Teen Steam - In The Stage Lights

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May 2000

featuring

by Smiles1313

Well, you've always wanted to know how those fantastic Broadway productions were put up...A lot of hard work, determination and arguing! Month by month, I'll take you throught the process of picking a play, auditioning, costumes, props, scenery, blocking, lights, and tons more! If there's any question you need answered, please feel free to email me at smiles1313a@hotmail.com

Step one: Picking a play

A few things have to be decided first: Do you want to do a drama, comedy, musical, one act, full length, etc. If you're not sure, you can visit sites like Samuel French Inc., Baker's Plays, and The Musical Theatre Database . These sites have many, many plays for sale that you can look through. If you're doing a play within a certain group, and not just the general public, pick a play that would suit them. For instance, a first-time acting group probably could not do something like Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller or Our Town by Thornton Wilder. (I am including the authors in all plays so if you like, you can check them out.)

For a first time drama class, I highly recommend Life With Mother Superior by Jane Trahey. Keep in mind that in a selected group you don't pick a play that needs 10 men if you have a class of all girls. If you're doing a play for the community, go wild! But not totally wild. You have to think about other things such as:

Money: Will you have enough to do the entire show?
Space: If your theatre is like my high school theatre, space is VERY limited.

Basically that's just about it on picking a play. I'll be back next month with: AUDITIONING!

"Act well your part; there all the honor lies."
The International Thespian Society (Which I am a proud member of!)