You Know It's Community Theatre When...- Page 3

[justagirl2]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:40am

When the program misspells not only your real name, but your character's name as well. And you're the lead.

When you walk into the the theatre ONLY to pick up your left-over stuff from the last show...and end up being cast in the next two shows, and also assistant directing the youth show.

To expand on what Michael Bennett said, you wear a dress in Annie Get Your Gun, and next thing you know, a chorus member of Hello, Dolly is wearing it.

Joseph's Dreamcoat was made the day of, by his mother.

I live for community theatre.
Updated On: 5/9/09 at 12:40 AM

[roquat]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:46am

Fine, see for yourself. Try not bursting out laughing when a blonde teenage girl decides to audition for "Brigadoon" by delivering Madonna's "Into the Groove" a cappella, with introductory monologue ("And you can dance! For inspiration!") and without a note on pitch. Or when a large middle-aged woman dumps every score of every musical ever written on the piano and rummages through them, trying to decide what to sing today ("no, not that one...I'm not warmed up for that one...how about this one?) and then blows out all the windows with her first note. Or when a girl sits on the stage to deliver Juliet's "Gallop apace" monologue, thus revealing quite graphically she is wearing NO UNDERWEAR, and then reaches, horrifyingly, down her skirt when she says "Though I am sold, not yet enjoyed." Enough of that, and you'll run from community theatre screaming.

As for the "bitch" line--speak for yourself.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:47am

I think anybody reading negativity into this thread is being way too sensative - I think its a great tribute - who here on this board - professional or simply a lover of theatre hasn't done an amateur production? This isn't about defending one's professionalism or condescending to people doing theatre in their garage. It's fun!

Were you offended by "Waiting for Guffman" DG?

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:48am

...when the dubbed accompaniment is digitally transposed to suit the actors vocal ranges better.

...when the director says "Sing louder, guys! LOUDER! If it hurts it means you're doing it right."

...when characters are added to accomodate more actors into the show. Since when does Captain Von Trapp have 21 children?

...when the director announces that the rights to Avenue Q have just come out. It will be edited slightly to be less offensive. Similar to the Broadway production, but minus the swearing, sexual references, racial jokes, gay jokes, and puppets.

Here's a sad story:
A friend of mine is in a production of Ragtime currently. They didn't have enough men so a woman is playing Booker T. Washington. The director apparently felt it necessary to change the character's name to "Brenda T. Washington".

[Julian2]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:00am

Here's a sad story:
A friend of mine is in a production of Ragtime currently. They didn't have enough men so a woman is playing Booker T. Washington. The director apparently felt it necessary to change the character's name to "Brenda T. Washington".

That's hillarious! The woman we had recited the lines while waving a book around and I think we added a line about negroes reading his work, everything else was cut. But she never pretended to be him. It worked very well.

Updated On: 10/27/06 at 01:00 AM

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:00am

...When you go to auditions thinking it's one show, and at auditions you are told they are doing "Radio Gals" instead, which, by the way, is great for community theatre because it can be done with only one man (three are technically called for) and a bunch of old ladies!

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:04am

Haha, as much as I love Guffman it is always kinda painful to watch and realize that I can relate somewhat to these people. You ever watch the deleted scenes on the DVD? There's some great stuff in there to make you just a little self-conscious about past community productions!

fiyero: it's always kinda iffy when you have to do non-traditional casting for a role that is reliant on race. u do what u can i guess but that Booker T thing is taking it too far if u ask me, since he was a real historical figure. I did do a production of SIDE SHOW with a white Jake, and they would bring him out during the pre-show speech and basically tell the audience "OK this character is a black guy. Use your imagination."

[PaintWordPictures]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:10am

I think that the fact that as much as there are things about theatre that are frustrating, annoying, or just pathetically funny to us, we're all still here - reading each other's messages, sharing our thoughts about theatre, cultivating knowledge. Here we're allowed to tell stories of productions we're embarassed to have been in and things we've seen that make us cringe - all the while knowing it's sad (or hilarious) because it reflects on us and what we love to do. We love the theatre anyway.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:18am

...When you are the only crew person on "Scrooge"

...When you actually turn on the fire sprinklers during "Singing in the Rain"

...When during "Scrooge" you, a small, skinny white High School Senior replace for the Act 1 Finale the Ghost of Christmas Present (Played by a large, heavyset African American woman) because she trips over the fog machine and splits open her forehead....with no rehearsal

...When you walk around the mall where the theatre is, and people recognize you as "That nice boy in that play about the Old People" (Or 70, Girls, 70)

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:21am

I was directing a production of Narnia (a musical version of the LIon, the Witch and the Wardrobe) and we double cast the entire show. It was a kid's production, and we wanted to giv as many kid's an opportunity to perform as we could. My priceless memory of Community theatre came from this show. We were getting ready for tech week, and it was one of our first days in the theatre, and one of the first days with props. My set designer came out and gave a little speech to the kids before the show. She had been working really hard on the show, and it looked great. Well this woman was, how shall I say this, a littl scary, but I love her to death. She comes out and tells the kids "These are the props I made for your show. I worked very hard on them. Some are very fragile, and if they aren't yours DON"T TOUCH IT. Oh and also, if you break a prop of mine, I'm coming over to your house and I'm going to break your nintendo!" Oh my god, it was priceless. I am the president of a theatre company, and so many things you have mentioned here I have seen in my shows. This has bought back so many memories. Thanks

[DG]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:32am

"Were you offended by "Waiting for Guffman" DG?"

GOD, NO! No, no, NO! It's one of my favorite movies.

Jesus, I hate my inadequacy in this format sometimes. Everything comes across so black and white because . . . well, because it's in black and white!

I just entered what I did into the discussion because it seemed to all approach from the negative side of things - and I have a serious appreciation and love for the time that I spent in those situations. I tried to say a few posts ago that I have experienced all of (or at least close to) these scenarios. I really don't think anyone is being overly critical or mean - and as Colleen just pointed out, every one of the situations could be describing a professional situation.

I'm just someone that reads the subject line and thinks happy thoughts - which might very well be what all of these are, but again, the format . . .

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:35am

I read the line and thought happy thoughts, because traditionally threads that start with "You know its (Blank) when..." are meant to be funny and good natured!

I have a friend who routinely directs community theatre in Texas that I am going to cut and paste these quotes for her because she will LOVE them!

[DG]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:54am

Mr. Bennett - To paraphrase Hugh Grant's character in Maurice, "I stand rebuked."

But I'm still not sorry I entered some supportive comments for Community Theatre into the thread

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 2:07am

"...the "period" costumes are the same for every production be it HAIR OR OLIVER."

Oh, man. That brings me back, MB. I swear, the identical dresses of non-descript colors crack me up. I've seen the same outfits in THE MUSIC MAN, BIG RIVER, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and BYE BYE BIRDIE. I love it.

More points?

...when everyone shares a dressing room and there's no room to drses yourself.

...when you're listening to the overhead speaker telling people to shut up because your scene is coming next.

...when your lead star has to quickly look over his or her script while waiting in the wings to go on for the big number.

...when you hear said star singing loud as he can in the bathroom adjacent to the dressing room before the show.

...you have those damn fake light-up candles as props.

[elvenprincess971]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 2:30am

When they try to do GYPSY and the sets are too big for the theatre and they are falling down on tech crew.

God help us.

[toomeytwopiece]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:09am

DG,

that was a brilliant answer!

-BCR

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 6:49am

wow, so many of these comments reflect my community theatre exactly! love it :)

um... basically, i have to second the everyone who auditions somehow gets a role in the show!!! and the whole thing about "shh, the audience can hear you from there!" :P i love community theatre

i cant think of too many funny things that havent been said already...

[luvtheatre11]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 8:00am

...every single person gets "hooked up" with every other single person, or close to it!

proof of that..I met my husband doing Guys and Dolls in 1982! My brother met his (x)wife doing Little Mary Sunshine the following year. There was another couple that year that ended up getting married, and still are married..
It seems every show I have ever been in has "couples" form!

We did Fiorello one summer and the leading man proposed to the leading lady, Thea, and gave her a real ring during the last show. I think the marriage lasted about 6 months (well, maybe a little longer..but not very long)!

...there are always husbands and wives in the cast (or cast and crew).

[Julian2]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 8:17am

Our Alfred P. Dolittle proposed to our Stage Manager during My Fair Lady this summer. They're going to get married in the theatre.

[CenterStage3]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 9:13am

Whenever a child (whose parents aren't affiliated with the theatre) gets the lead role, it is double cast with a child whose parents are. Also, when the publicity shots go out, the affiliated parents child, always gets published, even if they don't open the show.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 9:13am

When the director's wife sells homemade snacks at intermission.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 9:34am

...you have to provide your own props and/or costumes

...there are altos with stipple beards playing Joseph's brothers because you don't have enough men

...everyone is in awe of the 12 year old who actually went to Hollywood and has a SAG card

...audition notices are never posted. If you haven't cracked your way into the fold yet, there's not much hope for you.

...you do a production of Beauty and the Beast and the audience cheers when Belle's dress literally lights up...because the director had you sew rope lights into the seams (didn't happen to me, but it did happen to a friend)

Come to think of it...this could be "You Know It's High School/College/Children's Theatre When..."

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 10:29am

Here are a few from my experiences...

1) The theatre has to cancel plans to do Fiddler on the Roof or 1776 because not enough men auditioned.

2) During The Pajama Game you don't have the technical ability to have Sid's voice played back during "Hey There" so you have another actor singing the echo parts on an offstage mic.

3) Due to Issue #1, in Guys and Dolls Sarah Brown is watched over by the caring 'Abigail' Abernathy.

4) Due to a shortage of young, attractive female performers, all of the courtesans in Forum are played either by old or overweight women which give all of Pseudolus's lines a whole new meaning -- "a stage on which a hundred dramas could be played -- all at once!"

5) If you are a baritone you have to sing all of the first tenor notes because all of the other men either have a limited range or are second basses.

....and now some that are more positive:

6) In high school you are looked upon as a geek or an outsider, but at the local community theatre you find acceptance and make friends of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

7) Due to the theatre's welcoming (and need) of volunteers not only are you able to hone your acting ability, but you learn how to build sets, run the light and sound board, operate the box office, stage manage, and assistant direct -- and this education is FREE!

8. You meet people who share your love of showtunes -- which all of your other friends think are lame -- and they are genuinely excited to see all of your pictures from your latest New York trip (and they actually know who all the performers in your pictures are!)

9) Nothing beats the feeling the first time you get exit applause, steal a scene, nail your solo perfectly, or get mentioned favorably in a newspaper review (and even moreso when your picture is included).

10) Nothing beats doing a show with your parents and being able to share the experience with them. My first community show was The Sound of Music and my Mom was a nun, my Dad played Herr Zeller, and I was in the chorus. When I did Forum a year later I played Hero and my Dad was one of the Proteans. Finally, recently I was the music director for a production of Oklahoma! and my Mom played Aunt Eller. To this day both of them still serve on the theatre's board of directors.

Updated On: 10/27/06 at 10:29 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 10:39am

I've done my share of community theatre in my day and I don't see this thread as being malicious. It made me laugh because I too, have experienced the things that people have listed. I have many fond memories of my community theatre experience and believe it or not, Ron Howard was in the audience of our production of "The Pirates of Penzance".

You know it's community theatre when: you can look at the costumes in the present show and end up seeing the costumes from all their prior productions as a result.

On another note, I saw an excellent production of "Sweeney Todd" that was put on by a community theatre.

Enjolras: what a lovely post. I hear what your saying about Pajama Game. I saw a production where the radio voice stood on the stage and sang, "Hey There".

Updated On: 10/27/06 at 10:39 AM

[Magdalene]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:06am

...when the cast is excited that there are more peopl in the audience than in the cast...

I love community theater!