THE GREAT LAKES WAY

Introduction | The Task | Resources | The Process | Conclusion

Introduction:

BROADWAY STARS ON STRIKE!!!!

In a startling development today, all the Broadway performers involved in your favorite Broadway musical, have walked out and are now officially on strike. The performers say that their bathrooms are entirely too small, and feel they should have annual talent drafts, much like the NFL, where theatre companies would bid for them, instead of them having to go to all those stressful auditions.

The League of American Theatres and Producers now says that they are looking for team of creative experts to head up the latest production of your favorite musical. In order to “land the deal” and bring the show to West Michigan, you have to research all aspects of “putting on a show” and prepare to “pitch” presentation to the big-time, Internationally renowned, (a little “off”) Broadway producer Mr. B. of Mr. Bee’s Broadway Wannabe Productions, LLC. H2O Company Inc. With any luck, your favorite show could go from “the Great White Way” to the “Great Lakes Way”!

The Task:

You and your “Great Lakes Theatre Company” will produce your favorite Broadway Musical from start to finish. You will be working in teams of 4. The teams handle, show selection, logistics, finances, performers and crew.

· Pick a show based on musical elements, dramatic elements, and performance rights

· Logistics Coordinator: Find a space, set performance dates,

· Finance Manger: Find a producer, advertising, price tickets

· Director: Hold auditions, cast the chow and plan the rehearsal period

· Stage Manager: Hire the Crew including Props master, makeup, costumers, special effects & stage hands

The Process: The group as a whole will select the show on Monday. First establish what you are looking for in a show. What style of music (rock opera, classical Broadway, eclectic musical)? How long of a show? How elaborate of sets do we want to undertake? Are there any special effects concerns to be aware of? You may use any musical from the beginning of the American Broadway theatre including all shows opening thru 2003. Then from Tuesday thru Thursday, you will research all aspects of producing your show. Each of the team members will have specific duties.

Logistics Coordinator: This will actually be were we bring this show to “The Great Lakes Way.” This person will be responsible for contacting (by phone or email) local performing spaces (stages, theatres, local school auditoriums) and finding 3 open weekends. Keep in mind; you don’t have to reserve the rehearsal space. Simply, get the name of the person you are speaking with, and ask them the next time they have three weekends in a row free in the auditorium, stage etc. This is the only part of the project that will be oriented to the local area. Create an ad strategy for your show. (One that has not already been used) Research Ticket prices of today’s Broadway theatre shows. Price seats for your show (in three viewing zones) accordingly.

Finance Manger: Find a “real” producer for your show. Compile a list of 5 possible production companies to which you are going to “pitch” your show. These can be Michigan or New York Companies. Include past shows they have done, information about the success (and brief history) of each company etc. Research the cost of a Broadway musical. Once you find out the average costs, determine where you think that money goes. Using the resources below, create a “mock budget” (as detailed or as general as you feel you need to make it, in order to account for most of money).

Director: Set up all the details of you auditions. Create a newspaper add, include a

date and time that makes sense with the information gathered by the logistics coordinator. Create an audition fact sheet and include a rehearsal schedule that is appropriate to the opening dates of the show. Also, create a cast list of the top 8 roles in your show. (This will assume auditions are already done) This will be a list of 8 professional Broadway musicians (with appropriate vocal ranges) to play your charters. None of them can have been in the original Broadway cast of the show, but must have played at least 2 leads in (other) Broadway Shows.

Stage Manager: Hire the Crew. Research 5 or more Broadways shows. You may put together the “dream cast” of a crew. You will actually have to secure the “real” names of the people who performed these jobs in these shows. You may use the props teams from one show, the makeup artists from another, the costumers from the third and the special effects team from the 4th and the stagehands from the last.

Of course, your group of four will have the opportunity (be required) to sing one scene or excerpt (or two duets) from your show (as long as all members of the team sing), as part of the final presentation. The point here is to prepare the MUSIC. Don’t worry about staging, costumes etc. Each group will be given 15 minutes each day to rehearse the music in a “mock rehearsals.”

At the end of the week (Friday), you will “pitch your idea” (present your show) to the big time (a little “off”) Broadway producer at Mr. Bee’s Broadway Wannabe Productions. This can be a combination of an oral report, power point, Promotional posters, and of course your performance. Present the information on the possible producers, budget and ticket pricing first. (Then of course you will choose “Mr. Bee’s Broadway Wannabe Productions”) Then present Information on logistics, direction and stage management.

Resources:

The following is a list of websites that you may reference. Keep in mind: you may also want to be gathering sound clips and graphics the power point or advertising portion of your presentation. Do not be limited to just these sites. There are countless specialty sites that will help you on your quest.

http://www.yahoo.com/ This is one of many “search engine” sites that will help you find particularly elusive information.
http://www.bn.com/ A lot of time, production and cast information as well as sound clips are found in conjunction with CD releases of your favorite shows
http://www.playbill.com/theatrecentral/sites/search.html , http://www.scriptsales.com/DDProdCoAL.html These are a couple of good websites in order to locate production company.
http://www.musicals101.com/make3.htm This is an excellent site that will be of particular help to you in this quest
http://www.ibdb.com This is an excellent site for the “Stage Managers” of the teams. The there is also a section on performance rights.
http://www.castalbumdb.com/ A great site for information on any Broadway Artist
www.najp.org/conferences/theater/6-Budgets.pdf Use this site for creating your “mock budget” You may round all numbers to make it more simplified

EVALUTATION: You will be evaluated on Information, accuracy, and information integration and information presentation. Your musical performance will also be worth up to 4 points.

Total Possible Points = 40
	4	3	2	1
*MUSICAL PERFORMANCE*	Musical performance was well prepared and executed true to the nature of the original	Musical performance was prepared and executed close to the nature of the original	Musical performance was not well prepared and did not represent the nature of the original	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
*LOGISTICS*	Details of all places contacted compiled. Final choice includes location, dates, times etc. Ad Campaign well thought out and creatively connected to show content.	Contains details of more then one contained. Final choice includes most pertinent information. Ad Campaign well appears that it will work. Connected to show content.	Contains only final choice details. Final choice details are lacking in completeness.. Ad Campaign might work. Connected only loosely to show content.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Accuracy				Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Integration	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Presentation	Information in this topic is presented clearly, accurately and at the right time during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented mostly accurately at some point during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented inaccurately at some point during the overall presentation.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
*FINANCES*	All 5 production companies are well researched. Budget is well thought out, complete and realistic.	All 5 companies have been researched. Budget is mostly complete.	Some of the production companies have been researched. Budget is not near complete.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Accuracy				Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Integration	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Presentation	Information in this topic is presented clearly, accurately and at the right time during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented mostly accurately at some point during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented inaccurately at some point during the overall presentation.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
*DIRECTION*	All aspects of audition and rehearsal schedule are appropriate and complete. Cast list meets given criteria for all cast members.	Most aspects of audition and rehearsal schedule are appropriate and mostly complete. Cast list meets given criteria for most cast members.	Some aspects of audition and rehearsal schedule are appropriate and some not complete. Some cast members meet the given criteria for most cast members.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Accuracy				Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Integration	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Presentation	Information in this topic is presented clearly, accurately and at the right time during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented mostly accurately at some point during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented inaccurately at some point during the overall presentation.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
*STAGE MANAGEMENT*	"Dream Cast" crew research is complete and accurate. All personnel listed worked on the shows indicated.	"Dream Cast" crew research thorough and mostly accurate. Most of the personnel listed worked on the shows indicated.	"Dream Cast" crew research present but not accurate. Some of the personnel listed worked on the shows indicated.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Accuracy				Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Integration	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Information obtained for this topic is realistically integrated into appropriate aspects of the production.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area
Information Presentation	Information in this topic is presented clearly, accurately and at the right time during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented mostly accurately at some point during the overall presentation.	Information in this topic is presented clearly, accurately and at the right time during the overall presentation.	Minimal effort or effectiveness in this area

Conclusion:

Now that you have pitched your idea to the big time producer, your show is going to be on The Great Lakes Way! This certainly has been a long road. (Just imagine the real thing!) But what have you learned from it all? After you have given your presentation, write a 250-word essay on what you have learned about “The Great White Way,” and how that differs from what you knew before this experience.

CLICK HERE for a printable version of this WebQuest.

This page written by Christopher Bee

This page was adapted from Bernie Dodge 's WebQuest_Template1.html by Tom March