Tips For A Better Performance
Don't pick a show that is beyond the ability of your actors. With some work your actors should improve, but don't expect them to have broadway quality.
Practice, Practice, Practice. Enough said.
Add a little music before your program to "set the stage". Your music should reflect the time period and feel of your program. It should help give the audience an idea of what is about to come.
Pay attention to the little details. Don't let your actor walk onstage with tennis shoes and a watch if your play is set in Medieval times.
Tell your actors not to look at the audience. Tell your actors not to turn their back to the audience unless leaving the stage.
Costume Ideas
Ask your church, school, local theater group, or anyone else you can think of to loan you costumes. Just be sure to keep them in good condition. When you return them, make sure they are clean and make any repairs, such as missing buttons.
Look at thrift stores, consignment shops, outlet stores, and discount shops. No, you won't walk into one of these stores and find exactly what you're looking for. However, you might be able to find three or four pieces that have the elements you need to make a great costume. Another source is party stores which have Halloween costumes. Also don't forget to look at online sources such as ebay.com
Little details can make the costume. A plain dress isn't much of a costume. But, add ruffles and some fringe and its a 1920's flapper dress. Buttons, lace, ruffles, fringe, ribbon, patches, and more can add the details to turn any piece of clothing into great costume.
Look at your local thrift or second-hand store for clothes that could be easily altered or modified. A white button-up shirt doesn't evoke much imagination but leave it untucked, add some lace to the cuffs and a strip of cloth tied around the waist and that is the beginning of a great pirate costume.
Look at photos or patterns of costumes for ideas. Then see if you can make or modify the same costume easier or cheaper. Not everyone can sew but most people can replate buttons or use fabric glue to add trim.
Ask around for a seamstress. If anyone can sew and would be willing to do it for free, you can save a lot of money. You can make costumes for cheaper than you can buy them. Just be sure to give them credit for being the seamstress.
When one thinks of theater, the first person to come to mind is the actors. However, there are
many other people involved with every theater production. Here is a very simple breakdown of the
roles and responsibilities of these jobs.
Actor The people who are under the lights with everyone watching every move they make. They
receive direction, learn lines, and portray characters.
Director - Coordinates all the different aspects of a production. Can be responsible for
everything from instructing the actors, arranging financing, to overseeing that all the crews
work together. Has to have an understanding of all areas of the theater.
Set Design and Construction - Designs how the set should look based on the time period and theme
of the production. Constructs and dresses the set. Also makes arrangements for furniture and
other large set pieces.
Lighting Crew Design the lighting for each production. They determine how many lights to use,
where they should be hung, how to focus them, how to look for dark spots, how to make transitions,
and how to adjust washes and colors.
Sound Crew Sets up the sound system for each production. Creates or aquires the necessary
sound effects, establishes sound cues, and sound levels. This crew may also work with the
musicians, if their services are needed.
Stage Manager - Responsible for managing the stage and the surrounding backstage areas. This
include making sure that actors, props, sets, and all other neccesary things are in the right
place at the right time.
Makeup Crew Understands makeup and colors in relation to actors skin tone and character as
well as how makeup reacts under stage lighting. Works closely with the costume crew to
coordinate colors and outfits
Costume Crew - Knows the costumes on hand and what will need to be created or altered for each
show. Typically the crew has basic sewing skills or there is a seamstress on hand. Understands
time periods and the outfits appropriate for those periods.
Prop Master - Responsible for creating, or aquiring the props for each show. Also manages the
props and keeps them in the right place during production.
Front of the house manager - Arranges for ticketing, brochures, advertising, as well as ushers,
vending, cleaning and other services on the nights of production.
In a small theater group the same person may fill more than one of these roles. However, all of
these roles are needed to complete a production.
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