Theater?

[froggy5657]

I'm a huge theatre nerd. Right now we are doing Guys and Dolls at my high school. I'm Harry the Horse

 

[Ello Poppet]

Hey someone out there knows about the Freddy's! My daughter goes to them every year with her school. They are awesome for the high school kids. She then worked at Dorney over the summer as performer she plans to attend college in Florida then college program at Disney then who knows...but she loves it and is pursuing her dreams!

 

[Ava]

I went to a performing arts high school and performed in a dinner theater (affiliated with the school) throughout. Then majored in musical theater in college for 3 semesters. I don't perform any more, but still love theater as an audience member!

I'd love to join a choir, singing is what I miss most, but haven't found one I'd like to audition for. If anyone knows of a good amateur choir in the NYC-area, let me know. Everything around here seems so professional, it's intimidating.

ETA: RENThead09, I am also a former RENThead. I think I got to 50 times (not all on Broadway, but mostly) before the Broadway production closed.

 

[DopeyDave]

Hey someone out there knows about the Freddy's!

LOVE the program!! Wish they had it when I was in high school a l-o-n-g time ago. My nephew has also performed in the show, even up for a couple awards. It was exciting to be in the theater during the awards. The energy and camaraderie is so high!!

Have you seen the documentary? I got to see it when they did a screening at the theater this past spring. Can't wait to see it on television or buy the DVD.

 

[Safari Queen]

I have a blessed three weeks off after directing both "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" from October to December. I cast "Expecting Isabel" last week and will start rehearsals in January, but not until I have my week at WDW to relax.

 

[f86sabjf]

only if the 5th grade play counts but i've spent a small fortune supporting theatre at all levels. We actually prefer it to tv and enjoy the interaction you have with the actors and other people around you.

 

[KingOfBass40]

I was in Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birdie, Peter Pan and Fame On Stage; Pit for Cinderella, Les Mis, The Wiz, and Kiss Me Kate. I also did some stuff for the Community, props master for a local Musical called The Fortune Cookie, and was in the Pit for a church production of Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat. I had no time in high school whilst shows were going on but I miss them

All of this was whilst in high school and before, I haven't done any since, but I really really want to.

 

[DVCDan36]

I think about the number of people that I did shows with in High School and how many have not done anything as adults. Many of them were really good and it is sad to see that they don't participate in local productions. Which of course makes it difficult in my area as we are seriously lacking participation and many of our audience members are at an age that if we don't entice a younger audience, we are not going to have any.
How are your groups going?

 

[dis75ney]

Actually, I am looking for shows to submit to direct for the local community theatre we've been working with. They've got pretty good set and costume resources, but limited space, and not a lot of budget.

They're advising us that they need to be shows that will sell well. So I'm looking for ideas. Shows that aren't "done to death" but are still fun and appealing. Oh, and I'm not looking for musicals, since there are a couple board members at the theatre that like to direct all of their musicals.

My thoughts right now are to submit The Foreigner by Larry Shue (a community theatre favorite, but not done in this theatre for at least 10 years); Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley (this one has name recognition and they've never done it); Moonlight and Magnolias (the play is about David O. Selznik locking himself, Ben Hecht and Victor Fleming into his office to write the screenplay for Gone With the Wind in three days. It's a lot of fun); or Boeing Boeing (the stage farce that was the basis for the Jerry Lewis movie in the sixties. Recently revived to great reviews and box office on Broadway).

So, how about it theatre peeps? Any other suggestions?

How about "Noises Off"? My group did this back in September to rave reviews and sold out shows (which is rare for a non-musical in our troupe). We also have a small stage, and our set designer ended up building the set offsite and then moving it to the theatre piecemeal. I'll try to find some pics online to give you an idea...

Along the same lines of play-within-a-play, there's "Play On." In my opinion, not as funny as Noises Off, but there are some awesome character roles for any female "Hammys" you may have in your group...and the set requirement's not as huge as Noises Off...

If you're looking for drama, I'd suggest "Diary of Anne Frank." My group did this two years ago, and the smallness of our stage really helped to provide that cramped, tense atmosphere that the show needs. Another good drama is "12 Angry Men." This won "Best Show" at our awards banquet several years ago. All you need are 13 actors (12 jurors, 1 baliff), a long table, 12 chairs, and an easel to prop up an apartment blueprint/layout. I've seen this show both as 12 Angry Men and 12 Angry Jurors, and either way, it's really powerful...

I'll wrack my brain and see if I can come up with other suggestions, but anything by Neil Simon will have HUGE name recognition and will bring in the big bucks...

 

[rpmdfw]

How about "Noises Off"? My group did this back in September to rave reviews and sold out shows (which is rare for a non-musical in our troupe). We also have a small stage, and our set designer ended up building the set offsite and then moving it to the theatre piecemeal. I'll try to find some pics online to give you an idea...

Along the same lines of play-within-a-play, there's "Play On." In my opinion, not as funny as Noises Off, but there are some awesome character roles for any female "Hammys" you may have in your group...and the set requirement's not as huge as Noises Off...

If you're looking for drama, I'd suggest "Diary of Anne Frank." My group did this two years ago, and the smallness of our stage really helped to provide that cramped, tense atmosphere that the show needs. Another good drama is "12 Angry Men." This won "Best Show" at our awards banquet several years ago. All you need are 13 actors (12 jurors, 1 baliff), a long table, 12 chairs, and an easel to prop up an apartment blueprint/layout. I've seen this show both as 12 Angry Men and 12 Angry Jurors, and either way, it's really powerful...

I'll wrack my brain and see if I can come up with other suggestions, but anything by Neil Simon will have HUGE name recognition and will bring in the big bucks...

Some good suggestions here. Sadly, the Moonlight Players did "12 Angry Men" and "Noises Off" last season, and another theatre in the area is doing "The Diary of Anne Frank" this season.

I've been wracking my brains for Neil Simon shows that I'd want to direct, but the ones I like have all been done within the past few seasons . . .

Oh well, I'll probaby stick to the shows I listed above.

Thanks for the help, though!

 

[Safari Queen]

For those with older actors, check out "Over the River and Through the Woods." It's two men & women in their 60-70's and one man & woman in their late 20's. It's incredibly funny and makes you cry...my favorite kind of theater. I was lucky to direct it twice and had a wonderful experience both times.

Getting young people into community theater is a challenge for most groups. We have groups for grades 1-12 and beyond, so that helps us, but they leave for college, get married and have children, which interferes with their theater priorities .

 

[Ello Poppet]

Funny you should mention this show. My daughter's school did this show in fall it was amazing my daughter was Vicky/Brooke she had a awesome time! It's a great show

 

[SanFranciscan]

Actually, I am looking for shows to submit to direct for the local community theatre we've been working with. They've got pretty good set and costume resources, but limited space, and not a lot of budget.

They're advising us that they need to be shows that will sell well. So I'm looking for ideas. Shows that aren't "done to death" but are still fun and appealing. Oh, and I'm not looking for musicals, since there are a couple board members at the theatre that like to direct all of their musicals.

My thoughts right now are to submit The Foreigner by Larry Shue (a community theatre favorite, but not done in this theatre for at least 10 years); Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley (this one has name recognition and they've never done it); Moonlight and Magnolias (the play is about David O. Selznik locking himself, Ben Hecht and Victor Fleming into his office to write the screenplay for Gone With the Wind in three days. It's a lot of fun); or Boeing Boeing (the stage farce that was the basis for the Jerry Lewis movie in the sixties. Recently revived to great reviews and box office on Broadway).

So, how about it theatre peeps? Any other suggestions?

Eliminating musicals makes this harder. How about a puppet show if you have any puppeteers among you?

Are the cast members to be male or female? For a show with female cast members and a tight budget, I would suggest something like "'Night Mother," which I did not expect to like when I saw the Sissy Spacek movie by the same title. Yet I did like it.

For male cast members, you might want to look toward Shakespearean plays. You could just remind people that it was the norm for men to play female roles in that era. Or how about Godot?

 

[SanFranciscan]

Just out of curiosity, how much do your theater backgrounds affect your living space? I find that I can often tell who is or has been in theater rather quickly if I see the inside of where they live. I kid you not that the homes of some people look scene-settings.

 

[Safari Queen]

Lol. My stage sets have gorgeous wall and floor treatments, while I've been planning and NOT painting my living room for 4 years! I'd be thrilled if my home looked as nice as the sets I design...but I'm too busy doing theater to work at home.

 

[brettystar]

After doing non pro theatre from ages 11 - 24 I moved to Sydney to get an agent and become an actor. Didn't pan out at all - so now I just love seeing theatre. Favourite roles I played non pro included the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Bert Healy in Annie and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.
Favourite professional shows I have seen are Phantom of the Opera, WICKED, Les Miserables, Into the Woods, August:Osage County, Young Frankenstein and Xanadu.

 

[YenSid1222]

I have been lucky enough to have been cast in a number of shows both when I lived in Orlando and here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Just recently finished JEKYLL & HYDE, have an audition for THE FANTASTICKS on Monday. Also see a lot...seriously A LOT of national tours and stuff on Broadway. I also like to catch stuff out of the country...did two London trips in 2010 and went to Paris to see Le Roi Lion (The Lion King in French).

Yeah, I am obsessed.