"The Wedding Singer" – The Business of Show Business.

In addition to rehearsals, there is much going on behind the scenes.  It is great fun to put on a show, but it’s no fun if there isn’t an audience.

An audience brings the live aspect into live theatre. It also provides some of the revenue to help offset the costs of putting on the show. By the way, those costs are over $10,000 for this show, so support your local theatre by attending.

But how do you get an audience? 

WLBY Radio: On July 2, Ron Baumanis (director/choreographer), Katy Kujala (Julia), and I (producer/ensemble) visited the the Lucy Ann Lance show. We sat with Lucy Ann and had a great conversation about the show and Katy sang a couple of songs. The podcast can be heard at should be available soon. We thank Lucy Ann and WLBY for hosting us.

We hope to make additional appearances to promote the show, including WAAM and an appearance at the St. Joseph Fun Festival on July 17.  We might even be on the Detroit news channels (cross your fingers).

Ann Arbor Jaycees Parade: We also participated in the Ann Arbor Fourth of July Parade. We decked out my husband’s truck like a wedding getaway car complete with a lighted trellis, balloons, streamers, tin cans and "Just Married" signs.  He even volunteered to drive. My son Kyle also decided to join us, even after pulling an all nighter playing video games with friends (tsk tsk).   

We had two bridal couples, Tally Chomic and Kyle Patton, and Katy Kujala and Michael Barbour dressed in wedding attire riding in the back of the truck. The brides tossed bouquets with special "Wedding Singer" flyers which included a complimentary ticket to the show. We had the "Wedding Singer" opening number playing from speakers Andrew Buckshaw (Robbie Hart) singing along. Other cast members joined the singing, passed out the traditional Tootsie Rolls along with flyers advertising the show.

To our great surprise and joy, we won best float. I then invited the parade participants over to my home for some traditional Fourth of July grillin’ and swimming in our waterin’ hole. 

Posters/Facebook: This coming week, cast members will work off their crew hours by putting up posters around town. Almost everyone in the cast and crew has a Facebook page and we do our best to post as often as possible.  We have sent out press releases to the local papers, but those don’t generally go in until closer to the show.  We have quarter page flyers to give out and maybe, if I find the time, I’ll create some table tents to put up in local restaurants.

Blogging: And.. uh… someone has started blogging! Yeah, that might help. Hopefully there are Dexter Patch readers following along besides the cast members that I am bribing to “+1” me!  (Hi Barb!)

Revenue: I mentioned “some of the revenue” is provided by ticket sales, most of the remaining revenue is provided by ads placed in the program by our local (and wonderful) businesses. 

Program Advertising: The program is another tradition of live theatre. You don’t get one at the movies, right! 

The program helps guide you through the musical giving you a synopsis of scenes and songs, the cast members names and biographies, important and legal information about the show, maybe a few interesting facts about the production or the era, and to capitalize on the stars of tomorrow, a place for autographs.  We hope it becomes a keepsake of a wonderful evening out.  

Local businesses that advertise in the program show their support of local theatre. Please visit them, buy something, and tell them thank you for us!  Program advertising costs as little as $10 for a two-line “Break A Leg” message, $30 for a business card, $50 for a quarter page, and on up.  We also have advertising space on the inside front and back cover for $225  and one amazing business will have the prime “back cover” space for $275.  Any takers? If you can support DCP with an ad, please contact us by July 10.  (Yes, this is a shameless plug to solicit for program advertisers.)

Best of all...

Tickets are now available at the Dexter Pharmacy on Baker Road and directly from our website www.DexterCommunityPlayers.com (if we can get that Paypal thingy to work). You can also print off the order form and mail it in. If you like saving money, buy your tickets in advance. If you wait to buy your tickets at the door, it will cost $15 instead of $12. I don’t know about you, but I can use the extra $4 to enjoy ice cream after the show.

Next up: Set building, props, costumes and sore feet.