How do I pick a play?
This question usually comes from a voice under a stack of scripts. There are a few tings to consider when selecting a script. Here are three that I believe to be some of the most important.
1. Available resources: This is a big category and includes; number of actors and what flavor (male or female), size and type of rehearsal and performance space, budget, experience of the director, and availability of experienced crew to name a few.
Compare your scripts requirements against a list of available resources to make sure its one you can do. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers might not be a fit for an all girl’s boarding school with its requirement of fourteen men. Much of the information you will need for this comparison is available online from many of the biggest publishing houses. Here are a few. http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/index.php http://www.dramatists.com/ http://www.bakersplays.com/store/index.php http://www.pioneerdrama.com/ http://www.rnh.com/org/ http://www.tamswitmark.com/
http://www.mtishows.com/default_HOME.asp
2. Who is your audience? Try to pick something to appeal to your audience. I can certainly understand your wanting to broaden the horizons of your audience, however, the reality is few people will spend money on a theatre ticket unless they are relatively certain to have a good time. Once you have learned to find your way around the play catalogs mentioned above you might find this isn’t so limiting after all. There are plays for almost any taste.
3. Do you like it? You will be living with this play for a long time; while not essential for good production it is certainly easier if your director has a connection to the work. Also it may need to pass through an approval committee and almost any play will have its detractors. If you have to defend it to the board, will you be able to? Life is too short to dance with ugly women or direct bad plays. Hate it? Find another.
This question usually comes from a voice under a stack of scripts. There are a few tings to consider when selecting a script. Here are three that I believe to be some of the most important.
1. Available resources: This is a big category and includes; number of actors and what flavor (male or female), size and type of rehearsal and performance space, budget, experience of the director, and availability of experienced crew to name a few.
Compare your scripts requirements against a list of available resources to make sure its one you can do. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers might not be a fit for an all girl’s boarding school with its requirement of fourteen men. Much of the information you will need for this comparison is available online from many of the biggest publishing houses. Here are a few. http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/index.php http://www.dramatists.com/ http://www.bakersplays.com/store/index.php http://www.pioneerdrama.com/ http://www.rnh.com/org/ http://www.tamswitmark.com/
http://www.mtishows.com/default_HOME.asp
2. Who is your audience? Try to pick something to appeal to your audience. I can certainly understand your wanting to broaden the horizons of your audience, however, the reality is few people will spend money on a theatre ticket unless they are relatively certain to have a good time. Once you have learned to find your way around the play catalogs mentioned above you might find this isn’t so limiting after all. There are plays for almost any taste.
3. Do you like it? You will be living with this play for a long time; while not essential for good production it is certainly easier if your director has a connection to the work. Also it may need to pass through an approval committee and almost any play will have its detractors. If you have to defend it to the board, will you be able to? Life is too short to dance with ugly women or direct bad plays. Hate it? Find another.
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