Working the Box Office...

I spent last night working the box office for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. We had a really nice sized house of around 120 people. Considering that was Tuesday night of the run, that is phenomenal. That is more than some Closing Nights I have been too. Well done I say to everyone who has worked on the show and worked to get the people in the house! I also sold 3 books (For Love, Not Money by Wayne Arthurson) to a member of the audience. A Woman inquired and fortunately I am on the executive and could get into the proper places to help her out. It was a nice night. There are 4 more shows including tonight. If you plan to go, I'd advise buying tickets in advance.

The Edmonton Sun Review of YAGMCB

http://www.edmontonsun.com/entertainment/columnists/colin_maclean/2009/07/10/10084346-sun.html

A Sell-Out and Then Some...

We had a sell-out for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown tonight. A sell-out in itself is not unusual, but a sell-out on the 2nd night of the run is VERY unusual so I encourage people to get their tickets in advance if they want to see the show. We had to turn away a dozen or so people who put their names on a waiting list.

A Fun-Filled Evening...

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown had a great opening last night (well, this evening, but I imagine that no one is up reading this late). The house was almost completely full and the show was a lot of fun. It is a nice even cast and they were clearly having fun and sending it out to the audience. We took the boys. This was Gibson's first 2 Act play and he did quite well. It was great to hear the both of them laughing. Snoopy was the favorite for the boys. This is not to detract from the others in the show. There is something about grown-ups dressed up like animals that kids really like (they also really liked the Woodstocks!). Great singing, great dancing, and wonderful characters. If you plan to go, I'd advise getting your tickets early as I hear they are going fast!

Opening Tonight!

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! opens tonight at Walterdale Theatre. Although not technically part of my season, I did work on it (all those backdrops - that was me and my paint brush - well, not just me...) and I am looking forward to seeing it. I am taking the boys and I think it will be a great show for them to see. I hope that it sticks to it's promised 2 hour running time because I am bringing children, but the nice thing is because it is summer they can sleep in tomorrow if need be. The boys saw the Silly Summer Parade and uncoached declared the YAGMCB to be the best thing in the parade, so they are keen to see it.

I had hoped that the new season brochures would be ready for tonight's opening, but unfortunately they are not. I am not sure what the hold-up is. I had thought we got it together soon enough to have it be finished in time. It appears not. It highlights one of the frustrating elements to this position. If you lack the skills to get something done yourself, you are always relying on someone else to do it for you and it's hard to manage the situation without nagging. Almost everyone at Walterdale has another 'day job' so you have to respect that to a certain extent. I feel frustrated because if I could do it myself, I would.

It will all come together...

The most challenging week of most productions is Tech Week. There are exceptions, but generally speaking the number of components that merge during tech week is exponential and the amount of time all participants must contribute also increases. This can lead to crabbiness, fuzzy-headedness and pure panic. That is the week when you realize that all those little things that looked inconsequential 2 months earlier are a lot bigger when the time has slipped away. You just have to get it done. Once the show opens, it will all be alright. The audiences will clap and the actors will shine and come closing night you will have forgotten how you felt a mere 2 weeks earlier and you will be saying when's the next show?

Come see You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! It opens on Wednesday, July 8th at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 9th is 2 for 1 Thursday (at the door). It's great for kids and adults alike. And it will be worth all the trauma of Tech Week!

Falling Into Place...

it is easy to feel pushed and shoved along by this job. I am at the bottom of a steep learning curve, thinking ahead to next season when I will have more awareness of what is involved so that I can plan for things. This week the focus was on getting the season brochure done and sent to the printer. That should be done now and if all goes well we will be seeing that lovely document on Opening Night of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! I am hoping that I can move some of the media related items back into the Director of Publicity's hands. Unlike the previous AD, I lack a depth of knowledge with regards to all things media related. So, while he was able to handle a lot of those duties, I prefer to give it to the expert to deal with. I want to be consulted on things, but really, once we have the season concept laid out, I only just need to be in the loop. Right?

The other thing I did this week, was secure one of the Dramaturges for the One Acts. I am so excited that we will have Brian Dooley on board. The depth of his experience is phenomenal and whichever lucky playwright gets paired with him will be able to work with a wonderful resource. He is also talking to another Dramaturge that I would be ecstatic to have on the team. I can't say who, until it is confirmed. I am just glad that everything is falling into place (with the help of many phone calls and emails) before September!

Working on Selling the Season

I met to day with the young man who will be designing our artwork used in promotional materials for the next season. We tracked through the 6 shows and shared ideas and he has some nice preliminary ideas for the images required for the brochure, posters and marquee. I got a great feeling about him and he seems really enthusiastic about the work so I feel good! Randy was great in setting it up and walking me through what was required. I do admit, PR is my gray area in theatre. I truly value the help. If all goes well, the brochures will be done in time for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown! and maybe we will even have magnets (Oooooo!). I did find it funny that the show that gave me the most challenge was Whorehouse. Randy said that wasn't surprising, because it was the one I was directing so I had more of a vested interest. Made sense when you think about it. I just hope all the directors are happy with the concepts he develops...