The Audience Dilemma: How to Attract the Right Patrons.

If, as dear old Will Shakespeare said, the play's the thing, how do we make sure it's the "thing" that will bring in audiences? Producing plays is expensive. I don't have to tell that to anyone who's ever struggled with a theater budget. But - costs aside - what's a play without an audience? Any actor will tell you that a play doesn't really come alive until there's an audience on the other side of that fourth wall. Actors need an audience to complete the action. Without an audience the actors are only mouthing words.

A friend of mine recently confided that she was worried about the plays being proposed at her little theater. "We have a new director," she said, "and she wants to do Shakespeare. She's very experienced and talented, but I'm afraid our regular audience members won't come out for it."

Well, we at StageMagazineOnline.com have thought long and hard about this. It was one of the biggest topics on the design list that we put together after listening to concerns of theater managers just like the one voiced by my friend. We have talent. We have actors. We have the desire to put on a good show. We feel passionately about what we are doing. But without the right audience we are nothing.

Fret no more; StageMagazineOnline.com provides search capabilities to identify patrons interested in Shakespeare and many other topics. Our magazine can alert schools when a classic play is being produced and will enable the theater to link up with interested educators. Additionally, would-be audience members looking for a classic theater experience can elect to be alerted by email when such a production is coming on line.

Currently, we are readying an on-line forum dedicated to producing Shakespeare and other classic theater pieces where like-minded people can chat about how best to get their audiences once their onstage work is ready.

Our job is to fill your seats, and we're nearly set to begin. StageMagazineOnline.com is so exciting! Where else can so much talent and experience come together so easily with those who want and need them! See you at the on-line theater Community - Ethel