The Art & Business of Community Theater

The Green Room Groupies return to discuss the differences between practical sound effects versus internet acquired effects. Dave gives his review of Southgate Players: "Calendar Girl" and Kathleen shares her experience with the theater company. Plus! Brian reveals his brief but exciting conversation with Jeff Daniels about the one role they have in common. Come on into the Green Room and join us!...

The Groupies are are back in the Green Room to discuss on stage chemistry. Is it natural or can it be developed? Also Dave gives his review of "The Wiz" and the groupies discuss disheartening news about the intolerance over a Nebraska production of Frozen. Come on in and join us!

The groupies return to discuss new plays as well the main topic about when or when not to do an accent for your character. Kori joins in the fun and of course silliness abounds. All that and Carol also "wigs" out. You have to hear it to believe it.

The Groupies are back for the month of May and Ron reappears along with Kori! The discussion of how to prepare for a musical kicks off the discussion portion of the program but controversy rears it's ugly head thanks to Ron and Brian. Uh oh! And if that isn't enough for you, Carol gives us a new show she's read and Kori and Brian discuss the Tony nominations!. You REALLY don't want to miss this on...

The Groupies converge on the Green Room to discuss the concept of collaborations between local theater groups that stems from a fan letter. Dave shares his first experience as an adjudicator for Kalamazoo Civic Theater's production of "Angels in America". Join the fun in the Green Room!

The Groupies gather in the Green Room to share their reviews on several shows in this episode. Kathleen and Carol both review, "Next to Normal", Kathleen reviews "Menopause 2", and Broadway Brian gives his reviews for "Two Strangers" and "Death of a Salesman" starring Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf. All that and Dave pays tribute to Jessie Jones. Come on in and have a seat!

To get things started this episode, Dave discusses the differences between fund raising and development with Betsy Willis. Then all the Groupies continue the conversation in a lively give and take. Be sure to listen to this episode before planning your next bake sale!

The Groupies gather round Dave as he talks about his trip to the amazing Hale Centre Theatre in Utah and his experiences while there. Kathleen shares a wonderful story with a happy ending and Brian and Carol are as snarky as ever! Plus an interview with Community Theatre Association of Michigan - CTAM Adjudication Chair Betsy Willis.

The Groupies are back with one important question - why doesn't community theater get the respect it deserves? Of course tangents abound because, well, it's The Green Room. Come on in and have a seat, but don't miss your call for places!

The groupies gather together to discuss intimacy on stage and what is needed to make everyone comfortable. Of course memories abound and Kathleen's list comes out! Also, Carol gives us her review of "Shucked". Have a seat and a listen, in the Green Room!

The Groupies have a seat in the Green Room to discuss the danger of choosing a play based on the movie but oh boy does the Tangentverse rear it's head and by the time the episodes over the Groupies have taken several side roads. Hop in and join them for a rollicking and thrilling ride!

The groupies return in 2026 for a Hodge podge of discussions including hiding tattoos and what "bag of tricks" do you use during auditions? Dave gives his review of "Shucked" as the second Groupie to see the musical, with Carol waiting in the wings for her turn. Come on into the Green Room, it's going to get a bit corny!

The Groupies celebrate the holidays discussing murder! What their favorite murder mysteries are and which ones they'd like to do or seen done or which ones they have done. Oh yeah, Christmas Carol is mentioned which makes Carol wretch just a little bit. Come on in and join us! The Green Room Groupies wish everyone a joyous holiday season!

The Groupies are learning all about he latest trends in theater management and the software to support it when Zachary Collins, CEO and co-founder of Ludus visits the Green Room. We learn the state of community theatre as a business, when to automate messages to donors, and even what SAAS stands for. Join in as we put the "business" back into The Art of Community Theater!

The groupies take a moment out of their busy Thanksgiving schedule to relax in the Green Room and contemplate if acting is an innate ability or something that can be learned. Things go sideways quickly though when Carol and Dave try to explain six/seven to Brian who seems triggered by the whole thing. Before you sit down for that turkey dinner, come join the groupies and don't forget to weigh in!

The Groupies are back in the Green Room to discuss how far down the rabbit hole a community theater group should go when it comes to "trigger warnings". From Shakespeare to 'Night Mother, what and when is too much? The conversation gets deep and intense but also tangent-y, because what's life without a few good tangents. Come on in, have a seat and join us!

Dave, Mark and Brian return to the Green Room and discuss how to get to the core of your character. The Mail Bag is opened and Rocky Horror pops out! Dave gives us a show worth looking into and Broadway Brian gives his final review of the Broadway Show, "Call Me Izzy" before proclaiming he has no plans to go back to Broadway soon. He lied. Join us for all the Green Room shenanigans you've come to...

It's Dave and Brian in the Green Room as they welcome back Groupie Mark, and discuss what to look for and how to determine choosing shows for an upcoming season. Dave reveals another show worth taking a look at and Broadway Brian is back to ramble on about the Tony Award winning musical, "Maybe Happy Ending". Have a seat in the Green Room and join us!

It's Dave, Bob and Carol, back in the Green Room for another episode as they discuss what they consider to be the 3 C's of acting. Tangents abound as they patiently wait for that "dead weight" to return. If you know, you know! Dave also discusses a show he thinks would be great for community theater groups, with or without the nudity. Come on in and have a seat!

Some of the groupies return and discuss children's theater as well as a maybe not so well known play that is worth taking a look at. Dave, Bob and Carol hold down the fort while the others prepare for the next MCP show. Have a seat in the Green Room and enjoy!

The Green Room groupies welcome back Kori as Dave brings up the topic of marketing and social media. They've touched on it before but they get a younger person's perspective this time. Kori even teaches them a thing or two! Also, Broadway Brian and Chorus Line Kori give a dueling review of the Broadway hit, "Stranger Things". Come on in and have a seat in the Green Room! It'll be divoon, darling!...

The groupies return and ask the question, are all plays that are considered classics, worth bringing back? The Tangentverse is in full swing and even Kathleen has a hard time bringing them all back. Dave gives his review of Les Misérables and the usual Hijinx ensues. Dave interviews Thom Henke! Come check it out!

The Groupies gather in the Green Room to discuss how to be more welcoming in your theater, but as can happen, the groupies take a Tangentverse ride down another road and seem to react more to Dave's intro to the topic, creating a spirited conversation with different views and opinions. Dave and Patricia Middleton gives us a review of the show "Clue", and Brian gives us his second show that he's co...

AACTFest Dave returns from Iowa and fills the Groupies in on all the winners of the event, as well as who he met there and for the first time ever, a remote interview!!! Look at us getting all tech-savvy! Who took the top prize this year, come on into the Green Room and find out!

The groupies are having a celebration! One hundred episodes and still going strong!!! Join us in the green room as we reminisce about the first 100 episodes through a quiz that Dave gives the gang. How many questions can you get right? Who were the original groupies? How many times did Dave play Daddy Warbucks in Annie? (Seriously you all better get that one!) All that and the gang reflects on cha...