GMS SELECTION PROCESS

GMS SHOW SELECTION PROCESS

 

  Over the years there have been various ways that future musicals were selected.

 

  • A member hoping to direct his / her favourite musical would nominate a show.

 

  • The full Management Committee would suggest and discuss the year’s program during the Planning Week-end.

 

  • Members might submit lists of musicals either to a Committee Rep. or to the Secretary for consideration.

 

  • A “blockbuster” became available (i.e. Les Miserables) and the Production Company holding the rights would contact GMS.

 

  • Surveys were conducted to ascertain the shows that audiences found “popular”.

 

  The policy used since 2008 has endeavoured to employ several specific criterion when selecting shows.

 

CURRENT POLICY

 

  We have a Show Selection Sub-Committee which consists of 5 GMS members.

  This group is included in the portfolio of Vice President in charge of Productions.

 

2009 - 2010

     Darryl Davis (Chairman), Emmakate de Henau, Ros English, Chris King, Ruth Tiffen.

Some of the experience brought into this show selection group includes: stage direction, musical direction,

choreography, stage acting, publicity, longevity with GMS, willingness to co-operate, and other theatrical skills.

 

Step 1

 

Initial meeting of the Sub-Committee …. usually held a few weeks before the Planning Week-end when the year’s program is ratified.

The Sub-Committee members have lists of shows for discussion.

These suggestions have come from:

    GMS members, survey results, new shows that have just become

    available and research that the individual member has undertaken.

           The shows are discussed under 3 main headings:

 

# Standard Musicals – these are musicals that are considered to be very popular with members and audiences.

Shows that have great musical scores and generally a large chorus that enables many GMS members to be involved.

Examples:

 The Pajama Game, Oklahoma, South Pacific, Camelot.

                                              

# Ensemble    - ones that often have greater depth of character (sometimes not found in the standard musical comedy) and numerous minor principals.

These shows might not necessarily be considered as “extremely popular”, but allow our members to expand their theatrical experiences.

Examples:

 Return to the Forbidden Planet, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sweeney Todd,

 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods.

 

# Musical with a NAME  – sometimes a new show that has just been released for amateur rights or a show that contains a popular name in whichwe feelwill attract good audiences and benefit our members.

Examples:

 Les Miserables, Cats, The Producers, My Fair Lady, Cabaret, Fiddler.

 

Step 2

 

    The sub-committee members create a short list of 3 – 5 shows per category.

     Research is now conducted on the following principles:

                                                                                                    

  • Genre

     An important ingredient is to ensure the shows are not all the same categories.

     3 westerns, or 3 Gilbert & Sullivans, or 3 Sondheim musicals is probably not a wise choice.

 

  • Cast size

     A good mix is essential so we do not have all shows with huge casts or all containing small casts.

     GMS policy is to put on two large cast shows and one smaller one for the  “Seniors”.

     The Junior policy is to have one show that will be contain numerous sub-teen performers and the other one to be  

     predominately teen oriented.

 

  • Ages of performers

The ages of GMS members range from very young to “gracefully mature”.

Thus ages cover a wide range: children, young adults, middle-aged and mature and hence GMS must consider the ages of performers when selecting shows.

Return to the Forbidden Planet, Godspell, Grease, West Side Storyare all musicals that are predominately youth oriented …. Teenagers and young adults in the vast majority.

 

70 Girls 70, The Merry Widow, Mame rely on older casts.

 

Therefore it is vital that the full program does not have an over-representation of one age group.

This is neither fair to our members or audiences and could have an adverse effect by “stretching our performers”.

 

  • Appeal

The Committee must consider the appeal of the shows for both our members

and audiences. This is vital for both performance and financial position.

Key areas to deliberate: musical score, dialogue, reputation.

 

  • Difficulties?

Under consideration are such wide ranging points as:set specification, costuming, difficulty of roles, orchestra demands, other activities at that time (i.e. 60th Anniversary), has the show “bombed” or “triumphed” professionally, etc.

Step 3

 

The entire programis presented to the full Management Committee during the Planning week-end outlining why these shows were selected.

 

The Committee either accepts the full program through a simple majority by the Reps. or requests the sub-committee to reconsider the selections.

 

Step 4

 

The program is advertised on our website, our quarterly Newsletter and on our noticeboard in the Shed.

We ask Directors to submit requests for specific shows in which they wish to be involved.

 

A Directors’ Evening  takes place where prospective Directors present their visions, impressions, past achievements and knowledge of the musical.

The Committee then appoints the successful candidates.

 

           Darryl Davis   (Vice President - GMS Productions)