The Complete Idiot's Guide to
Amateur Theatricals
by John Kenrick
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PART I: MAKING THE DECISION
“REVIEWING THE SITUATION”
Chapter 1
DOING A SHOW: “Why Must the Show Go On?”
- How Did You Get Into This?
- What Is Amateur Theatre?
- “Amateur” Does Not Mean “Amateurish”!
- Typical Reasons for Disaster
- Key Steps To Putting On A Successful Show
- The Worst Possible Reasons
- The Good Reasons
Chapter 2
PEOPLE POWER: “Getting to Know You”
- Taking Stock
- Putting Out a Feeler
- Finding People
- Potential Cast (Age groups, etc.)
- Potential Staff & Crew
- Likely Audience
- Assess Yourself (Talents, time, etc.)
- Commitment: Don’t Kid Yourself
- A Kind of Family
Chapter 3
FACILITIES: “What've We Got?”
- Key Questions: Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources
- Rehearsal Space
- Likely Audience
- Performance Space
- Insurance
- Equipment (Lights & Sound)
- “Touring?”
- Other Resources
- Local Theatre Groups
- A Sense of Time and Place
PART II: PICKING YOUR PROJECT
“THE PLAY’S THE THING”
Chapter 4
GREAT SHOWS FOR BEGINNERS: “We Can Do It!”
- Picking the Right Show
- Plays
- Musicals
- Children’s Theatre
- Accompaniment: Live or Pre-Recorded?
- Keeping It Legal: The Only Option (Yes, You Can Afford It!)
Chapter 5
WRITING ORIGINAL SHOWS: “It's Our Time”
- Why Write Your Own?
- The "New" Basic Rules of Playwriting
- Premise
- Characters
- Conflict
- Plot
- Revues & Concerts
- Original Plays
- Book Musicals
- Children’s Theatre
- Adaptations
- Copyright Protection
Chapter 6
FINANCIAL REALITIES: “A Mark, a Yen, A Buck or a Pound"”
- Where’s the Money Coming From?
- Sponsors
- Your Pocket
- Ticket Sales
- Fundraising
- Other Sources
- Creating a Budget
- A Model Budget
- Budget Busters
PART III: BUILDING YOUR TEAM
“SIDE BY SIDE BY SIDE”
Chapter 7
SELECTING PRODUCTION STAFF: “You For Me and Me For You”
- Building a Strong Team
- Finding People
- Organizational Chart
- Team Planning: Do You Really Need ALL These People?
- Ability and Personality Both Count
- Contracts for Paid Staff
- Background Checks
Chapter 8
EXECUTIVE TEAM: “You Gotta Have Heart”
- Producer
- Director
- Choreographer
- Musical Director
- Production Stage Manager
- Stage Crew
- Business Manager
Chapter 9
DESIGN TEAM: “The Colors of My Life”
- The Right Designers For Your Project
- Set Designer
- Costume Designer/Coordinator
- Lighting Designer
- Lighting Crew
- Sound Designer
- Sound Operator
- Prop Manager
Chapter 10
SUPPORT TEAM & VOLUNTEERS: “All You Need Is a Hand”
- Publicity Coordinator
- Program Coordinator
- Box Office/Ticket Sales Manager
- House Manager
- Ushers
- Concessions
- Security
- Volunteers & Friends
- Finding Great Volunteers
- As Strong As Your Weakest Link
- Contracts for Volunteers
- Community Allies: Keeping In Touch
PART IV: GOING INTO PRODUCTION
“PUTTING IT TOGETHER”
Chapter 11
PRODUCTION CALENDAR: “One Brick at a Time”
- Giving Yourself Time
- “Just No Time At All?”
- Scheduling Rehearsals: When & Who
- Avoiding Burnout
- A Model Timeline
- Tailoring Your Timeline
Chapter 12
AUDITIONS & CASTING: “I Hope I Get It”
- Scheduling and Staffing
- Precasting
- Getting The Word Out
- Audition Material
- Pre-Audition Rehearsal
- By Appointment or All Together?
- “I’ve Got to Get This Show”
- Performer Information Forms
- Evaluating Performers
- Callbacks
- Casting Children
- Casting Critters
- Double Casting
- Making Choices: Diplomacy vs. Practicality
- When Many Are Called But Few Have Shown Up
Chapter 13
BASIC STAGECRAFT: “We've Got Magic To Do”
- The Production Concept
- Stage Geography
- Blocking
- The Prompt Book: Your Production Bible
- Staging Musical Numbers
- Fights and Battles
- Treat Crews With Care
Chapter 14
WORKING WITH ACTORS: “Playing Hide and Ego Seek”
- Handle With Care
- The Actor’s Art
- The Method
- Technical Basics
- Divas and Tantrums – Part I
- Never Argue, Never Humiliate
Chapter 15
REHEARSALS: “One Mo’ Time”
- First Rehearsal: “Getting to Know You”
- Ground Rules
- Types of Rehearsals
- Giving Notes
- Record With Care
- Surprise Problems
- Private Lives: Where To Draw the Line
- When to Hold, When to Fold
- The Point of Despair
Chapter 16
SETS: “Take Me To the World”
- A Quick History
- What Does the Material Require?
- TMS Syndrome
- Basic Set Elements
- Construction Requirements
- Construction Techniques
- The Bare Minimum
- Safety
Chapter 17
COSTUMES AND PROPS: “Give Me My Colored Coat”
- The Why and Wherefore
- Start With The Script
- Consistency
- Color
- Durability, Comfort and Safety
- Creating Costumes
- Costume Rentals
- Borrowed Glory
- Care & Storage
- Wardrobe Inventory
- Props
- Changing Time and/or Place
- The Not So Bare Necessities
Chapter 18
MAKE-UP: “Put On a Happy Face”
- Changing Faces
- The Stage is Not The Big Screen
- Facial Features
- Assistance & Training
- Essential Tools
- Basic Techniques
- Make-up Removal
- False Additions
- Beards, Wigs, etc
Chapter 19
LIGHT: “Show Me!”
- A Quick History
- The Purposes of Stage Lighting
- Lighting Instruments (Hard & Soft Edged)
- Lighting Positions
- Angles, Shaping and Coverage
- Control Boards
- Color
- Making Do
- Safety Concerns
Chapter 20
SOUND: “Make Them Hear You”
- Sound in Theatre
- Amplification
- Basic Sound Equipment
- Sound Effects
- Playback Equipment
- Sound Plot
- Projection
- The Secret Sound System
PART V: MARKETING
“SING OUT, LOUISE!”
Chapter 21
PUBLICITY: I Gotta Crow!"
- Creating a Publicity Plan
- Maintain a Professional Appearance
- Pick a Logo and Use It Everywhere
- Advertising: Aim Every Dollar
- “No Money” Is No Excuse!
- PR Basics
- Advanced PR
TICKETS & SEATING: “Join Us! Sit Where Everybody Can See”
- Open vs. Assigned Seating
- Seating Plans
- Pricing
- Planning & Printing Tickets
- Ticket Sales: Coordination Is Crucial
- Where and When To Sell Tix
- Group Sales
- House Seats
- Complimentary Tickets
- Ushers
- Pre-Performance Prep
Chapter 23
PROGRAMS: “Giving Credit Where It's Due”
- Get With the Program
- Not Quite A Gold Mine
- Required Content
- Types of Advertising
- Budgeting: How Much Will Your Program Cost?
- Ad Pricing
- Selling Ads: Blow Your Horn!
PART VI: SHOWTIME & AFTERWARDS
“ANOTHER OPENING, ANOTHER SHOW”
Chapter 24
FINAL REHEARSALS: “Will It Ever Be Right?”
- You Want It When?: Keep Priorities Clear
- Avoid Marathons
- When Marathons Happen Anyway
- Backstage Space
- Orchestra Rehearsal
- Costume & Prop Parades: Pickles Are Not Pickled Eggs
- Tech Rehearsals: More Is Less
- Dress Rehearsals
- A Day Off: The Non-Optional Option
Chapter 25
SHOW TIME: “Cross Your Fingers & Hold Your Heart”
- From Taskmaster To Cheerleader
- Setting Up
- Superstitions and Traditions
- Curtain Time
- The Speech
- Pre-Show Announcements
- “That’s My Barney!” Syndrome
- When Murphy Comes to Call
- Curtain Speeches
- Post-Performance Clean Up
Chapter 26
WHAT’S NEXT?: “After the Ball Is Over”
- Surviving A Run
- Strike Set: Clean Up Time
- Cast Parties
- Postmortem: What Worked & What Did Not
- Dollars And Cents: The Bottom Line
- “What Have You Learned, Dorothy?”
- Start Planning Your Next Show
- When to Call It Quits
- Exit Music: A Final Thought
APPENDICES
- Glossary of Theatrical Terms Resources and References:
- Books, Websites and Useful Retailers