Tips for Producing Your Very First Stageplay

Producing a play for the first time can be daunting. There are so many decisions and variables to consider. But if you truly love the theater, producing your first stage play will be a dream come true and will hopefully be the beginning of a wonderful career.

If you are thinking of producing a play for the first time, you might not know where to start or what to focus on or give priority to. Consider the following tips as you begin to navigate the waters of live theater production for the first time:

Choose a Play You Are Passionate About

Before you can go any further with ideas in your production, you must first choose a show. Whether it is a classic play or a completely new play from an up-and-coming playwright, make sure that you are passionate about the show. You will be spending a lot of quality time immersed in the play, so be sure you are comfortable spending loads of time with it.

Find and Budget Your Funds

Some producers provide financial backing for their shows themselves, but if you are not independently wealthy, you will need to find and secure investors for your show. Once you have a budget in place, allocate funds for each aspect of the show, as well as salaries.

Find A Venue

Next, you will need to find a venue that fits in your budget and accommodates the audience size you are expecting. The venue should also fit in with your vision of the show.

Hire Your Crew 

You should also be in the process of hiring the professionals you need for your show. If you are not directing as well as producing, you will need to hire a director. Other positions you may need to fill, depending on the play you are producing, are choreographer, director of music, stage manager, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, sound designer, and more.

Have Auditions

Next, you will need to hold auditions to cast your play and hire actors. The wonderful thing about modern theater is the blossoming of theater outside of the typical expected “theater” cities like New York City. So if you need to hire actors, and your production is taking place in Philadelphia, you can hire actors from Philadelphia instead of thinking you need to find professionals from New York City.

Share Your Vision

Once the play is cast and you are ready to begin rehearsals, share your vision and expectations with the cast and crew so they know how you envision the play looking in its final form.

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Now, rehearsals can begin. As the producer, you will need to coordinate the rehearsal schedule and oversee rehearsals to ensure that everything is progressing as it should and meeting your expectations. 

Market the Play

Once opening night begins to draw closer, you will also need to market the play to get those tickets sold. Consider your audience and where they will be exposed to advertising. You may consider an online advertising campaign or a print one. There are many options when it comes to advertising.

Oversee Dress Rehearsals and All Performances

Finally, as the producer, you will oversee the dress rehearsals and performances, ensuring that everything goes smoothly. As the producer, you are the chief behind-the-scenes problem solver during dress rehearsals and during performances. 

Once you have seen the successful production of your play, you can pat yourself on the back, and also pay back your investors if you had any. Consider this the first of many successful productions.