audience participation
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3150
Printed Date: 11/25/24 at 4:35am
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Topic: audience participation
Posted By: dramasign
Subject: audience participation
Date Posted: 5/01/08 at 12:23pm
We just finished doing "Nunsense" and are now looking to do something to keep the momentum going and make some money. We are considering an audience participation show. Any suggestions for a small community theatre, small budget, fun, bring in the audience show? Oh and did I mention money maker?  We need to rebuild our funds! Thanks!
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Replies:
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 5/01/08 at 12:57pm
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I might suggest "the Drunkard". It's a melodrama/musical full of audience participation. The music was written by Barry Manilow many many years ago. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 5/01/08 at 4:36pm
You might check to see if "Spelling Bee" is available yet. That has serious participation. Rights might be too expensive though. Check out some of the other "Nunsense" plays - there are six, I think, in all. "Nunsensations!" actually has a bit out in the audience and folks were really anxious to get picked by Sister Mary Paul.
You might want to check out some melodramas - they always encourage the audience to participate.
Charlie
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Posted By: chel
Date Posted: 5/01/08 at 9:31pm
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"The Odd Couple" was a big hit for us and made oodles of money. Paid for itself and then some. (not trying to be tacky saying it that way, but it was a big deal)
"Almost Maine" was also a hit, that went up right before "Odd Couple". ------------- chel www.windhamtheaterguild.org |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 5/01/08 at 9:43pm
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I also recommend "The Drunkard" - and, for a melodrama, it's got some pretty good music! Easy/cheap to produce and lots of audience participation. Also - Tony and Tina's Wedding has become available - the ULTIMATE audience participation play! |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 5/02/08 at 1:25am
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'Jack the Ripper - Music Hall'. or a 'Panto' great for audience participation. ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: drose
Date Posted: 5/02/08 at 1:06pm
| So, who is holding the licensing rights for Tony and Tina's Wedding? I've wanted to do that show forever! |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 5/02/08 at 3:14pm
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Tony 'N Tina's wedding:-
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsC/cassaro-nancy.html#6409 - http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsC/cassaro-nancy.html#6409 ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: drose
Date Posted: 5/02/08 at 7:12pm
| Thanks! From that link, I found out that Samuel French holds the rights in the US. They are still heavily restricted, but I applied and we'll see how it goes. |
Posted By: dramasign
Date Posted: 5/03/08 at 7:19pm
| I was thinking more along the lines of non-royalty, non-musical. We need to make some money since we lost some doing "Nunsense." |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 5/04/08 at 10:02am
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Well, if you like the idea of the audience cheering and booing (and throwing popcorn at the villain), there is "Deadwood Dick" (Samuel French). An old time melodrama/comedy - there is a LITTLE music in it - but it's all public domain stuff. It has everything - blind heroine - spunky heroine - evil cowbody - dumb good cowboy - Chinese cook - and my favorite character, La Paloma, the sultry sex kitten of the ManTrap Saloon. One set - one set of costumes (except for the blind heroine who gets one costume change) - lots of characters. It's fun - stupid - but fun. |
Posted By: notmyshoes
Date Posted: 5/08/08 at 9:17am
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I've had nothing but bad experiences with "audience participation" plays. But that's just me. ------------- http://notmyshoes.net/monologues - The Monologue Database - by These Aren't My Shoes Productions |
Posted By: bbpchick
Date Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:53am
If you want audience participation, Melodrama is definately the way to go. We do one every summer and people love them. The following aren't royalty free, but they are low cost:
"Males Order Brides" is another good one, we are doing that one this summer and one we are looking at for next year is "The Villian Wore a Dirty Shirt"
Really search for Tim Kelly, or Billy St. John. They are great melodrama playwrights.
The Drunkard is a good show, but remember that it is one of the first melodramas ever writen so it isn't like modern melodrama which is meant to be funny. The Drunkard was ment to be serious so there isn't a lot of humor in it. If you are looking for funny, try a melodrama that has been written more reciently.
Also with melodrama, is you will want an accopanist (I know I spelled that wrong) to play enterance and exit music. This adds to the show, and also give the audience their cues to Boo, Yay and Awww. You will probably want olios as well. They really add to the show and are a lot of fun to do.
You may want to pick up the book "Between the Hisses" from Pioneer Drama. This book gives a history of Melodrama, olio music, enterance and exit music, and even has illustrations of classic melodrama poses. It is a wonderful resource.
Hope this helps.
Kendra ------------- Kendra http://www.murphysblackbartplayer.com - www.murphysblackbartplayers.com You are NEVER too old to dress up! |
Posted By: stagechild
Date Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:47pm
| I've done one audience participation show. The show was done in a small house on a bare stage with actors just bringing on props and audience members. The show was 'Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.' There is a cast of 7 and we added some muchkins and such into the performance. It can be done on a very small scale or a very large scale. It is a show very much for children, but those seem to make quite a bit of money, don't you think? |