We have done three readers theatre productions, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE CRUCIBLE, and and last year we did our own adaptation of the 1912 Senate Hearings into the Titanic Sinking for the 90 Anniversary observance of the Titanic. For the plays, we did a modified staging, so there was actually movement, a semblance of costume, and some props. The two plays were performed in a local house museum with an audience maximum of 50 for each performance. Artistically they were successful, but only A CHRISTMAS CAROL was successful with the audience (about 100 attended 3 performances.)

The Titanic production, which adapted very well to a readers theatre format (senators and witnesses consulting notes, etc.) was performed at our local city hall, which nicely approximated a senate hearing room. The show, which was done in three installments, did not attract much of an audience, though those who DID come were very interested in the material.

All in all, I'd say that we haven't been particularly successful in drawing an audience for anything which we have billed as "readers theatre." We also stage an annual classical music recital, also at the house museum, and those are generally well attended; so either the material or the format is a turnoff to our audience.

Interestingly, five days after our Titanic production concluded, the roof of our city hall where we performed collapsed, rendering much of the building unusable for several weeks. I guess you'd have to say we brought down the house!