Lindsay Barton and Martin Foote.Small town theatre artist Graeme Gerrad has gamely answered Praxis Theatre’s call for guest bloggers. In a series of posts over the next couple of months, Gerrard will be documenting the production of his company’s new play Going Back In & Getting Dragged Out – which premieres at Toronto’s Factory Theatre in January 2008.
Staging rehearsal
By Graeme Gerrard
A great deal has happened since my first post on our big gay play.
To begin, the script books have finally arrived from the printers, and I’m very happy with the results. I mean, as we currently speak there are hundreds of bound, glossy copies of my play in cardboard boxes, pushed up against the wall of my bedroom. The books are now on sale, by contacting emsdale@mac.com or by asking your local book seller for it by name.
As well, our cast of four has been rehearsing four days a week. I get such a thrill from hearing talented actors saying lines as mundane as, “Yeah, sure.” But they do, and it sounds great. Since local actors Martin Foote and Lindsay Barton, and Toronto-based comedian Pam Thomson are all so photogenic, we staged the following pictures or the cast rehearsing. (Doesn’t it actually look like they’re reheasing?)
Lindsay Barton and Pam Thomson.
The production end of things, while harder to gauge, is also coming together nicely. We now have some of the costumes, and are working on wigs and fake beards. We have a lighting design, and rented lights for Guelph. The set is also being solidified, as is the assembly of sound.
I think the real challenge for a group our size is getting the word out to people who aren’t familiar with our history in Guelph. Of course this blog helps, as will our coming interview on the University of Guelph’s radio station (CFRU 93.3 FM), and the article appearing in next month’s Off The Shelf in Guelph. But the real question is: how do people hear about the theatre they end up seeing?
I’m genuinely asking. I’d love to hear suggestions, on how to reach a young, intelligent, queer-positive theatre loving crowd.
For more information, copies of the book, or to discuss reaching an audience, write to me at emsdale@mac.com
Hey Graeme,
In terms of reaching:
“a young, intelligent, queer-positive theatre loving crowd.”
that sounds exactly like the audience base of Buddies and Bad Times Theatre. I would poster heavily around there as well as making sure there’s a big stack of postcards there early.
Have you contacted Xtra? They’re a Toronto weekly that would reach that demographic and might be convinced to do a preview? Make sure to contact NOW and EYE as well of course.
mike