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Post by Buff on Apr 14, 2005 10:52:59 GMT 11
Surely (if it wasn't sponsored) they could have paid a professional actor/director for the money that would cost I'm not 100% sure (and Mitzi might be able to shed more light), but from conversations I've had, generally any advertising (whether TV, Radio or newspaper) is sponsorship. Unfortuantely, budgets for productions aren't unlimited, and "A Funny......Forum" is a small scale production so with even small scale budget. The thing with the ad that is intriguing me is the voice of the guy singing the song. It sound familiar but I can't quite put a finger on it - I'm guessing it's from a Broadway Cast recording, so I might have to surf to find out. Buff  |
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Post by Buff on Apr 14, 2005 11:19:47 GMT 11
I've found out who it was singing!! It's Zero Mostel from the Original Broadway Cast Recording. I thought it was him because I have the recording of Fiddler on the Roof with him as Tevye. I can relax now  Buff |
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Post by Buff on Apr 18, 2005 11:15:02 GMT 11
In talking with a friend of mine (who also agreed the TV ad is not the best) we both were amazed at the editorial promotion the show is getting in the local paper. Most days there is an article featuring some person or aspect of the show. On Sunday was a full double page spread on the lady who is putting the costumes together, as well as helping with props and performing in the show! I've met her doing other shows and she is one of the nicest people you could meet. My friend and I are going to the Fri 29th show, so I'll give a report on the show. Buff |
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mitzi
Backyard Balladeer
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Post by mitzi on Apr 19, 2005 12:15:02 GMT 11
Hi there, Well, I have to say I'm amazed at Theatreform's postings. You know what they say..."if you can't say something nice... etc etc" Regarding sponsorships - all details of media and corporate sponsorships are confidential, but they generally include a paid (by the theatre company) element as well as a sponsored element. Sorry to hear you don't like the ad, but at least it has you talking about the show. Feel free to pass those thoughts along to LMS and Southern Cross. Constructive (as opposed to destructive) criticism is always welcome. In regards to the budget of "upteem thousand dollars" nothing could be further from the truth. Forum has a VERY tight budget, and the company is taking a HUGE risk putting on a Sondheim show, which are notoriously hard to find audiences for. I'm glad you liked Torrez, put on for a budget of $6000, but why all this talk of budgets?? A group like LMS receive no grants, no government funding, no tax-payer subsided theatre spaces to perform in, etc. Any budget they have to spend is earnt through sheer hard work and getting bums on seats. Anyway, the dollars put into any given show don't necessarily define how good, or bad, it will be. As for Theatreform's comments regarding a specific actor in the show... I'm astounded!!! How rude are you!!!  I thought his performance in Les Mis for the Launceston Players was excellent (as was the entire show)... but it's horses for courses, isn't it? If we all liked the same thing/show/person we'd all be pretty boring. Thankyou Buff for your supportive comments and getting behind the show by booking tickets - very much appreciated! And to answer your query, Buff, about media coverage for Forum, LMS actively chase media coverage and obviously do it and drive it very well. The article on Sunday was at the suggestion of the Examiner, who were doing a piece about costumes and the Examiner chose to make the association. Publicity like that is always hit and miss, depending on what other shows/stories are on the scene. The Examiner's editiorial team are very supportive of the local arts, to the benefit of all local productions. (And it was nice to see Gina get such a rave  Well, I don't know about Theatreform...., but I look forward to seeing you at the show, Buff! Cheers, Mitzi  |
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Post by Buff on Apr 19, 2005 13:33:18 GMT 11
A group like LMS receive no grants, no government funding, no tax-payer subsided theatre spaces to perform in, etc. Any budget they have to spend is earnt through sheer hard work and getting bums on seats. I remember talking to the treasurer a few years ago and the gist of what he said was that if the shows didn't do well at the box office, it can affect what the Society does next. That's a shame, but also a fact of life. I thought his performance in Les Mis for the Launceston Players was excellent (as was the entire show) Yep, agree with that! He was great as the Bishop! Thankyou Buff for your supportive comments and getting behind the show by booking tickets - very much appreciated! ....but I look forward to seeing you at the show, Buff! Don't forget to say hi if we're there on the same night Buff |
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Post by theatreform on May 3, 2005 2:36:42 GMT 11
Y'see - what I was getting at is that the LMS (as a whole) has the resources to put out slicker advertising. I'm not talking about that wonderful hours that volunteers put in (i've also put a few in in my time - not for LMS -but for other companies around the place) - and slicker promotion isn;t necessarily about 'bums on seats' but about the image of the company statewide. I have to admit, regardless of whether Mitzi likes it or not, that the reputation of the LMS is not in good nick at the moment. And this is from what I hear statewide. I'm not trying to put DEStructive criticism out there. (And a certain apology is due for the tone of my last posting - it may have come across a little too aggressive. I guess I dislike the attitude that "near enough is good enough" when it somes to the image.) I'm trying to provoke (and I even dislike that word) a CONstructive debate about what these companies are really wanting to do in Launceston. We're in a town of 90 000 people, such talent, but such waste. Maybe it is time for the Players and LMS to look at doing 4 shows a year together as opposed to 1 or 2 each a year separately. ?? Surely I'm not the only one who has wondered why these companies have spent a combined amount of probably a half a million dollars (probably more) since Les Mis and are both now ending up doing 'chamber' musicals of 'Forum' and 'Perfect Now Change'. Apologies Mitzi - but the larger picture of finance is important in the rarified atmosphere of local theatre industry is terribly important (especially when we're talking around $750 thousand-plus in a small community, and the Princess complex attracting more people last year than York Park). We need to have some form of forum (how aproporiate) and just get people together to talk, realistically, how many sponsorhip $$$ there are to go around, how to help each other, what resources we have to share (not just between 'musical' companies, but also with the straight theatre compamies like Three River, Centr Stage, Second Storey Youth.) I just think it would be fantastic to have a once-every-two-months-meeting where they even talk about scheduling. Every time I try to buy a ticket - something else is on that I want to see and there's no way of getting to it. As far of the criticism of my previous post goes - I'll state this - really, honestly - I truly don't want to sound like a total bitch here - in this forum - it's so good and stimulating and goodwill is rampant - andyou barely ever get that elsewhere. I feel like I've been friends with Buff and Mitzi et al , and, Jesus, this is my third post, but I'm friggin excited by theatre in Launnie, and I want it better.
Cheers
TF
PS - I may have been a little sarcasstical with my mention of Bill. You're dead right -he's great and his Bishop in the sadly-going-to-be-repeated Les Mis was superb. I've worked with him a fair bit in theatre restaurant and Lonny Loot is certainly the champion of the moment.
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Post by Buff on May 3, 2005 9:43:09 GMT 11
I have to admit, regardless of whether Mitzi likes it or not, that the reputation of the LMS is not in good nick at the moment. That's the "vibe" I'm hearing at the moment. It's interesting - to me it seems as if the society has ups and downs on a regular basis. Not sure why that is  Surely I'm not the only one who has wondered why these companies have spent a combined amount of probably a half a million dollars (probably more) since Les Mis and are both now ending up doing 'chamber' musicals of 'Forum' and 'Perfect Now Change'. The policy of the LMS, as understand it, is to do one "big" show and one "chamber" show each. Usually the big sho is on in the middle of the year, the chamber towardsthe end. Due to a booking conflict (Princess Theatre's fault ) they swapped them around. The Player's, as far as I can tell, don't have such a policy of doing "x" number of shows per year and they also do straight plays as well. I can only assume their committee decide what's going to happen and when. I'm friggin excited by theatre in Launnie, and I want it better. And there's a fair bit on too if you are interested in school productions as well. Forum has just finished Cabaret (Scotch Oakburn College) Joseph...Coat (St Patricks College) Grease (Launceston College) My Fair Lady (Devonport - I know not Lton but only 45 mins away) I love you...Change (Players) open in June Buff |
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mitzi
Backyard Balladeer
Posts: 26
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Post by mitzi on May 3, 2005 12:19:40 GMT 11
Me again. Okay... working thru the issues... Slicker promotion: So you didn't like the TV ad. You made that point. However - what's wrong with the rest of it? The poster, flyer and program design was by Steve Richter, who worked on the art design of Forrest Gump (yes .... THE movie) and it was excellent. Their committee has a vacancy for a Publicity Officer at the moment - perhaps you'd like to take that on? Reputation: The group must be doing something right to keep getting audiences. Yes, they have had internal issues to solve, but so has every and any other group. And if you are referring to "in industry bitching", that's never going to stop. Ever. Why don't LMS & the Players combine?: LMS was an offshoot of the Players over 20 years ago. The reason for the break was that the Players weren't presenting enough musicals often enough for some of their musically-minded members. So a small band of Players members put their money where their mouths were, and started LMS. Sharing resources: I think you'll find that there already is a fair bit of that going on - sometimes at no charge, sometimes at a nominal fee. Regular Forum/Scheduling Issues: LMS has made overtures on at least two occassions in the last 18 months to the Players to do just that. The Players have not been interested. Their show will always come first - no matter what and no negotiation entered into. A specific example comes to mind with cast that wanted to do both 42nd Street & Fiddler last year, and were told by the Players that if you were in 42nd Street, you would not be cast in Fiddler. This was despite offers by LMS (both telephoned and in writing) to work around rehearsals schedules and allow our local talent to participate in both. Of course, in the end double casting was allowed in certain cases - particularly male dancers. The sadly-going-to-be-repeated Les Mis: Let me see.... to date, this show has been performed three times in Hobart (with a 4th tentatively scheduled - yes, it's true). If you go to Melbourne and want to see/perform in Les Mis, it's almost constantly on somewhere. And if it's not on this weekend, wait another week and it will be. By the time LMS present the show, it will have been 5 years since the Players version. At this stage, the plan includes a couple of key areas of difference to the Players version. Namely, the barricade will spin, so that the audience will see scenes take place on both sides - as originally intened. And secondly, there is every chance the show will be pro-am and a name star will be flown in to perform a key role. In the end, it will be the theatre-going public who will judge whether or not LMS has made the right choice in presenting Les Mis. TF, you make some very good points on the local industry and getting all local groups to work together. I am sure LMS would be more than keen to hear from someone willing to facilitate just such a "forum". Perhaps there is a job for someone there? Cheers, Mitzi |
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Post by Buff on May 3, 2005 12:51:27 GMT 11
The poster, flyer and program design was by Steve Richter, who worked on the art design of Forrest Gump (yes .... THE movie) and it was excellent. They were both great - suited the style of the show well. LMS was an offshoot of the Players over 20 years ago. The reason for the break was that the Players weren't presenting enough musicals often enough for some of their musically-minded members. So a small band of Players members put their money where their mouths were, and started LMS. I knew LMS was formed to produce musicals only, but didn't realise it was an off-shoot of the Players. I definitely think there is room in Launceston for the both companies. (And I think we need both, too!) A specific example comes to mind with cast that wanted to do both 42nd Street & Fiddler last year, and were told by the Players that if you were in 42nd Street, you would not be cast in Fiddler. I heard that as well - a bit sad as I know there were a few people who were in 42nd Street and would have auditioned for Fiddler as well. Although I know of at least one other person (a high school student, who was in the ensemble only) who was not a male dancer and did both. By the time LMS present the show, it will have been 5 years since the Players version. At this stage, the plan includes a couple of key areas of difference to the Players version. Namely, the barricade will spin, so that the audience will see scenes take place on both sides - as originally intened. And secondly, there is every chance the show will be pro-am and a name star will be flown in to perform a key role. It was 5 years between the 1st & 2nd Hobart performances, and there was differences in how it was presented. Same now in Lton (5 year gap and differences in how it will be presented. Plus the fact that Launceston and the surrounding areas loved and supported the show so well back then, I'd be highly surprised if they didn't support it again. Any word on who they are looking at flying in and for what role? Buff |
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mitzi
Backyard Balladeer
Posts: 26
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Post by mitzi on May 3, 2005 13:08:03 GMT 11
Hi Buff,
No word on who could be the guest star, or which role. I imagine that decision will primarliy involve the Director and MD, and what possible "name stars" are interested in doing a pro-am version of Les Mis and spending 4-6 weeks in Tassie.
I can tell you that a very well-known leading lady (initials MP) was approached last year, but declined due to scheduling clashes. Other names are currently being considered.
Will keep you posted with any other goss!
Cheers,
Mitzi ;D
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Post by theatreform on May 15, 2005 3:40:37 GMT 11
Hello again guys.
Geez - so much to talk about (Forum, school shows, just general theatre etc). Maybe we need a Lonnie 'General' type forum? 'Positions Vacant - LMS' doesn't really seem to fit much any more?! Being new here, how do we do this?
I just really enjoy talking about this sort of stuff, and, Mitzi, would love to get these scheduling-type forums together...
Anyway, cheers y'all.
TF
(Doesn't the light in Launceston look so clear and bold in autumn?)
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Post by Talissa on May 16, 2005 10:23:22 GMT 11
I'll do that, if you like. Just give me a few days. I have next to no time on my hands right now, so could take a while to get around to it. Plus having to catch up with everything that's gotten out of hand while I was in Sydney this weekend. I'll get to it soon.
Anyone else have any requests regarding the layout of the board?
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Post by Buff on May 20, 2005 12:27:30 GMT 11
Thanks for that Talissa, but I'm not sure it's really necessary to have a section just for us Taswegians! I know this thread has gone off track from it's original theme, but might I suggest we just open a new thread in another section (eg Misc or Back Stage). Just seems a bit of over kill to me. Buff |
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I thought his performance in Les Mis for the Launceston Players was excellent (as was the entire show)... but it's horses for courses, isn't it? If we all liked the same thing/show/person we'd all be pretty boring. 
