Theater Special Alert - Week of May 26, 2008 - StageMagazineOnline.com

Friends,

1. After Memorial Day, Marketing Often Dries Up!

Ever notice how the Weekend Section of your local newspaper (it USED to be called the Arts and Entertainment Section in many papers) focuses on vacations, the shore, and movies as soon as Memorial Day comes?

It's harder and harder to get the public's attention focused on what theaters are doing.

So what do many theaters do? They give up.

Oh, sure… many don't have productions from June through August, so they stop communicating with their supporters.

BIG MISTAKE!

You need to find a reason why you should contact your interested supporters. You need to keep their attention ESPECIALLY when you have no production to help you keep their attention.

The longer they don't think about you, the longer they find that they can live without you, the harder it will be to get them refocused on you in the fall.

Successful theaters know this and continue to do a weekly email to their supporters.

Unsuccessful theaters sit by and wonder why they aren't selling their empty seats.

Which kind of theater are you?

2) YPTW Announces YPTW Idol - For ALL Ages!

This marketing lesson should NOT be overlooked.

Young People's Theatre Workshop, one of the strongest programs of theater for youth anywhere in the country, is celebrating 30 years during their production of Thoroughly Modern Millie May 23 - June 1, 2008.

As part of their celebration they are sponsoring YPTW Idol for singers of ALL ages.

YPTW Idol Details - Read Here To Learn More - and Enter NOW!

The marketing lesson is this: when YPTW's Executive Director, Claudia Carlsson, found that much of her cast was tied up at a local school's prom for the final Friday evening performance (yep… at least ONE school has its Senior Prom in June!), she knew that giving up a Friday night's income could be very painful.

So… what did she do?

She created another event for that one special evening. And it's open to the public and people of ALL ages are encouraged to get up to sing!

Everyone in attendance will have fun with the entertainment on the set of Thoroughly Modern Millie at The Players Club of Swarthmore AND YPTW will gain some income to help offset the loss of a performance. And their silent auction that night will help too!

Great way to celebrate 30 years of educating students about theater.

And a Good Marketing Idea as well!

3) American Association of Community Theatre Comes Knocking

Once our Member Advocate, Kate, has a chance to tell our theaters about the article I was asked to write for AACT, I'll let you know! (Clearly it's on marketing - do I talk about anything else these days?!)

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Productions Opening This Week:
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People's Light & Theatre presents I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document, opening Wednesday May 28th.

The Barley Sheaf Players presents The Full Monty, opening Friday May 30th. Now that makes TWO local theaters where the guys are taking it off in the spirit of the show!

The New Candlelight Theatre presents Gypsy, opening Friday May 30th.

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Auditions Coming Up:
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Mainstage Center for the Arts will be holding auditions for Ragtime on Tuesday May 27th.

Please remember: Theaters publish their own information on our site, so if any are missing, please be sure your person in charge of your StageMagazineOnline.com membership updates everything right away. And these can appear for up to 60 days BEFORE an audition, so check the site often!

Full information is on our site.

If You Need Some Help Publishing Your Theater Information On Our Site, Please Contact Kate Now!

NB: 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 has an opening for a Part Time House Manager.

Haddonfield Plays and Players is looking for a Part TIme Lighting Designer.

Langhorne Players is looking for a Part Time Director.

Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra has Part Time Technical positions available.

Sketch Club Players has positions open for Part Time Director, Lighting Techs, and Sound Techs.

Village Producitons has Part Time Administrative, Instructor, Intern, Production, and Technical positions available.

Willow Manor Players is looking for a Part Time Set Designer and Technical Director.

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Read A Good Review Lately?:
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If YOU Are Interested In Writing Theater Reviews, Please Write To Maribeth Waddington!

We're gearing up for the summer and next season (assuming theaters feel that what we're doing is good for them: they should watch their USPS mail in early June for a VERY important note from Kate), so if YOU want to join our Reviewers, get in touch with Maribeth! Join us now while we still have openings. Interest is building for Reviewers and if YOU have ever wanted to tell people why they should see a production you loved, please consider reviewing with us.

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

Also, if you are NOT yet a member of StageMagazineOnline.com and want to join or have your theater join:

1. Click Here To Go To The Main Site

2. On the lower left side click on "Visitors, Click Here To Tour The Site"

3. Indicate if you are there as an individual or representing a theater

4. Read the information and join us! It's very simple to do and all the details are there!

Enjoy the information on the site, and now go see a show!

Charlie Seymour Jr
StageMagazineOnline.com
Charlie@StageMagazineOnline.com
Click Here To See The StageMagazineOnline.com Facebook PAGE and all of our Reviews and our Articles/Blogs!

PS: To see how to view all Current Productions:

Click Here To Learn About Current Productions on our Theaters Page!