Working Man’s Clothes Development Series
WMC is all about developing new plays, and this is done several different ways...
*Staged Reading
Exactly what it sounds like, we get a director who is excited about the script, cast the actors, and get them in a room with the playwright and potential some members of our Artistic Council and we go to town on preparing the best staged reading possible of the script. After this reading we always have a talk-back session for the playwright's benefit. We ask specific questions from the playwright, along with some of our own, to give the writer as much helpful feedback as possible to go back to the script and really flush out what needs to be worked. This is considered one of our first stages of development and is generally for us to see the potential a script has for a full production with WMC.
* Workshop Reading
This is a little different. In this case, we already know we have interest in getting the script to a producing level for WMC. We take a week and really workshop the play. How do we do this? Well, basically we ask that the writer be involved every day and take feedback from the actors and directors based on questions they have after really slowly focusing on the script section by section. We ask for a new draft of the script every day and once the week is up, we have an invited reading of the new product and get feedback from a specific audience. This is one of the last steps in getting a play ready and not always a necessary one, but a great opportunity for the writer to truly take the time and immerce themselves in their play and what needs to happen to get it up on it's feet.
* Naked Bootleg
This is for those projects that don't need a reading, or a workshop, but just want to have a night in front of an audience. There are no talk-back sessions, the development in this case is simply putting the piece up in front of an audience to discover what comes from this. We really think of these nights as a fun opportunity for an actor to show a one-person piece they've been working, a director to see how an audience responds to their pet project, or a writer to just see the interest in their work. There is always fun and booze at these nights, making for a great forum to take risks and really try something out.
If you have a piece you think would be good for an upcoming Naked Bootleg, please e-mail xxxx with "Naked Bootleg Series Submission" in the subject line.
* Full Production
The play has been developed and workshopped, based on need of the piece, and the Artistic Council has determined that the script is a good fit for what Working Man's Clothes sets out to do as a company. We then slot the play in our calender, and really rally behind the project, finding the best theater for the play, the best director (generally someone who has been involved in the development), the best actors, designers, producers, marketers... you get the point. We get the press in and we sell the tickets, yes, but we really put everything we've got behind the play so that it can possibly be published, win awards, and get picked up to a bigger better theater! We want the play to be a huge success for everyone involved and do everything in our power to make that happen!
Like what you see? What to be a part of the process?
Contact us! Come out to our events!
Let us know who you are and that you want to be involved!
