Polls: Comedy VS Drama

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Comedy VS Drama

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
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Forum Name: Polls
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Printed Date: 4/26/24 at 6:13pm
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Topic: Comedy VS Drama

Posted By: SpenceKenzer
Subject: Comedy VS Drama
Date Posted: 2/23/09 at 1:11pm

For the purposes of this Poll/Forum:
"drama"
means a serious and/or heavy non-comedy non-farce play.
"comedy"
means farces, comedies, romantic comedies, dramedies, comic dramas -- that is, anything non or only mildly serious, and relatively light overall, with opportunities throughout the play for laughs.

Our CT does 5 full-length "main stage" plays per season.

We used to try to produce 1 to 3 dramas and 2 to 4 comedies per season.

Our attendance has been declining for years. In an effort to combat that we've rejigged the season so that we produce more comedies and less dramas -- we're now down to only 1 drama per season.

The balance? Our audiences ALWAYS ask for more comedies & farces, whereas our active members (actors, directors, etc.) would like the opportunity to produce dramas (if not always, then at least from time to time).

Does your CT perform dramas? If "yes", then how often?

(CAVEAT: I am presuming NON-musical plays here.)

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Saludos, my dahlinks, and you know who you are ... !

Replies:

Posted By: janetk
Date Posted: 2/24/09 at 8:58am

We also find that the audiences enjoy comedies more. And the actors enjoy a good drama. We use to try to fit our season with 1 comedy, 1 musical and 1 drama. Now it seems as if we perform a drama every three years or so.

Posted By: 75director
Date Posted: 2/24/09 at 10:50am

To echo other comments, audiences tell us" musicals and comedies" and our actors say "drama please".

Our season usually balances two musicals with three straight plays, with the plays being typically comedy or farce but we try to throw in one of those comedies with a message whenever possible and every two years or so do a drama or mystery/thriller.

Posted By: divewench
Date Posted: 11/20/09 at 1:44pm

We do eight shows each year. Traditionally one or two of those are "special projects," either musicals or other highly demanding shows (technical issues, cast size, etc.). Of the remaining 6-7 shows, one is usually a mystery/thriller, 2-3 dramas and 3-4 comedies.

However, we've found that with times being what they are, we've had to make a shift toward emphasizing comedies. Our 2010 season only includes one "pure" Drama (The Price) and two comedy/dramas (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Steel Magnolias). We also have one thriller, two musicals and two comedies.