Special Alert Blog for StageMagazineOnline.com - What's Happening The Week of January 7, 2008

Friends,

(Please remember that this is NOT the complete information. You need to log into your membership area on StageMagazineOnline.com to see everything!)

Lots of Openings, Auditions, and News, so let's jump right in!

1A) "Charlie, your Reviewers seem to love EVERYTHING… are you at risk to suffer from "grade inflation" as they used to say in school? Shouldn't theaters learn what they're doing wrong?" That's a paraphrase of a note I received from a theater this week. Here's what I wrote back:

Thanks so much for your (as always) bright comments. Here are my thoughts:

1. We're not critics, we're Reviewers here. We let you know what a show is about, if your Mom, grandparents, and children will like it. We tell a bit of the story to tell you what it's about (those loving dramas, might not like a sweet family story, no matter how good it is).

2. I don't see that our job is to teach theaters how to do what they do. I don't believe that any critic or reviewer can do that well… that's up to your own artistic advisers and committees.

3. We offer comment space for those who disagree with our Reviewers. If I loved Hamlet, but though the lead character was weak but you thought he was great, you now have a place to express that.

4. We enlist lots of people to be our Reviewers. People who have different opinions and backgrounds. Some who have studied theater and some who only share a love for it. And though we give them strong, direct, broad guidelines, we never tell them what to say… just our philosophy on what we're all about.

5. Our job… our number one job for our theaters… is to help them sell their empty seats. We're not here to talk them down, teach them, or to preach to them… we're here to help sell their empty seats in everything we do.

So… your comments are always welcome. And while I don't see grade-inflation, I do see people supporting theater… and I know you do to.

1B) Theaters LOVE our reviews and are finding new ways to get our words to their friends so even more people attend their productions! Have you seen them popping up on theater websites? Did you see Amy Lewis's review in the window of The Wilma? Have you read Arnie Finkel's reviews that are as different as Peter Pan and The Visit? Did you follow everything that Ryan Bunch said… he wrote several reviews over the holidays - each a gem! And of course Gary Labowitz who just wrote about The Players Club's production of Three Days of Rain. If YOU would like to see 3 or more theater productions a month FREE, you need to talk with Maribeth Waddington, our Reviewers Manager. She has an innovative way for you to get two FREE tickets for 3 of more productions a month and qualify to become a staff member of StageMagazineOnline.com.

2) Do you have a MySpace or FaceBook account? Have you looked for StageMagazineOnline.com to make us one of your friends? Andrew is heading this up and is having a great time. See what he is doing on those two sites too! And if you aren't using Social Networking to help your marketing, you can review this video (http://www.stompernet.net/jvp/aw.aspx?B=25&A=183 OR let us know how we can help you. We're your marketing experts, and ready to help.

3) LOTS is going on here at StageMagazineOnline.com. In the coming weeks we'll tell you about our new Targeted Marketing, how we're using Infusion CRM to improve our marketing help, how QuikTix can help theaters sell their Same-Day empty seats, and so much more. Stay tuned!

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Productions Opening This Week:
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Hedgerow Theatre presents Dorothy Parker & Friends, opening Tuesday January 8th.

Old Academy Players presents Here on the Flight Path, opening Friday January 11th.

Action Arts Theater Company presents The Woman in Black, opening Friday January 11th.

The Stagecrafters presents Intimate Apparel, opening Friday January 11th.

Hedgerow Theatre presents Cinderella, opening Saturday January 12th.

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Auditions Coming Up:
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The Drama Group holds auditions for Going to See the Elephant on Wednesday January 9th

Always be sure to check with the theater AFTER their auditions if you REALLY want to be in that show. Who knows… maybe they didn't cast the very part that you want!

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Job Postings:
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Act II Playhouse is looking for a Part Time House Manager.

Dramateurs, Inc is looking for 2009 Season Directors.

Langhorne Players is looking for Directors.

Narberth Community Theatre is looking for Directors.

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Read A Good Review Lately?:
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Enjoy the information on the site, and now go see a show!

Charlie Seymour Jr
StageMagazineOnline.com
Charlie@StageMagazineOnline.com

PS: Platinum, Gold, and Silver Level Members: To see how to use the Call Board where you read about all the Auditions, the Job Postings, and the Classes, Camps, and Collaborations:

Click Here To Learn About The Call Board