Guidelines for Presenting a Reading

STAGE MANAGERS, READING MODERATORS & PLAYWRIGHTS – FOR THE COMPETITION – FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES

  1. The Stage Manager should open the house at least 30 minutes prior to the reading start time.
  2. The Producer or Director should open the reading by making the announcement (see outline in prior section).
  3. At the conclusion of the performance, the Stage Manager should turn off the stage lights and bring up the House Lights.
  4. During the performance, the Producer should pay attention to audience reaction. Do they seem interested and engaged, or are they seemingly bored? Does the play keep their interest during the entire performance? Is their laughter, verbal reactions or applause?
  5. During the Talk-Back, the Playwright should:
    1. Smile and stay positive.
    2. Be ready to take constructive criticism and smile.
    3. Do not attempt to convince the audience of why what you wrote, is correct or the only way things should be interpreted. A playwright should refrain from debate and defense of work. But it’s OK to talk about your process and experience.
    4. Thank the audience members for their opinion or participation when appropriate, even if something is interpreted by you as offensive.
    5. Thank the producer, director, stage manager and cast – for all their efforts – as this experience should be invaluable to the playwright.
  6. During the Talk-Back, the Moderator should:
    1. Introduce yourself and that the Talk-Back will begin in about 5 minutes, and the audience can either stay or leave.
    2. Smile – and try and keep everyone POSITIVE.
    3. After 5 minutes, introduce and invite to the stage: the Playwright, Producer, Director, Stage Manager, and individuals in the Cast. If the Play Readers are there, introduce them as well, but they can remain in the audience.
    4. Explain to the audience that you first have your own questions – and then you’ll open things up to audience questions.
    5. Ask about the playwrights background, inspirations, their play writing process, their decisions, character or script questions. Things about the actual play they wrote?
    6. Have a prepared list of questions to ask the audience, to get people started, such as the following:
      1. What did you like about the play?
      2. What did you not like about the play?
      3. What moments grabbed your attention and made you sit up in your seat?
      4. What were some things that disconnected you from the play or made you drop out?
      5. What confused you? What questions are you left with?
      6. Would the play be a satisfying night out?
      7. What about the play could be improved?
      8. Did all the scenes need to be there, or could some be eliminated?
      9. Any other general or specific reactions?
      10. You can also ask the cast similar questions.
    7. Before opening up questions to the audience, ask them NOT to ask the playwright what they thought of the reading they just saw.
    8. Open questions up to the audience. Keep the audience engaged. If an audience member seems to possess subject matter expertise related to the script, ask them to elaborate. It may help the playwright.
    9. Keep the pace moving – don’t let the playwright or cast speak too long answering a question – move on to the next.
    10. At the end, THANK the playwright for attending and answering questions.
    11. Thank the Director, Actors, Stage Manager, Producer and the Audience for attending.
  7. During the Talk-Back, the Producer should:
    1. Pay attention to audience feedback, questions, concerns, suggestions – that could determine how the play would be received by paying audience members, as a Full Production.
    2. Guage the rapport and perceived flexibility of the playwright. Are they willing to make changes to the play that might make it easier to stage as a full production, or reduce the length of the play if the audience believes it is too long, or address other concerns mentioned by the audience.
  8. After the Talk-Back, the Playwright should have a discussion with the Producer of the series, about their thoughts regarding their Play, after considering audience feedback.
  9. At the Talk-Back, the Producer should:
    1. Consider what happened during the reading, talk-back and subsequent discussions with the playwright and director, to determine one overall score/rank that they would give the overall production. Use this overall rank, combined with the reviewer scores, to help determine which play should have a Full Production Run – if any.

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More Information

Team Guidelines: Ranking | Preparing | Presenting
Also See: Disclaimer | Schedule