Stop the Rumors

Today we go back to my favorite new musical with most of the drama behind the scenes. Yes we are talking about Spider-Man. Rumors are spinning out of control and people are dying to guess what is going on. Yesterday the producers announced that the previews would be delayed. They also reported that they had capitalized the show.

Last weekend in my producing class we talked about Capitalization and Weekly Net and we specifically talked about the estimated cost of Spider-Man. These high school students asked why you would ever move forward with a project that has little to no change of recouping. I said, “Exactly. Everyone is asking that question.”

If there is anything we have learned from superstars with problems is that you want to get ahead of the rumors. Maybe the producing team likes the rumors to keep us all talking about their show. But each time the rumors turn in to a dooms-day scenario for the show they have to come out and talk to the press. So why not come up with a solid plan. Announce it. Then if something changes announce the new plan. The press is dying to know what is happening with this show. So let them. But step up and control the conversation as much as you can. Build the brand of a strong show that will wow. Instead of this rumor mill situation for the show that is getting to be known as the “show that never will make it.”

Back from St. Louis

I just got back from a wonderful weekend at the Missouri Thespian Conference in St. Louis. This is where high school students from all over Missouri come together to learn about theatre. There are also several activities and performances. This trip I taught several classes and each year I am impressed by knowledge these kids have of the business.

Outside of the classroom there were two big questions. How do I pick a college and how can my theatre company raise money. So I will try and answer these questions this week.

When picking a college I think the most important thing is to do your homework. Go and see the school. See a production there. Talk to the teachers and students. Most importantly see if recent graduates are working and if they are not, ask why. You go to college to get the experience and knowledge to get jobs but also to get the contacts to assist you in getting jobs. Networking, networking, networking!

Traveling today!

On my way to the Missouri Thespian Conference today. Hope to learn something and hopefully share a little too. More to come once I have landed in St. Louis.

Ask My Frends - Off to College

If you read my post on Monday you know I teach at the Missouri State Thespian Conference every year. Last year I met a bright up and coming student who is one of the best networkers from all my years teaching. He stays in touch with me and always lets me know what he is up to. His name is James Hesse and he is currently a freshman at Nebraska Wesleyan University getting his B.F.A. I asked Jesse what his freshman year was like and what he wished he had known going into it.

“When I graduated high school I didn't exactly feel like a big fish in a small pond, but I thought I had reasonable experience in theater. College was a big smack in the face. I was lucky enough to start my freshman year a few months early and perform in HAIR, which had rehearsed over the summer. That experience taught me more than years in high school had. For one thing, I wish I had known the level of professionalism that was expected from everyone doing college theater. Lines, dances, songs are all memorized after just a few times rehearsing them, and then they are made intuitive. Intuition was never expected from us in high school and is something I wish I had been taught because once lines are intuitive and you own them, real theater starts to happen. Coming to college I wish I had more opportunities to direct and see theater from that perspective. All I've been hearing here is that directing is your best acting lesson--so why didn't I do that much in high school? Most importantly I feel like commitment in every aspect of theater is the biggest difference between high school and college, and I am very happy to see everyone after their freshman year is committed entirely to their work. Freshman year is really exciting so far, and I tried to come in with the attitude that I am going to learn something while I'm here. I know I have, and I'm working hard to keep learning something new every day.

So to anyone who is interested in going into theater, make sure you are ready to work really hard and learn a lot about yourself. You need to be ready to behave professionally all the time, and remember you are always auditioning! The amount of work you put into a show, or an audition, and your behavior in class is an audition for your faculty (learned that this year). And for God's sake, SMILE.”

Get Involved in the Future

Every year for the past 13 years I have been involved in a great organization. I am sure many of you are involved in it as well. It is the International Thespian Society. I have been a member since my freshman year in high school, and for the past 7 years I have taught at the Missouri Thespian Conference.

I started out teaching Stage Management, and then it grew to adding a “life in theatre” workshop and a producing workshop where students form groups and produce shows to see if they can recoup. I try and make sure I can attend every year for a couple of reasons. First, this is the organization that helped me fall in love with theatre and actually where I first met Peter Sargent from Webster University. So I like to give back and teach other students about the art that I love. Secondly, I get to see a lot of great people and make friends. The staff that puts this together is great about caring for the guest artists and making us feel at home. They take us to dinner the last night and we get to catch up with all of them, and I am happy to say I have made many great friends.

There are many reasons why I go, but the most important to me is to get a glimpse into the future of theatre. These students will take our place in college and in the profession, and it is neat to watch them grow. I get several students who come take my workshops every year, and most of them have gone on to college to study theatre. It is nice to see what they are up to, and every once in a while I get a note thanking me for my workshop. Almost every state has a Thespian Conference, and there is a National Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska every summer. If you are a theatre professional, I encourage you to reach out to a local group and get involved.