Scheduling Shows Too Close Together

OK, one of the many topics that have been talked about recently is the problem of too many shows, too close together. I think Ryan started the topic - he suggested:

Don’t schedule shows the same weekends as other groups. It seems everyone does a fall show and a spring show. And more often than not they are scheduled right over each other. Not only does this cut down on the talent pool auditioning for shows, but it dilutes everyone’s audience and prevents actors from seeing each other’s shows. I don’t know why this happens. A lot of theatres in our area publicize their seasons well in advance (Marshall University, Charleston Stage Company, Kanawha Players, Charleston Light Opera Guild (to some degree), and it’s not difficult to know these dates, but inevitably, we’ll end up with 5 shows happening the same 2 weekends twice a year, and a dry spell the rest of the year. And then sometimes 3 groups in our region within 90 miles of each other mount the exact same show at the same time or within weeks of each other.

You're absolutely right, this happens way too often. There have been efforts to put a stop to the problem - there's an informal gathering of local performing groups that meets at least a couple of times a year to compare schedule dates and shows.

But even with that, conflict is sometimes avoidable. Christmas shows are a great example - if your group wants to put on a Christmas show, you want it to run sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That only gives you three or four weekends to choose from, and you usually want to avoid the weekend just after Thanksgiving (so you have more rehearsal time) and the weekend before Christmas (because no one wants to be busy that close to the holiday). So now we're down to two or three weekends, and you haven't even looked at what stages are available and when - after all, there are other organizations (outside of theatre groups) doing holiday shows.

Scheduling shows without running into another group takes a combination of skill and luck. As you say, most groups run shows in the fall and spring - so their rehearsals usually start in September or January. Allow six to eight weeks for rehearsal, and they're all ready to take the stage around November or March. You have to avoid holidays - Easter, Spring Break, Thanksgiving - and sports events, especially Marshall's home games. For First Stage, we also have to take into consideration school events - Prom, Show Choir performances, All-State Chorus - the list goes on and on. Even if your group manages its own theater, you have conflicts to work around - other groups schedule events, too.

So all that has to be taken into consideration. I really think that most groups try their hardest to avoid scheduling against other groups - but sometimes you just run out of options. It's especially difficult when you have to find a stage to rent.

As to the question of groups in nearby towns scheduling the same shows, I think that rarely enters into the decision as to whether or not to stage a show. If Seussical runs in Ashland and Charleston, should Huntington stay away from it? Everyone wants to do (and is doing) High School Musical, everyone will want to do Wicked when it becomes available - who can blame them? Since there seems to be very little spillover in audience from each town (aside from the theatre fans, of course), it doesn't surprise me that each town tackles the shows in its own way.

So I guess my answer to the question is, from what I've seen, everyone tries to avoid conflicts - honest - but it doesn't always work out.