Selecting the right script for your production

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.

Practice Makes Perfect, so where do we have practice?

Help my living room is too small!

Space for holding auditions and rehearsals can sometimes be hard to come by. Here are three great ideas to help you get your group started!

1. Cast and crew! I know it sounds like a cliché to say, We have a barn lets put on a show! However if someone in your group has a space big enough to suit your needs offer them extra comp tickets in exchange for the use of their space. Or better yet barter with them for an ad for their business. Whatever you do make sure you treat their space with respect and clean up after yourself.

2. Free public spaces! Churches, schools and other theatres frequently have space that is under utilized. Other public institutions such as libraries and museums have spaces that are not used at all! I know of one acting teacher here in our town who hosts all of her workshops out of a meeting room at the public library. Call around and see if there might be a space available. Make sure you give them accurate schedule information and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure they know exactly what you will be using the space for, Pyrotechnics! What? Also, don’t necessarily jump on the first space you find, even free stuff should fit your needs for it to be of benefit.

3. If you have a little money but don’t need a permanent home quite yet, try renting a room. Most hotels and conference centers will rent rooms on a nightly basis. Again make sure you give them all of the details and ask important questions like, will there be open restrooms? If possible find one spot to rent for all of your scheduled rehearsals. Don’t be afraid to ask if they give discounts to any category your group belongs to. (ie non-profit, religious, educational, Coal mining Romanian Dwarves) or trade advertising for space! I once traded set design with a local college for theatre space and saved my company almost three thousand dollars and got myself two university design credits to boot!Other places that might have rooms for rent include the spaces mentioned in suggestion 2 and vocational technical centers and colleges. Always ask if the space can be used for free, it never hurts to try.

Blocking 101

What is blocking?

Blocking is any movement an actor makes on stage.

As a teacher I break blocking up into these categories: (there are exceptions to these of course but for purposes of this article we will keep it basic)

Entrances, an entrance is any time that an actor comes into view of the audience.

Exits, this is any time an actor leaves the view of the audience.

Crosses, Any time an actor moves from one part of the stage to another they are said to cross to that other position, such as Billy crosses stage left.

Stage business, stage business could be loosely defined as any handling of props or manipulation of scenery such as answering a telephone, reading a book, opening a door or window, etc.

Most directors will give their actors at least some blocking instructions. It is usually a good idea if the actors make notes in their scripts so that blocking can be memorized along with dialogue.

In blocking a scene beginning directors may do well following the blocking notes that already exist in most published play scripts until they can develop their own sense of it. Blocking is used in many ways to help heighten the drama, or comedy of a piece.

Remember to keep your blocking simple but varied. Unless every one has to enter from the same side of the stage mix it up a little. Try using levels, both in your set, and in blocking. Have characters stand, sit, or kneel trying to keep everyone looking as natural as possible.

Use props and set manipulation carefully it can move your story along, but it could also create distractions. For more information see articles on Stage Directions and Point of Focus.

All blocking should be notated and added to the prompt book, either by the director or, if you are fortunate enough to have one available, by the stage manager. Make sure to get accurate notation to avoid confusion especially if there are changes.

Location! Location! Location! (finding performance space)

So, you have great actors a wonderful script, beautiful costumes and scenery but no place to perform! Never fear, help is here. We are expert in this field having run a theatre company in other people’s spaces for over seven years. Here are three suggestions that may help you find a stage.

1. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and community theatre associations. (you should consider membership in these fine organizations) They may have a list of available spaces. The chamber of commerce in our town had a list of spaces, seating capacity, base rental price, contact information and a basic list of use restrictions, in short everything you need to find a space. Places with theatres usually include: colleges, high schools, churches and community theatre. Some businesses have theatres in them geared toward large group meetings. The chamber of commerce probably has contact information for these people

2. Ah, the great outdoors! Consider starting your theatre in the out of doors. This could range from your backyard to a park amphitheatre. Usually these spaces are available cheap or free. Here we have one of the oldest Shakespeare companies Oklahoma Shakespeare in the park. They are currently having a new home built for them by the city.
Contact your local parks service or library to see if they have anything available.

3. Do it yourself! My company Family Theatre Warehouse did. We bought a store front at auction and turned it into a 140 seat proscenium theatre. (as seen above) When taking this approach, find the largest open space (no center supports if possible) you can afford! Our Theatre room is about 25’x75’. We bought our seats at auction from a defunct movie theatre. You will definitely have your work cut out for you, so make sure you are planning to stay for awhile be fore investing that much time and energy.