OCT
15

6 Essential Elements of Your Show’s Program

By Jennifer Lade 

Jennifer Lade is a drama teacher and community theatre enthusiast.  She teaches and directs plays at a program for homeschooled students in Massachusetts.  She loves acting and singing in community theatre productions.  Some of her favorite past roles are Morticia in The Addams Family and The Cat in the Hat in Seussical the Musical.  She earned a BA in English from Providence College. 

You’re in the homestretch of your show.  You have rehearsed the play with your theatre class, secured the costumes, and dressed the set.  But don’t forget one final aspect of production:  the program!

Before you start weeping about having one more thing to do, consider how a program can benefit your production.  It can be an important tool for audience engagement, cast satisfaction, and even a means of fundraising!  Here are six elements to include in your program and why they are important.

1. The cover (including the name of the show, playwright and/or composer and lyricist, the licenser, the name and location of your theatre, and the dates of the show)
   
   Why?  Just like the cover of a book, the cover of the program should let people know what show they’re about to see.  Moreover, some information (title, playwright[s], and licenser) is legally required to be on all marketing and print materials.  For guidance, the first page (or copyright page) of all Pioneer Drama Service titles includes a checklist required for all programs, printing, and advertising.
   
   Of course, giving artists and license holders due credit is not just the legal thing to do but the ethical thing to do, too.  What’s more, including such information allows those in the audience — including teachers, directors, producers, and other “theatre people” — to find the publisher or even the particular play to produce with their own theatre group.
   
   The cover is also a great place to include title art!  While Pioneer Drama does offer digital Graphics Packages to be used for promotion and advertising, they’re also one of the only publishing companies that allows producing groups to create their own art, to make it more personalized.
   
   Audience members who post on social media often take a photo of the program for their post, so an attractive cover that plugs your theatre group’s location and show dates is extremely helpful!
   
   
2. Cast and production staff lists
   
   Why?  These lists contain the names of each actor or member of the production team, and what role (on and/or offstage) they play.  This critical information anchors the audience in the play.  If people aren’t familiar with the play, they will be able to see the character name of their favorite actor and then use the Synopsis of Scenes (see below) to determine when they will be on stage.  It’s also another example of giving the artists and production staff due credit!  Who doesn’t like to see their name in print?
   
   
3. Synopsis of scenes (scene order, songs per scene, and onstage characters)
   
   Why?  Think of this element as the silent emcee of your production, letting people know what’s coming next.  No matter how engaging the play is, people want to know what to expect!  How long until their friend is back onstage?  Should they run to the bathroom now or is intermission coming up?  Is it time to get out the camera for their child’s big dance number?  The synopsis of scenes clears up any uncertainty.  (Most Pioneer Drama plays and musicals have a synopsis of scenes located just under the cast of characters.)
   
   
4. Actor biographies
   
   Why?  This element is optional, but a “nice to have.”  A paragraph about each actor is meaningful to the cast members, helps the audience identify who’s who, and gives them something fun to read while waiting for the show to start.  If you have the ability to add a headshot next to the bio, all the better!  However, if printing costs are a constraint, a nice lobby display with each actor’s headshot and bio underneath their photo is another option.  This could also be done digitally, with each actor and bio coming up on a screen or monitor in slideshow format.  Traditionally, a bio paragraph includes the actor’s current role, notable past roles or shows, and a line for anyone they wish to thank.
   
   
5. Ads and shout-outs
   
   Why?  Here is when the program can begin to pay for itself.  Selling advertisements or space for people to send a message to the cast (commonly called a “shout-out”) is a way to generate money for your production!  You ideally want a sales team to help contact local businesses, collect money for the ads, and work to get ads into a digital format.  Depending on your community, you might even consider asking actors to each sell a certain number of ads or shout-outs.  Perhaps a printing company would be interested in getting a free ad in exchange for free or discounted printing of your programs.  A win-win!
   
   
6. Upcoming events
   
   Why?  The best way to find your next audience is to market to your current audience!  Don’t miss the opportunity to tell the people already in your auditorium about all the upcoming shows, open-mic nights, and theatre camps.  These people are already patrons and presumably are in the audience because they love the arts, someone in the show, or both!  They are definitely more likely to attend another event than the general public, so advertising to them is money well spent.
   
   

A program, whether in print or in a digital format, adds that touch of professionalism to your production.  It’s a keepsake for cast members, a guide for the audience, and a potential revenue stream.  And that’s why it is worth the time and effort to make one for your show.