minimal or no set shows
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Category: Producing Theater
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2741
Printed Date: 5/03/24 at 6:28pm
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Topic: minimal or no set shows
Posted By: Aimee
Subject: minimal or no set shows
Date Posted: 10/12/07 at 1:10am
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Well the excitement is growing. Our new auditroium is under construction..and only a few months behind schedule. We still have no set date..but it looks like early to mid Jan (so far anyway) we get into the scene shop..and should have the stage at the same time....here is my dilemma... I am being told by the director that our first show is February 22...yep that is right. She wants to hold auditions in mid November so she has enough time to prepare. I think I've finally steered her away from shows like "The Man who came to dinner" to shows that can be done, and still be effective with minimal sets.. Our Town is out..no on seems to want to do it. New space,everyone feels we need to show off the place. Except everyone is forgetting we've never seen the equipment or the space, or have any idea what condition our stored stuff will come back to us in.....should I keep going??? What other shows are there that have a good audience pull AND can be done with little set. We have talked about 12 Angry Juror, but she won't find out for sure if hse can do it until late November...too late for her audition schedule. If the timing is at it's best.. I'll have 4-5 weeks of building and still learn how, the teach the students how to work the equipment as well. Oh yeah, this is a high school, so I'll get 2 hours of work out of them a day....HELP???? ------------- Aimee |
Replies:
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/12/07 at 2:13am
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Are the contractors & suppliers going to dress the stage out for you/ in the way of lrgs, boarders & drapes? You could start now with the techie side, by arranging mini workshops conducted or supervised by the eqipment suppliers, as part of thier installation, Get a hold of all the spec info you can on the equipment & gear, along with plans & anything else. [you could probably snaffle a few exras like promo brand T shirts & whatever. Get on site if you can & get to know the contractors &/or suppliers, find out as much info you can. {A few cartons of beer works wonders!} You will be suprised how this will cut down on time, working the logistics out. If you know of any friendly theatre techies, who would not mind helping out with the training, if the mini workshops are out of the question. [It might cost a few pitzas though! - but worth it - I'm sure petty cash would stand it?] What ever show she chooses, devise the set around what you have available, can borrow or that might fall off the back of a passing truck. Get the parents involved, who have trades or can lend a helping hand. Break the venue down into specific zones & pick teams to be responsible & concentrate on. K.I.S.S as much as possible by working on the elements.. You will have heaps of time & it will be a doddle for you! Even though you will have a tech scew gun in one hand & a paint brush in the other, at curtain call.   Chookas for your new space.  ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/12/07 at 8:31am
I know I've told this story before - so, some of you older members, bear with me here.  About twenty years ago, I attended the Edinburgh theatre festival. One of the troops performing was an American college drama group from somewhere out inthe midwest performing "Gypsy." As fate would have it, all of their costumes, sets, props, and SCORES were delayed/lost and never arrived. They decided to go ahead and do the show anyway - sans sets, costumes, props or band. They did the whole thing in street clothes, with no sets, with improvised props, and a single piano accompaniment. It was THE single most incredible performance of "Gypsy" I've ever seen (including the Tyne Daily and Bernadette Peters productions). The point is, if you have a strong script, a dedicated and focused cast, an inventive and experienced director, you can do ANY play with no techie stuff and still mesmerize your audience. Good luck!  |
Posted By: Dough Boy
Date Posted: 10/12/07 at 9:52am
| How about The Fantasticks. It's a minimal set. Has a "let's put on a show" kind of feel to it, and would work great in a new unproven space. There's also great name recognition. |
Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 10/13/07 at 1:39am
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The Runner Stumbles is pretty minimal, and an even bigger draw with less set would be Love Letters, but that only has the two parts. ------------- "If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights." |
Posted By: alice
Date Posted: 10/13/07 at 5:17pm
| When we opened our new Performing Arts Center we did Midsummer Nights Dream. We built lots of platforms with removable legs and put it together like a puzzle. The platforms are something that you could get started on right now. We covered everything in camo we borrowed from the army. Lots of levels. It looked great. The high school Loved It. Cut out a huge moon from foam, made giant trees about 20 feet tall. Same set thru out the show. Hope this helps. Alice |
Posted By: bbpchick
Date Posted: 10/14/07 at 12:54am
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There was a play I did back in 2001 called "On the Night of January the 16th" This play is great! It's about the trial of Karen Andre who is accused of murdering her boss/lover. What is really great about it though, is that 12 members of the audience is chosen to be the jury and they decide the outcome of the play. There are two endings written and the one performed is dependant upon wether the jury finds her guilty or not guilty. It was a really fun play and it requires very little set wise. I think we just used tables and chairs for the set and it went off really well. Everything really depended upon the actors to sell the courtroom setting. ------------- Kendra http://www.murphysblackbartplayer.com - www.murphysblackbartplayers.com You are NEVER too old to dress up! |
Posted By: ManMan
Date Posted: 10/16/07 at 4:58pm
| Greater Tuna.....No set....mime the props |