Doug Lowthian
Active Member
The set up:
We are a new (3 yrs old) community theater group in a small and generally conservative town with a mostly unsophisticated theater going audience (with a scattering of exceptions). Town is a dying company mill town in the boondocks that often feel stuck in the '50s.
We have staged some regular (3-4) productions a year these last 3 years; youth productions, mixed age, dinner theater, etc. Biggest was an original adaptation of Alice in Wonderland which was well received and raised the bar in production values (there is a pervasive acceptance of mediocrity and provincialism in our town)
The adults in the group pushed the envelope with no idea how it would be received and did a collection of Christopher Durang shorts (Naomi in the Living Room, HardyBoys and mystery of where babies come from, DMV Tyrant, Medea, Canker Sores, Desire Desire, Entertaining Mr Helms, 1-900-Desperate). We were not certain how the sexual humor, f-bombs, absurdity and somewhat obscure references would go over. We made sure to have a well stocked bar available. Did it "nightclub style" set up with lots of round tables, music, (did I mention the bar?). We advertised it as a Rated R, 18+ show because we knew if we did not, kids would come.
Long story short, it was a wild success, full house, lots of laughter and great anecdotal reviews. We slipped a survey into the program and got back 99.9% positive, do this 'grown-up stuff" again. Now we know our audience better. Good overall.
The Question: Suggested shows to produce next? We really like the 5-15 minute "sketch comedy" style we achieved with the night of Durang. As a group we read quite a lot of Durang and love it all, but maybe there is another playwright or playwrights in a similar vein? All suggestions welcome. Here's to learning about your audience and growing with them....
Cheers....
We are a new (3 yrs old) community theater group in a small and generally conservative town with a mostly unsophisticated theater going audience (with a scattering of exceptions). Town is a dying company mill town in the boondocks that often feel stuck in the '50s.
We have staged some regular (3-4) productions a year these last 3 years; youth productions, mixed age, dinner theater, etc. Biggest was an original adaptation of Alice in Wonderland which was well received and raised the bar in production values (there is a pervasive acceptance of mediocrity and provincialism in our town)
The adults in the group pushed the envelope with no idea how it would be received and did a collection of Christopher Durang shorts (Naomi in the Living Room, HardyBoys and mystery of where babies come from, DMV Tyrant, Medea, Canker Sores, Desire Desire, Entertaining Mr Helms, 1-900-Desperate). We were not certain how the sexual humor, f-bombs, absurdity and somewhat obscure references would go over. We made sure to have a well stocked bar available. Did it "nightclub style" set up with lots of round tables, music, (did I mention the bar?). We advertised it as a Rated R, 18+ show because we knew if we did not, kids would come.
Long story short, it was a wild success, full house, lots of laughter and great anecdotal reviews. We slipped a survey into the program and got back 99.9% positive, do this 'grown-up stuff" again. Now we know our audience better. Good overall.
The Question: Suggested shows to produce next? We really like the 5-15 minute "sketch comedy" style we achieved with the night of Durang. As a group we read quite a lot of Durang and love it all, but maybe there is another playwright or playwrights in a similar vein? All suggestions welcome. Here's to learning about your audience and growing with them....
Cheers....
