We are just starting a community theater through a parks district based organization. We have a little support based on that, but only one person who knows anything about theater, and she has never started a community theater from scratch! Please give us some info and start us in the right direction!

Thanks,
Linda Klepac

I second Steve's advice above and add the following:

Order catalogs from the various play publishers (we've got those listed elsewhere on this site) and start looking for titles that are within your group's capabilities. Focus on small-cast contemporary shows with minimal sets -- since you'll need to build an audience, look at well-known shows, especially comedies (there's a REASON Neil Simon is so popular in community theaters!)

Call your local paper and see if you can get a story in about your fledgling group, if you haven't already. Send in a press release calling for volunteers or donations (research the Net for info on how to write a press release). Don't forget to ask for:
*anyone with carpentry, building, woodworking or shop experience who can help you build sets
*electricians or anyone else with lighting experience
*high school/college students who may have been involved with school productions
*interested senior citizens/retirees (some of our most valuable members are retirees -- they've got more time than those of us who are still in the traces, and are especially good with stuff like producing, taking reservations, building sets, and manning the box office).

Get acquainted with local businesses that might have an interest in helping you out. A local hardware/lumber outfit might be willing to make a donation to help with set-building needs (paint, screws, lumber, etc.). A local furniture company may be willing to lend you stuff from their showroom floor for the duration of the run. Make contacts with businesses that seem to be particularly receptive to giving back to the community -- if they donate to others, they might be willing to donate to you. See if you can scare up a local graphic designer who would be willing to do flyers, posters and programs for you. Offer everybody you contact for goods and services a free ad in your program in lieu of cash.

The basic steps in getting a production done are:

*Select a show
*Select a director for the show
*Order enough scripts so the entire cast and crew can have one
*Start gathering props, furniture, etc. (may have to wait on this if you don't have storage)
*Recruit a stage manager, a lighting/sound director, an assistant director, and a producer (the stage manager will handle things backstage, the lighting/sound person will take care of, well, lights and sound, the AD will be an extra set of eyes, ears, and hands for the director, and the producer pretty much takes care of everything else!)
*Set dates for auditions -- our theater usually holds two nights of auditions (one Sunday and one Monday) that are scheduled 6 to 8 weeks before the show's opening date. (For example, I just held auditions on March 12 and 13 for a show that will open May 5th.)
*Send out a press release to publicize your auditions -- include newspapers, radio stations, and local TV/cable outlets. Include the number of actors you'll need, their age ranges, and any crew positions you may still be looking to fill. If possible, have the audition notice run two weeks before auditions, one week before auditions, and the day of auditions.
*Cast the show and set up a rehearsal schedule. Our theater rehearses a show 3 nights a week, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. each night, for between 6 and 8 weeks.
*Send a cast and crew list to the local papers, along with pertinent details about the production (where, when, what it's about, etc.)
*Start rehearsals. Tell your cast and crew to publicize, publicize, publicize. Make arrangements for ticket sales, either through a local business or by letting cast and crew sell them.
*Build the set, furnish it, gather the props. Let actors furnish their own costumes and makeup (easy to do if your show is contemporary -- you may need a seamstress if you do a period piece).
*By the time you get to two weeks before opening, you should be running the entire show from beginning to end, or pretty close to it. Bring in crew to learn the show two weeks before opening at the latest.
*Invite a local reporter in to get some photos of rehearsals, interview the director, and do a piece on your show. Or send out a press release with photos, if you can send GOOD ones.
*Get the programs printed
*The last week before the show opens, you move into "tech week" or "hell week" (depending on your perspective), when you'll rehearse every night. Run the show this entire week as if there were an audience out front -- hold a dress rehearsal on Wednesday night, and invite some folks in to watch it for free.
*Opening Night, and you've lived to tell the tale! Give it your best shot, and have a riotous celebration afterwards!

This leaves out a lot of details and of course is not etched in stone, but hopefully it will provide a few answers.

Chris