Class Handouts
Class Notes March 30, 1998
Broadway University™
PRODUCING COMMERCIAL THEATER
Class Notes Volume No. 1 March 30, 1998 Class No. 6
This week we are going to begin to discuss enhancement deals, but first we will do a bit of brainstorming about: how do you get an audience and how do you keep a show going?
I am going to use R&J as the guinea pig for this class since it is a real life example we can make use of. First I am having a meeting with production, marketing and business people and I want them to have some fun. What can we use to get the ball rolling? -Crayons -popcorn -music -ban the word no -paper the table so they can write ideas directly onto it -put up photos of the show -beach ball -noisemakers -candy
What is it about the show we can publicize? Publicity event? Stunt? Celebrity casting?
How about a list of girls for Romeo? -Drew Barrymore -Winona Ryder -Gwyneth Paltrow -Kate Winslett -Shannon Dougherty -Tori Spelling -Cameron Diaz -Sondra Bernhardt as the nurse -Marisa Tomei -Amy Stiller -Joan Cusack -Sarah Jessick Parker -Jennifer Grey -Calista Flockhart -Mary Stewart Masterson -Parker Posey -Neve Campbell -Bridget Fonda
BOYS:
Leo diCaprio as Juliet Macauley Culkin Fred Savage
Publicity Ideas:
Party for Shakespeare's birthday on the 26th of April Have it in Shakespeare's Garden in Central Park Stage a scene: balcony scene. Renaissance Fair Search for the real Will Shakespeare... "Good 'Will" Hunting" Prize for best costume balloons musicians fruit shakes with spear-shaped straw invite all real "Shakespeare"s family photo meet the actors from R & J Scene with Friar Lawrence at the Cloisters or the Friar's Club
Balcony scene staged around the city from accessible balconies
Party in the theater: Cake at intermission poetry/sonnet puzzles gifts for engaged couples discount tickets seance to contact Shakespeare during intermission discount for people born on 4/23 or 4/26 give a discount for having your birthday party at the theater advertise free cake for the week of Shakespeare's birthday in the ABC ads
Cross market with other Shakespeare plays going on : Richard II, Othello, Macbeth, Much Ado, etc. Tie in with Shakespeare Printers, British Consulate, direct mailings,
Advertise on the Sony Teletron at Times Square
Adopt a Park cleaning up the Garden (after the party)
This sort of brainstorming is needed to develop creative thinking for all levels of producing. Now we will move on to the Enhancement productions and Step Deals.
This deals with shows that start at other theaters and are moved up. We go to a theater either out of town or in NY (such as the Jewish Rep or the Atlantic) and get them to do a show. Develop: script choreography See what works and what doesn't music, orchestrations scenery costumes cast director Possibly keep the physical production (sets, costumes, etc.) to move to a bigger house. This original production allows you to attract investors, test a marketing campaign, create marketing videos, artwork, advance publicity, book a tour.
What do we need to do this show out of town? -A deal with the author that allows one or more developmental productions -a deal that the author will accept the prevailing deal with the theater ( if necessary add a rider to the contract
The deal with the theater:
Usually with a not for profit theater you can't have billing as producer, unless it is "by special arrangement" or "by association". Author's billing The theater will want to know that they will get participation in the gross, or possibly the net from the profits of your production. Your bio included in their program, and their theater gets a bio in your production. House seats. Discount or complimentary seats. You will want to bring potential investors to the show, and you shouldn't have to pay for them. Physical production. You will move the sets if they fit, costumes, props, etc. Responsibility for Equity agreements with the actors. Arbitration clause.
Now we are out of time, but next week we'll discuss the specifics in the deals and then the union issues.
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