| So, in the spirit of enjoying your retirement and | | | | it have so many costume changes you will never |
| of entertaining your friends and neighbours, you | | | | make the costumes? In the case of a musical |
| have decided that you would like to produce a | | | | you might want to get a CD of the music each |
| show. You have considered the possibility that | | | | and listen to it. (It's never right to buy one copy |
| you may have gone clean out of your mind, and | | | | and make your own copies - don't be stingy: buy |
| dismissed it. Now you, and a few friends, that's | | | | one each!) |
| probably the first step - get some likeminded | | | | At the meeting to decide on your choice, take |
| friends round- are ready to begin discussing not | | | | notes. Have some headings ready: cast numbers, |
| the 'if' but the 'what' you will be performing. | | | | cost of hire, performance rights, theatre cost, |
| There are lots of sites on the net where possible | | | | costume budget, scenery budget, cost of |
| productions will be listed. In the UK you might | | | | musicians, cost of director, cost of musical |
| want to go to the websites which Samuel French | | | | director, timescsale, rehearsal space. At least |
| and Josef Weinberger operate. Samuel French | | | | these have to be considered - plus fund-raising for |
| offer mainly play scripts while Weinberger offer | | | | the horrific amounts that will come up. These |
| musicals. In other countries there are different | | | | details should be listed for each candidate for |
| providers but search under something like: 'shows | | | | performance. There are considerable differences |
| for amateur performance' and all sorts of | | | | on some of them from show to show. |
| providers will pop up. | | | | Before you begin the detailed considerations you |
| Each potential production has a cast list, a | | | | should agree how the decision will be reached. Will |
| summary of the story, and, in the case of | | | | you have voting? Will the votes by open or will |
| musicals, a list of songs, and the people needed | | | | you be having a secret ballot? Does anyone have |
| for the band. Many will come with suggestions for | | | | the right of veto? (For example, if Fred, who is |
| scenery and properties. You will see that most | | | | going to be the Musical Director, simply won't |
| casts have more men than women in them, | | | | perform the work of one of the writers under |
| though you will find listed plays and musicals which | | | | consideration, you have to decide if Fred cannot |
| have been specifically developed for production | | | | be done without. If he is central to the planning, |
| when few men (or none) are available. The more | | | | there is no point at all in choosing something he |
| men than women thing can be a real problem, | | | | won't do. That is sometimes more power than |
| because, for some reason or other, less men | | | | people should be given - but good Musical |
| than women take part in amateur dramatics, and | | | | Directors are few, and musicals many. |
| very many less sing. Women in amateur | | | | Over the years I have attended meetings of the |
| dramatics have to be really good to get a part in | | | | kinds we are talking about and I have learned one |
| a show - if you're a man that's sometimes | | | | very important thing here. There meetings can |
| enough. Grrrr! | | | | take FOREVER! You need to set, and impose, a |
| Anyway, you can print off the details of, say, | | | | time limit for each item being presented, and a |
| 10-15 plays or musicals for consideration by the | | | | time limit for the subsequent decision making. If |
| group. You can send for inspection copies - but | | | | you do not, decisions will be made when you are |
| don't do it yet! Try to get a feel for what each | | | | all so tired you would agree to almost anything, |
| offers, discuss the cast list, the other | | | | and you will wake up the next morning full of |
| considerations (like running time, scenery, space | | | | regrets that the process was so long and had a |
| needed, costume, accents) and get down to | | | | dodgy result. But don't make a decision just |
| perhaps three. Now you can send for inspection | | | | because a decision is needed. Your timescale |
| copies. These will probably be complete scripts, | | | | should be such that all this choosing is taking place |
| and, if a musical, piano versions of the score. | | | | many months before the show goes into |
| They are usually lent you for a month, and most | | | | rehearsal. If this isn't so you will find yourselves |
| often this service is free. | | | | making decisions which are rushed and perhaps |
| When the scripts and scores arrive you have | | | | unwise, and worse, expensive and heart-breaking. |
| three weeks for everyone to read through them | | | | So don't be afraid to short-list two, say, and have |
| before you need to meet to make a decision. | | | | a further meeting to make the final decision. Time |
| You need to know the agenda for your reading. | | | | apparently wasted now is time well spent. If, |
| Things that need looking for need to be agreed. | | | | after this process, you are all agreed that the |
| Are there parts for those people you know are | | | | choice you have made has been wisely and |
| available? Is it within the scope of your | | | | properly done, the end result will be so much |
| performers? Can it be staged - have any | | | | better. (And don't forget to send back the |
| unconsidered snags come up as you read? Do | | | | inspection copies and begin the process of getting |
| you have to 'fly' a house down into the set, in a | | | | the rights to perform the one you have chosen). |
| theatre or performance space with no flies? Does | | | | |