Getting a play to the stage takes a lot of preliminary work and planning.
For the Studio Theatre, the production usually starts with a script reading evening such as the one taking place at the theatre tonight, Friday, Jan. 17.
The session starts at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
“Anyone in the community is welcome to come and enjoy the evening,” says actor and photographer Michael Rawluk. “It is a good way for people to get a feeling for what we are all about.”
Interested directors and producers bring a script they think the public might like to see and people attending the reading take on the various parts to read the script out loud for everyone to hear how it might sound on stage.
The script reading night tonight will be followed by a play pitch night on Monday, Feb. 10.
Those pitching a play come to the event with their producer and stage manager already chosen, as well as a draft budget and multiple copies of the proposed script for the play selection committee to study.
Before selecting the season’s offerings the play selection committee will hold a question and answer session with the play pitchers.
Rawluk says the selection committee is usually made up of society board members who are not pitching plays, plus a few general members.
The question and answer event is scheduled for March 10 so that next season’s plays can be established earlier than usual.