Mystery Musical
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=3703
Printed Date: 11/26/24 at 10:33am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mystery Musical
Posted By: imamember
Subject: Mystery Musical
Date Posted: 1/01/09 at 11:33pm
You know how there are musicals that are staples and well established or perhaps based on a popular movie so basically you can advertise the name and people will come...but then there are musicals which may be good, but are obscure or no one has ever heard of them?
Well I had the idea of a mystery musical.
You send out the audition notice for a musical. Already building the air of mystery around it since you won't announce what the show is to the cast until they've been cast.
They sing their song, learn a dance and do cold readings out of monologue books or sides from other shows. The audition notice doesn't have the character names, just types, gender, age and so on.
Once you're cast you're obviously told the title, but sworn to secrecy.
When you advertise the show, you continue to build an air of mystery. What could it be? The posters are black with a question mark.
It's just an idea really. How do you sell a show that may be great, but doesn't have name recognition or popular draw? If it were shrouded in mystery, maybe that'd work?
Any feedback or additional ideas?
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Replies:
Posted By: TheActingTechie
Date Posted: 1/02/09 at 1:16am
Well the question when I read this premise is what is the payoff for the audience that eventually does come?
I think it's a cool idea, but I can't imagine in what scenario I, as the audience member, would really be thrilled by this. When the curtain raises, and it is a show I am not familiar with, I'm going to feel exactly the same way whether I went in knowing the title of it or not.
It's possible that doing this once might bring in a bigger audience, but for me personally, if they won't tell me the name of the show, that just smells to me like a bad show. I'm happy going to plays I haven't heard of, but I do like to have a little control, so I would probably not go to the "?" show.
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Posted By: imamember
Date Posted: 1/02/09 at 11:41am
something to think about, thank you.
I'd really like to think of a scenario where "?" would be a neat annual thing. Almost like a grab bag.
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Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 1/02/09 at 2:15pm
One of the most effective advertising tools community theater has is "word of mouth." Would you have your opening night audience sign affidavits swearing not to reveal the name of the musical they've just seen? How would you expect keep the secret for the run of the show?
I can only imagine this working if it was a one-night event.
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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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