Play Suggestions: best door

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best door

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=4799
Printed Date: 4/29/24 at 12:29pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: best door

Posted By: AbelSamuel
Subject: best door
Date Posted: 9/06/10 at 9:47pm

With the economic situation such as it is, I want to be able to send some good suggestions to our playreading committee for suggestion to the directing pool that have had good audience turnout.

We have a 245 seat house, with a small stage and no fly space, so REALLY huge productions are difficult (though we did Wizard of OZ and Music Man in the last 12 months) but otherwise, we need good straight play ideas as well as good smaller musicals.

Therefore, I am requesting the 'annual report' of what shows made the most money for you in the last few years.

Thanks!

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Replies:

Posted By: BlueEye217
Date Posted: 9/21/10 at 12:11pm

The top 3 grossing shows for my group in the past 4 years have been:

1. Rumors - Neil Simon

2. Steel Magnolias - Robert Harling

3. Night of January 16 - Ayn Rand

I think NOJ16 did so well because it was a very large cast. I've also found that One Act Festivals do well because that also involved a lot of actors and with that comes relatives/friends.

I think my group could have made much more than we did but we seem to have the lowest prices around.

Hope this helps!

Posted By: TZine
Date Posted: 9/21/10 at 7:28pm

Instead of just offering ideas, I'll be difficult and complicate things. :)

What's most important isn't what kind of shows sold best for other theatres, but what has sold best for your theatre and your community in the past. When you think of shows that have sold really well at your theatre in recent years, what comes to mind first? Audiences can be so different because of what they're used to and what they've seen - one audience might go crazy over "Glass Menagerie," while another would want something lighter like a Neil Simon.

Maybe with a better idea of what your audiences are buying, we could offer better and more specific suggestions, and people in similar situations can share their experiences.

That being said: I agree with BlueEye, "Steel Magnolias" is a definite crowd-pleaser, and would fit well in a house the size of yours. As for musicals, especially thinking about the size of your theatre, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is a reliable seller.

And if you're just out to sell the tickets, think name recognition. Have casual conversations with individual regular audience members. What is that show they've been waiting to make a return, or the one they'd love to see but have never had a chance?

Also: what's popular in your area? I used to live in a large metropolitan area on the Mississippi River, and anything relating to "the river" had instant recognition and usually sold well. Needless to say, "Big River" popped up every couple of years!

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Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 9/22/10 at 11:51pm

How about "She Loves Me" or "Something's Afoot" for musicals?

I don't know where you are at, but "Escanaba In Da Moonlight" was a big seller for us. It brought in a lot of atypical theatre goers as well as the regulars. Works great on a small stage. Need good male actors however.

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KEB

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 9/23/10 at 10:51pm

TZ brought up a good piont about what works with yor own punter demographics.

I have kown shows that have gone down the dunny in one location, yet rhe same priduction has been a sell out the next week in another less than 20KM's away.

It dosn't allways follow that what works in one area will always work in another, even if it's only just down the road.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}