From
Issue #4, Winter 2004
Your
Senior Reader's Theatre Program
Performances and
How to Schedule Them
by
Gordon P. Bigalke
You
have your group started and your rehearsal time is set. Finding scripts
is easy, if you know where to look. So, why don't I give you a couple
of suggestions!
You
will want to start out with material that is guaranteed successful,
easy to read, relevant to all of your audiences and best of all....
royalty free!(see footnote*)
Humor is your key to early success. Use it well and key it to the experiences
and/or interests of your audience. Be sure that you rehearse well and
that your performers understand the importance of delivery and timing.
Our group sits on stools (2' high) with music stands in front of us
that hold our scripts. We each carry a 3-ring binder with only the scripts
we are using for that performance inside. We start with a short introduction
of our group and then each performer introduces his or herself. At the
close of the introduction we all turn around except those who will perform
in the first skit who remain facing the audience. Each skit has a narrator
to introduce the play and fill in where action is indicated.
As
soon as you feel you are ready for your first performances get the word
out. There is such a great need for this kind of service in our communities
that word may have already spread by word of mouth and you have received
requests to perform. If not, offer to perform for other groups to which
your members belong: church groups, Senior centers, Social groups of
all kinds, Nursing homes, Schools, etc. Home Owners groups, Housing
Associations, Banks, Business groups of all kinds, Chamber of Commerce,
Retirement Associations, Medical Centers, and so forth. We've performed
for them all and have been well received. The word will soon spread,
but you can help it by getting a news item in your local paper and on
television and cable bulletin boards.
The
possibilities are endless. But, a word of caution; don't overbook. You
will soon be in a position to be selective on your scheduling. Remember
that your members have families and other obligations. You can easily
schedule around one or two members, but don't wear them out! We do not
recommend that you schedule more than 2 performances a week although
you will soon find that you can easily overbook yourselves. It is also
wise to recognize that your group, while they are Seniors, has a life
and a family outside of the group. We avoid weekend performances whenever
possible, accepting occasionally a large conference or seminar meeting
if they pay all of our expenses.
Do
you charge for performances? That is up to your group. We do not charge
but explain that we accept donations to cover our costs and purchase
needed equipment. We have bought our stools, binders, music stands and
sets of Tees and Polos with our logo for all of our members. Presently
we are working on the purchase of a sound system with microphones for
individual members. We almost always receive a donation, which has ranged
from $15 to $100. We do charge a travel expense for venues outside of
our "Tri-City" area (50 miles +). Our present motto is "Have
Scripts, Will Travel."
Again,
stay with short humorous plays and skits that individually exceed no
more than 10 minutes each. Make most of your performances about 30 minutes
in length exceeding that only when specifically asked to. You will never
fully outgrow the Robert Redd material, but will soon want to add more
variety to your programs.
Here
are some more royalty free places to look: check your local library
for books of skits and short plays that are in the public domain. There
are many to select from. Many will have to be revised and updated, be
sure to get the author's permission when they are copyrighted. Talk
to your local Drama teachers; elementary, secondary and college. Most
will be pleased to help. Longer plays can often be cut for your needs,
but again, be careful of copyright requirements. There is a lot of material
on the Internet that you can adapt. Expand short and funny stories that
you can wrap around a theme. Finally look within your group. You may
have a budding playwright! Encourage your local talent; you will be
surprised at their insight and ability to adapt to local requirements.
Now,
in spite of all that I have said, you will eventually want to add some
classic and familiar material, as well as other new royalty material.
Write to the Publishing companies and see what they have. We also have
a list of sources that we use and will be glad to send it to you if
you enclose a stamped-self-addressed envelope. Send to: The Recyclables,
The Bay City Players, P.O. Box #1, Bay City, MI 48708
Next
time I will interview members of our "Recyclable" group and
have them tell you about what Senior Reader's Theatre has meant to them.
These are marvelous, talented people, just like you, doing much good
in the community and for themselves at the same time. 'Till we meet
again. Be good! (I've been told I can't say "Break-A-Leg"
to Seniors!)
*One
source that is easily available is Thornapple Publishing of Ada, Michigan.
They publish 3 volumes of easy skits for Seniors by Robert O. Redd.
We have found the first two volumes especially useful. If you purchase
a copy of each you may make copies for your group and there is no royalty
charge. You can contact them by phone at: 616-676-1583 or write to them
at: Thornapple Publishing Company, P.O. Box 256, Ada, MI 49301.