THE COST OF A PRODUCTION - Putting on your First Musical

SO HOW DOES A NEW MUSICAL EVER GET A PRODUCTION?

Today's theatre companies are leaning toward musicals and plays containing smaller casts, simpler sets(often single sets) and less elaborate costuming.

If a playwright were to pen the book of a musical written about flying saucers, aliens that would rival Star Wars and utilizing a cast of hundreds, that musical would be dead in the water, no matter how good, because of the horrific costs associated with such a feat. Even big name composers, lyricists and bookwriters are finding that theatres are choosing to offer shows known for making money rather than taking a chance on many new works.

Volunteers also play a large role in helping to keep costs down. Just having volunteer ushers, people handing out programs, taking coat check and taking tickets will reduce the budget by a large number of salaries.

If you are looking to write your first musical and hope for a production, workshop it within community organizations by doing readings, staged readings and amateur productions first to make sure that you have a strong piece of theatre before trying to approach a professional company. Make sure to study their guidelines carefully and only send your script to places that produce your type of piece.

Target smaller theatres and companies that promote work by new and emerging playwrights as well as venues in your own city. Also consider working with drama departments at the high school or college level to garner productions and workshop appropriate materials.

Check out the numerous contests looking for new material (many without submission fees) either in the Children's Writers & Illustrator's Market 2005 (available from Writer's Digest Books) or at most larger bookstores, or google "writing contests", or go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and search through the many listserves that post such contest information (you will have to join to access group archives).

Just remember to start small - simpler is best.

Nia Vardalos struggled to pay for a theatre where she was performing her one woman show before being discovered by actress Rita Wilson. (Nia Vardalos wrote and starred in the Hollywood movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and more recently, "Connie and Carla".)

Getting a production at any level is your first step to making your dreams of reaching Broadway a reality. You just never know who might be sitting in the audience.

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