Forgotten/Older shows as a season
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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4270
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Topic: Forgotten/Older shows as a season
Posted By: lagazza
Subject: Forgotten/Older shows as a season
Date Posted: 9/24/09 at 5:18pm
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As a new CT, our goal is to produce long forgotten shows. The other
CT's in the area (base population 800,000) do the norm...Chicago,
Rent, Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol, etc. Our first season is scheduled to be Sherlock Holmes - The Musical Baker Street Apple Tree Golden Apple (yeah, bit of a theme thing w/the first four) Oh Captain! Darling of the Day Just wondering what your thoughts are. Can you be too far off the beaten path? I mean all are fun shows. Thanks, Mark |
Replies:
Posted By: 75director
Date Posted: 9/24/09 at 7:40pm
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Interesting. If you do the shows well and establish your niche that could be a good way to stand out from the other theatres in your area. The big challenge will be getting people in your door initially without shows they recognize. But maybe you can get some good initial press coverage by being different.
Break a leg!
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 9/24/09 at 7:45pm
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Irma La Douce
Mame
The Boyfriend
Jack the Ripper [music hall]
Tart up any of the G&S shows [public domain]
Or do some good old traditional [POHMY (British)] Pantomimes, I'm sure Stuart from 'Lazy Bee' can help you there. ------------- 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} |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 9/25/09 at 8:09am
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Hope you make a few bucks with these chestnuts. Sure it's great to revive some of these but you have to attract talent and audience, otherwise what's the point. Not sure I'd go with an entire season of almost unknowns. It's a risk that I hope pays off for you. ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: dboris
Date Posted: 9/25/09 at 12:47pm
| I have to agree with others, doing a whole season of "unknowns" is very risky. The theatre I normally work with will generally throw one or two lesser known shows into a season of better known shows, and even in that case the unknowns don't always get a good audience. |
Posted By: Spectrum
Date Posted: 9/25/09 at 2:23pm
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There is a small theatre group in this area (suburban Dallas, TX) that makes 'long forgotten' and 'off the beaten path' shows their purpose for existing. They have been doing it for 10+ years with a somewhat modest, but very loyal audience because their shows are usually very high quality. Check out Rover Dramawerks http://www.roverdramawerks.com/ - http://www.roverdramawerks.com/ and see for yourself. I say there is definitely room for this type of theatre in a market chock full of 'mainstream' productions. Good luck! ...'Er, BREAK A LEG! ------------- Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 9/25/09 at 9:53pm
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The problem here with the latest shows is the gold/performance they require, any thing upto 30% of gross box office, plus the standard copyright fees.
The old shows still generate plenty of punters, enough to out way the cost of the newer ones. ------------- 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} |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 9/27/09 at 8:24pm
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The Apple Tree is one of my all-time favorite plays! 6 big musicals in your first season, eh? I admire your energy and optimism! We have Goodspeed Opera House here ( http://goodspeed.org ) which is dedicated solely to producing classic musicals. It's a first rate Equity theatre and have been successful for many many years. They also have another theatre where they do new unproduced musicals. It's where Annie, Man of La Mancha - among others - got started. Go with your dream! ------------- http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 9/27/09 at 8:30pm
Interesting. I see that they had Steven Dietz in their cast of Private Eyes ... his play Lonely Planet is one of my favorite plays. With that kind of talent in their midst, I'm sure they ARE very high quality! ------------- http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com |
Posted By: lagazza
Date Posted: 9/28/09 at 11:14am
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Thanks for all the responses. I did spot that I left out we will be doing 4 of these 6 plays. 6 plays in a season would be pushing it for a new company. I have discovered two additional problems. People are hesitant to audition for shows that don't have a plethora or performance examples - or easy access to score/libretto. Finding a Sherlock that meets all my and the show requirements is going to be difficult. Again, thanks for all. |