need sucessful titles
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Topic: need sucessful titles
Posted By: Guests
Subject: need sucessful titles
Date Posted: 2/16/03 at 1:44pm
please tell me what shows you have done that were the most sucessful.
i need small shows (cast of less than 15) that:
#1 were easy to cast (lots of auditionees)((is that the right term?))
#2 were enjoyed by your audience
#3 were suitable to a small stage
#4 made money
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Replies:
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 2/17/03 at 11:02am
That is risky. What works for me may not work for you. We are a retirement community and I would kill for an actor under 35. I know another city that can not cast people over 60. We also have five women audition for every man who auditions. In fact most of the men stay home and wait for the Director to call. On top of that, I believe that the Directors vision is the most important single secret to success.
Several months ago I saw a list put out by AACT that listed the plays that did best and did worst (unfortunately, I couldn't make a copy) - the same plays were on both lists!!!!!
Given that, here are my favorites.
Over The River and Through the Woods. Cast of six (4 over 60, 2 under 30), single set, comedy/drama, family fare.
The Odd Couple (female version). Cast of eight (6 women, 2 men), single set, comedy, PG rated.
Arsenic and Old Lace. Cast of 14 (mostly men), single set, comedy, family fare.
Chapter Two. Cast of four (2 men, 2 women), single set, comedy/drama, PG rated.
Love Letters. Cast of Two, single set, drama, PG13 Rated.
To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday. Cast of seven (2 teenagers), single set, drama with comedy, PG rated.
Everything I Needed to Know I learned in Kindergarten. Cast of five, no set, series of monologs, family fare, has music.
Love Sex and the IRS. Cast of seven, single set, farce, family fare to PG rated.
Three Viewings. Cast of three, no set, drama, PG13 Rated.
I am currently directing Tribute. Cast of seven, single set, drama with comedy, PG13 Rated. Ask me in a month how it worked out. I really like the play but it is difficult to direct for many reasons.
I could probably come up with a dozen more but these are my favorites. Talk to your state theater organization and see what other theaters are doing.
Doug
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Posted By: Mike Polo
Date Posted: 2/18/03 at 1:01pm
Doug --
Oddly enough, Tribute was the first show I ever directed... I loved it and so did the audience. Of course, today, with a dozen or so shows under my belt, I would love to do it again... knowing what I do now.
Mike --
We've had some very successful comedies over the last several years... here are some of them:
The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) - 3 men, requires good actors and strong direction.
Funny Money - I think it was 2 women and 5 men, timing and pacing is critical
Steel Magnolias - 6 women, wonderful piece, every woman in the world wants to do this one... nice age range here, too
Faith County II, An Evening of Culture - 5 women, 3 men, kind of "Hee Haw does Romeo & Juliet". We just finished this one and it was a big hit with the audience. Not a stretch your abilities show, but fun.
The Foreigner - 2 women, I think 6 men, plus extras... very funny piece of southern style humor
Rumors - 5 men, 5 women, one of Simon's best farces.
Lend Me a Tenor - Hysterical show, but I can't remember cast size.
Hope this helps.
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 2/21/03 at 11:49am
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We did Lend Me A Tenor last September with Henrietta Community Theatre (Henrietta is a suburb of Rochester, NY). One of our most successful shows. Set needs six working doors. 4 men, 4 women. 1930s costumes. Tails for 2 men. The real clencher: you've got to have two men who can convincingly sing opera. The play works without it, but it loses that extra something. Photos and other details: www.henriettastage.homestead.com
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 2/22/03 at 11:01am
I also like Love, Sex and the IRS - a Milmore/Van Zandt farce.
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 7/01/03 at 2:00am
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If you are looking at musicals at all, we did Nunsense and it was a HUGE hit..sold out almost every night (250 seats). It has a cast of 5 women-multiaged. (I was Sister Leo)
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 7/01/03 at 11:47am
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Three of themost successful shows which my theatre group have done in the past five years that are NOT farces are .... Greetings by Tom Dudziak....Dearly Departed by Jesse Jones and David Bottrell and...Early one evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grill.
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 7/12/03 at 10:59am
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Our small community theater did The Four Plaids, four years ago and is still doing requests at special events. Requires four men -any age - that can sing harmony. They don't have to be great actors since it is really hammy. No set whatsoever. Just a curtain four microphones and a lot of props! Lots of audience interaction. Works perfectly in a small theater. Cheap to produce and sold out every night. It is great fun enjoyed by all ages.
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