First show?
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2402
Printed Date: 5/19/24 at 12:54pm
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Topic: First show?
Posted By: ahadon
Subject: First show?
Date Posted: 5/10/07 at 12:36am
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Hello all, New to the board, and SOOO glad that I found it!
I am currently undertaking the task of starting a Non Profit Community Theater and am having some issues with what show to start up with. Should it be something that everyone knows and will want to see or should I pull in some local talent and do a local playwrights work?
I am really torn between the two for the reason that people here aren't into new. But we have a strong need for a theatrical group here.
My first thought was doing 'Our Town' Just because everyone knows it and its tried and true. This is also my first attempt at directing and casting a show. The Acting bug has had me for so long that I decided that I wanted to try my hand at it.
Any suggestions and ideas are welcome! Thanks in advance!
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Replies:
Posted By: doublezero420
Date Posted: 5/10/07 at 7:46am
Just my opinion, but when I hear 'Our Town' my first thought is "ugh, not *that* show" (second thought is "I'll do the set" )
For a first show I would suggest doing a well-known comedy with a smaller cast (unless you know you're going to have a good turn-out at auditions). Probably something by Niel Simon. Odd couple would be a good choice, as you have the option of a mostly male cast or mostly female.
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Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 5/10/07 at 8:38am
I'd have to agree with you on this one doublezero. Simon's an almost guaranteed money maker no matter which of his shows you choose. (and you will need money to do any future productions and to recoup and pay for the production costs of doing your ct's first show). Just remember that Odd Couple has two distinct male and female version scripts, not just plugging women into the original male version.
Good luck!  ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:37pm
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So true, Doc is a guaranteed money maker. This would be a great way to bring money in and start up your new group. Just don't make the mistake that many groups do and end up doing rotating the same shows over and over again.
You'll need to begin creating a library of plays. For every 5 - 10 plays you read, you'll find maybe one play that fits your criteria. Read as many plays as you can and there are forms here that can help you for future reference.
Good luck on your start up. ------------- The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes. |
Posted By: ahadon
Date Posted: 5/10/07 at 11:41pm
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Thanks so much for your input! I will take 'The Odd Couple" as a consideration. The only thing is now that I have looked at the venue, its really small and the stage isn't but about 15 ft across and 10 ft deep... but i can move into the house space if I have to.
Thanks again!
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Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 5/14/07 at 5:51pm
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While Neil Simon (much to our occasional apoplexia as "artists") is a good moneymaker, I'd take the time to dig a little deeper in his catalogue; he wrote some real gems that don't get done much.
In regards to the question you posed initially: should a new company do the tried-and-true or new-and-unknown, why not take a middle ground? Give the people something that they THINK they're familiar with to bring them to the theater, but shake it up a bit. Maybe a less-famous work by a famous playwright, or do a classic with an edgy director who'll turn it on its head.
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Posted By: dougb
Date Posted: 5/15/07 at 10:09am
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While we're on Neil Simon: Much of his work has not aged well. They just don't play today - even as period pieces. I love his Chapter Two and the female version of the Odd Couple. I've seen the male version of Odd Couple several times and it just isn't funny today. If you have lots of women, look at Jake's Women. It plays quite well. If you have two good teenage boys, Brighton Beach Memoirs is good. Older audiences love The Sunshine Boys. |
Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 5/15/07 at 3:45pm
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Lost in Yonkers is always a great choice too, perfect for men/women and children (albeit two boys). There is that stigma with Simon plays where they might not appeal to a modern audience, but i feel Lost in Yonkers is a very safe choice, some great comedic parts, and some tender loving ones as well. ------------- Community Theater makes us smile |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 5/16/07 at 9:08am
Different strokes, I guess. ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: avcastner
Date Posted: 5/23/07 at 11:44pm
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The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie is awesome if well-done! (available from Samuel French) ------------- |
Posted By: DWolfman
Date Posted: 5/24/07 at 10:37am
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Am considering starting a theatre company myself, am in the groundwork stage. One reason I want to do it is to explore the great majority of wonderful works that don't usually get done.
Instead of presenting the same stuff that everyone else does, I hope to find the playable (and hopefully profitable) gems that others have passed over while looking for the "safe stuff."
Let me introduce you to a Canadian playwright who is beginning to make headway into the US: NORM FOSTER.
http://www.normfoster.com - www.normfoster.com
A couple of scripts that are my favorites:
"The Love List" - On his fiftieth birthday, a man is given the present (courtesy of a local gypsy) of a ten-item list to describe the "perfect woman." Hilarity ensues when she then shows up at his door embodying the list he created. When he finds out those qualities are not really what he wanted, changes to the list create changes to the lady with "Twilight Zone" results. Now available through Samuel French.
"The Foursome" - 15 years after graduation, four buddies get together in 18 holes (and scenes) of golf during which old secrets, new passions, rivalries and embarassments abound. Last I checked this is through Playwrights Canada Press.
A couple of others you may think about doing down the road are his "Outlaw", "The Melville Boys", and "Dear Santa." ------------- Even a man who is pure of heart... |
Posted By: Stageman
Date Posted: 5/25/07 at 2:48pm
| Good luck Wolfman - I like your ideas, and these plays sound interesting; but if you're just starting out, I'm thinking you may need to do known entities to get your audience. Neil Simon always seems to bring them in! |
Posted By: ahadon
Date Posted: 6/03/07 at 8:30am
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Thanks for all of the suggestions all!!! I actually found a group that is just starting out here and can get involved again! The first show is going to be Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon. I think its a good choice myself, but we are in a VERY conservative area of the south......(Thats what concerns me)
But I want to tell you, if you are in the west tennessee area and up for an audition, feel free to contact me direct at mailto:athomewithdon@gmail.com - athomewithdon@gmail.com for info of what time things will take place this week... we would love to have ya there!
Thanks again all!
Don
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