stick to the status quo

That is the song running in my head while working on several projects. One project is a spreadsheet of all the scenes in HSM (High School Musical) which the cast was rehearsing as I sat with April this afternoon to get my set change list confirmed. Tonight is the first run through off book (no scripts in hand). The performers are rehearsing from 2-4 pm on dance, taking an hour break and returning at 5 pm for the run through rehearsal.

I just finished reading an article in the Louisviller Courier Journal about arts groups trying to maximize their season by pushing all of their programs into a Sept. - November time slot. One company does 4 productions in 8-10 weeks. They are dealing with the issues that after the first production or concert then ticket holders tend to fall off during the rest of the season since we all tend to put one of our big shows at the beginning to kick the season off with a bang. For MHT generally we start and end with a musical. That is our big kickoff. I've worked summer stock repitorie theatre where you have 3 shows running at the same time. Each night is a different production for approximately a month. It takes a dedicated team of actors, technicians, and adminstrative people to pull that off. (It's something I have toyed with trying at MHT in my more insane moments!)

Like Actors Theatre in Louisville we have moved some of our more challenging plays to our studio theatre which allows smaller dramas to play to more intimate audiences without feeling like you are sitting in an empty theatre. When you think of our 243 seat theatre compared to the Carson Centers 1800 seat theatre it seems like a small theatre. But 243 seats can feel just as empty if you only have 20-30 people in attendance. On the other hand out studio theatre is over 1/2 full with 25 people-50 is a sellout! I believe there is an audience for dramas and "risk" plays but it is a much smaller audience segment. Most people state that they like comedies and musicals more often than dramas.

I've just finished the billboard for Greetings and am working on the television commercial for HSM. When April finishes with the performers in the hour break today, she and I will tape out the floor for all the scenery with different color spike tape to make things flow smoother tonight.
Oops April is finished and I gotta run. Back to the status quo!