Author's Welcome
by John Kenrick

So you're putting on a show? Well, you've come to the right place for help.

Don't worry about how much or how little you know. No experience? Don't sweat it! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amateur Theatricals will help see you through the challenges that lie ahead of you:

• Where do you start?
• Who do you need, and how many people?
• What kind of show should you put on, and what sort of performance space will you require?

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amateur Theatricals is a comprehensive guide to the nuts and bolts proves of putting on a show, written by someone with four decades of experience in amateur and professional theatre. From the early planning stages through rehearsals and performances, this book takes you through every phase of the production process. The advice is practical, but it comes from a lifetime of passionate involvement in theatre.

Some people think that Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland were the first ones to say "Hey, let's put on a show," but the fact is that amateur theatre has been around for thousands of years. It started in ancient Greece, thrived in Medieval Europe, and has been a part of American life since amateurs staged performances in the early 1700s. Today, amateur theatricals take place in almost every corner of the world, involving thousands of performers and reaching an audience of millions. And now, this amazing tradition can live on through you, in your community.

Putting on a show is one of the most exciting challenges I know of. Whether your production is a school or church event, company project, or community effort - it's all theatre, and I genuinely believe that theatre changes lives. I know it has enriched mine, and that it can do the same for you. I am delighted to be your guide into an amazing world of creativity and fun. Let's go on with the show!

If you have a question about my book, please e-mail me and I will get back to you.

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