOOSE MURDERS!!! 
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Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:53am
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A show that puts all you're looking for and a whole lot more together in a great package is Somethings Afoot. It is a murder/ mystery/ comedy/ whodoneit/ musical/ love story/ special effect extravaganza. Your FX person will have a blast. Give them a working budget and let em run. I recently did the set design/ construction and FX work in our theatre on this show and had a great time. Plus everybody dies in the end! ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 10:37am
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um, we can handle both biggertigger, though the past few have been musicals, so maybe a straight play would be a nice change. thanks ------------- Community Theater makes us smile |
Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 11:14am
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Honestly, the first thing that came to mind is Shakespeare.
Macbeth, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet.
The Language issue may become problematic, of course. Maybe there's a cool modern English version out there (although the very thought of it chills my English teacher soul).
Or, what about Frankenstein or Dracula? I know there are 800 versions of Dracula out there. I know of a few Frankensteins. I bet that would pack the house.
Don ------------- www.donzolidis.com |
Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 11:28am
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If you are looking for a straight show take a look at "Deathtrap" by Ira Levin. Dramatist holds the rights. It is filled with special effects, a couple of murders, and lots of twist and turns. Linda
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Posted By: Debflo
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 12:27pm
| I was also thinking Dracula. We did it a few years ago during Halloween and it was a huge success. The version we did allowd us to really have some fun with effects too. We had a floating dracula (and we don't have fly space, so that was interesting) and tons of smoke, breakaway mirrors, sound effects galore... lots of fun! |
Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 1:41pm
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Thanks everyone...those suggestions are great! We have done Deathtrap in the past few years and it was a huge success....people loved it and we had a blast with the effects, i know before my time the company did Dracula and it drew a huge crowd too...unfortunatly, our date is March so either people would love to see it becuase its in the middle of the dreary months, or they would not come because its not halloweenish enough... ------------- Community Theater makes us smile |
Posted By: Mike Polo
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 3:44pm
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How about I Hate Hamlet... great fight scene, candles lighting, flashpots, etc. ------------- Mike Polo Community Theater Green Room http://www.communitytheater.org http://www.twitter.com/CTGreenRoom"> 
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Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 4:07pm
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In the future, for a musical you may want to do "Copacabana" http://www.mtishows.com/show_home.asp?ID=000225 - http://www.mtishows.com/show_home.asp?ID=000225
The final scene alone will give you all the fighting and pyrotechnics and special effects you need. Though many people look at the show as just 'fluff' this show is a fun one to do. ------------- The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes. |
Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 4:34pm
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Thanks everyone I will pass this along to my other director, the ideas are fantastic!!! keep them coming :) ------------- Community Theater makes us smile |