Meagan --

For general information on setting up a theater group, go to the Articles section on the Green Room website (http://www.communitytheater.org/articles/Articleindex.htm).

I understand your problem. My parents had to drastically cut back their committment to the Guild when my siblings and I were growing up and I'm trying to juggle brush-up rehearsals, rehearsals for the show I was just cast in (what was I thinking?) and our son's wrestling schedule. In past years, my wife and I have had choose what shows we wanted to do while taking into account the kids' needs. It wasn't always easy. I have a couple of questions for you and a couple of thoughts about what you are trying to do.

Is the group you are currently involved with community theater? How often do they normally rehearse and for how long? Have you approached the board about your problems and ideas? How old are your children?

I would start by trying to make things work in your current group. Starting your own group, even if you have a lot of help, is going to be at least as time consuming as rehearsing, and over a longer period of time. A fledgling theater is like a baby, it always needs something.

If do start your own group, start with small shows. And remember, if you are going to provide baby-sitting service, you are going to need a lot more people. You may want to set up you rules to accomodate the baby-sitting by requiring those who were onstage in one production to handle the sitting chores in the next... provided you have enough people. Also, be certain to check out insurance requirements.

I don't think encouraging people to bring children to rehearsals is the best idea, mainly because of the potential disruption. It also tends to put off participants who either don't have children or have been able to make other arrangements (I've seen this in action, which is why we now discourage children at rehearsals).

Our theater has always tried to be flexible as far as scheduling is concerned, especially because we are community theater. On the other hand, quality theater does take time and committment to create. So do quality children. Sometimes you have to choose which is more important. My wife and I, my mother and father, and even my grandmother gave up chances for really plum roles in the prime of our acting years for our children. It wasn't quite as difficult when they were young because you can always find a baby-sitter. But when they get older, they start to need Mom and Dad to watch their games, ballet recitals, concerts, or whatever. That's when scheduling can be a bear.

I don't know whather any of this has helped at all, but if you would like to continue the discussion via email (I don't always get a chance to follow the board when I'm working on a show), I will be happy to.

Mike Polo