Choosing a show for your group to put on can be done in a lot of different ways - some groups choose directors first, then allow them to pick the shows they want to direct, others let their Board, a playreading committee, or individual members nominate shows that directors can choose from, and for still others, it simply "happens" through a combination of all of the above. In my opinion, a playreading committee that selects and submits a list of plays to the Board offers both flexibility for the directors and quality control for the theater group - more about how this works for us a little later on. For now, let's take a look at how to pick a script and evaluate it for your theater group. When you're done, follow the links in Part 4 to download an evaluation form and a Microsoft Access 97 playreading database that you can use for your own group.

This article is divided into four sections:

• Part 1: Reading Between the Lines of the Catalog
• Part 2: Readin' It
• Part 3: Ratin' It
• Part 4: 'Ritin' It Up

The information here is intended for evaluating "straight" shows, as opposed to musicals, since that's where my experience lies (although some of it may apply to reading and evaluating a musical as well).

Next: Part 1: Reading Between the Lines of the Catalog