Transitions from theatre to musical theatre
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5293
Printed Date: 5/02/24 at 9:25pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Transitions from theatre to musical theatre
Posted By: Dramagurl214
Subject: Transitions from theatre to musical theatre
Date Posted: 3/28/12 at 1:22pm
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I have a problem, I'm constantly being begged to direct musicals.
The musicals suggestions make me cringed. 
When I tell them it be about three weeks or practice in a three month span people laugh thinking I'm joking with them. Also we're a low budget community theatre and no one wants to help me with the fundraisers. (People thinking I'm lying when I tell them to do a musical properly you need about a thousand dollars) I've been getting attitude for sticking to my guns. My comfort zone is non-musicals, should I read in to these people? |
Replies:
Posted By: dboris
Date Posted: 3/29/12 at 12:13pm
The plus side of musicals is that they tend to bring in pretty good sized audiances (although not necessarily higher profit due to the expenses), and can bring in actors that might not normally come out for a non-musical. The down sides , as you seem to already know, are that musicals are harder to produce, require a longer rehersal schedule and have higher expenses.
I am a little surprised at your $1000 number for the cost of a musical, that sounds like a bargin to me. I work with a 150 seat theatre that does 12 performance runs of musicals and expenses including rights, music rental, musicians, as well as technical costs usually run anywhere from $6000 - $10,000.
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Posted By: Dramagurl214
Date Posted: 3/30/12 at 7:33pm
| We do at most about 2-3 performances. (our ticket prices are at $5&$7 for almost all performances at 100 seats span sometime less depending on the show, we use a gym to perform in) Wow 12 performances! That's a lot. And I could see how a $1000 seems pretty cheap. |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 3/30/12 at 8:26pm
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1) If you're having financial problem consider raising ticket prices. Yours are cheaper than a movie ticket; people will pay more than that.. 2) Learn to say no and mean it or you'll be in trouble in the community theater biz!  |
Posted By: Dramagurl214
Date Posted: 3/31/12 at 5:50pm
| We had been considering the ticket prices the debate is what people are used to. |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 4/01/12 at 2:10pm
We had the same debate going up from $8 to $12. All things considered it didn't seem to affect attendance. |
Posted By: dboris
Date Posted: 4/02/12 at 12:48pm
I would definitly agree about the ticket prices. My group currently charges $20 for a musical ticket and there are groups in the area that charge more. You could even leave you non-musical price the same and just charge more for the musical, this is not unusal.
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Posted By: Dramagurl214
Date Posted: 4/04/12 at 8:54am
| You guys have all been very helpful thank you! |