Live community theater checklist needed I have been asked to volunteer and I kno

Question:checklist for producing and directing a live community theatre play for someone who knows nothing about theater

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: checklist for producing and directing a live community theatre play for someone who knows nothing about theater

You don't necessarily need training, but you do need help. Putting on a show is a lot of work and if one person tries to do everything, even if they've been doing it for 45 years, they will likely go insane. If you try to do it all you will just end up frustrated and disappointed in the experience.

That doesn't mean you can't help, though. It sounds like you don't have much experience in the theatre, so you probably shouldn't direct the show, but maybe you can find someone who can. I'll offer you a list of jobs that generally need to be done when running a show. Not all of these jobs are required for all shows, but there are plenty more that I will have forgotten, so you'll see it's a lot of work that gets put in. What is really required is a lot of teamwork, so your best bet will be to pick one or two things that you think you can do well, and maybe offer to help find someone to do some of the other jobs. That's the best way you can contribute.

Jobs like:
Directing
Choreography (if there is dance)
Music Director (if there is music)
Prop Manager
Stage Manager
Sound board operator
Stage hands
Lighting director
Set design/construction
Costume design/construction
Makeup
Ticket sales
Poster design/printing/putting up posters/marketing
Playbill design/printing/selling ads
Theatre rental/rehearsal hall rental
Ushers/concession workers

I'm sure there's something in there that you can help with right now, even if it's just ticket sales. And if you're really interested in other things, ask to be an assistant to the person who does the job so that maybe you can do it for the show next year! Being involved in the theatre is a rich and rewarding experience, but it's also a lot of work. So focus your energies on where you can do the most and don't spread yourself too thin! Absorb as much as you can from the whole experience and you'll be even better off for next year. Who knows, maybe down the road YOU'LL be the one with 45 years of experience under your belt!

You have been asked to produce and direct for a community theatre and have no experience doing so? Turn it down! Are they insane asking an inexperience person to do that? You would be insane to do it without training.

It would be best to start by volunteering as a stage manager or assistant to the director so you can learn the ropes.