Hmm, I wonder what that show is about.
Over the years, we have done a lot of different productions at the playhouse. Some of them have been musical, other farcical, and a few have been rather dramatic. Because we have done so many varied productions, there is a good chance there have been a few you knew little to nothing about. This year, we are giving you four different ways to learn about each show.
One of the new things we are trying for our fortieth season is the introduction of video teasers. The teasers are a fun and lighthearted way to get a little taste of each production without giving away too much information. Each one is about a minute long, give or take 30 seconds. You can get to the teasers for each show through the “Seasons” tab on the website or you can search for “Brookehillsplayhouse” on YouTube.
If you want to know a little more about a production, the “Show Detail” page (again found under “Seasons”) is the place to look. It tells you if each production is a musical or a straight show as well as the basic plotline. You can also find out who wrote each play and get a glimpse of some of the main characters in the story.
Shortly before each production goes on stage, we will give you two more chances to learn about them. First, we will publish the local review of each show. These can be found under the tab labeled “News”. A typical review will tell you a little bit about each show, as well as who is playing the major roles for the production. It will give you a chance to see an outsider’s opinion of the show.
Finally, we are going to try something else new this year – director’s commentary. We will sit down with each director, get them to tell us a little bit about the production, and share it with you in video format. Each commentary will be a bit different. You may see the actors in rehearsal. You might hear a snippet of a song. You may learn a lot about the show or you may just learn a little. It is up to each director to decide how much they want to share.
Not sure which of the four is for you? Here is a quick summary:
Video Teasers – A quick audiovisual glimpse of the show with no details given away.
Show Detail – The plotline, author, and main characters for each production.
Reviews – An outsider opinion of the show that may include actor names.
Commentary – A video of the director’s take on the show. You may see the actors in action.
Of course, you may have already made you mind up that you want to see a show and would rather be surprised. We understand that, too. But we hope that you never again have to arrive at a show not knowing what you are going to see. Unless that is the way you want it to be.
Steve Fournier
