06/06/2023
I am working on an Unscripted Television or webcast Production called Dr. Love Presents
It’s a show about a mobile Theater.
If you asked someone what goes into making a winning theater production, most people would have no idea what is actually required to bring an original work of theatrical art to the stage.
Specifically, this is an Arced format hybrid style production, it’s about a group of people who write/produce, direct, design, build and create a musical show from concept to live production, without even the knowledge of where it will be performed. It’s a mobile theatre.
The drama challenges and stress that come with writing, building the sets, lighting design, sound effects, finding talent, auditioning, rehearsing, and working with actors/singers/dancers on how to perform their roles and then securing a venue to perform it at, without losing all the money you spent to get the show on the stage. It takes a real proven talent to pull this off.
A typical episode would have (1) A goal to reach (i.e. set design) (2) The problems of reaching that goal. (3) some cool creative processing to get there, and (4) the final decisions that are made that propel you to the next step in the process.
It’s all a plot to get to the next step in the creative and organized chaos, under a deadline to produce a show, and all the twists, turns, personalities, and talents needed to get it there.
What’s different about this show is that in a typical professional production, you can go out and hire the talent needed from a vast pool of professionals. But as a community base theater, everyone is a volunteer, from the cast to the director, it’s all for the love of the art. And that is really, really different from any other show.
First off, most people that write a show will never see it produced. Second, most people that want to sing or dance or act never get a chance. That’s one of the beautiful things about this production, it gives talent a place to start. It does not matter if it is stagecraft, costumes, lighting, acting, singing, dancing, stage management, directing, sound, or playwriting, it all comes together from the untapped talent in a community. You get to experience people coming out of their shells and trying new things that bring a community together. When it comes to a new season, you move to a new community and find the new talent there, and you're off to the races again.
This show has two real-life characters they are Dennis Love and Shawn Webber. They have a great understanding of how to put a show on stage. With over 50 years of proven results and hundreds of shows under their belt ex*****on is assured. They are both well-known in the local theatrical community.
Dennis is the writer, director, actor, singer, and all-around expert in bringing the show to the stage. He’s almost 70 and is still going strong. He steps in whenever there is a hole in the production that needs to be filled. His background in graphic arts and video production comes in handy as well. He has a knack for bringing people out of their shells and finding talent. But is also capable of stepping in if necessary. His first show was at age 24 he produced and directed the “Stardome Awards” show. A music competition that was put on at the Marin County Civic Center. He arranged to have judges from the William Morris agency as well as Motown and Capital Records. He has been creating shows for over 40 years.
Shawn is the production manager with over 500 shows under his supervision. He is also, the set designer, builder, and lighting designer. He’s in his fifties and has done theatre most of his life. He is a get-it-done guy, whatever it takes. He’s just like the show is: all business, nothing personal. These two guys together create unbelievable content from almost nothing.
Of course, there’s a costume designer, choreographer, stagehands, set construction helpers, stage manager, actors, singers, dancers and all of the others needed to put on the show. These people are recruited/auditioned for each show from the local community talent as part of the plot.
Each episode will end with a fix to a problem and a new problem to be fixed. That will create a bit of a cliffhanger for the start of the next episode. Making this an Arced format hybrid production. But sometimes an episode will start with something changing from something that was already thought to be fixed, or with someone leaving the production, that will spill into a whole new set of problems. Anyone of the characters can take the ball and run with it.
Basically, the audience will always think they know what kinds of things are going to happen, but still be surprised at how they overcome them. Every episode features the two main characters: Dennis and Shawn. But also, from the volunteers in the show, there will be other recurring characters.
Even though the risk may be higher for this type of show, the rewards can also be greater. In the off-season of the TV show or webcast, the cast will be performing to sold-out performances around the country, creating more revenue and bringing more attention to the show.
The season ends with the show on stage with hopefully standing ovations from the audience and contracts for more performances at other venues.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. Is it a good concept? hugs
