Have you ever wondered how the Ottawa Little Theatre not only picks its plays, but manages to select wonderfully entertaining ones each and every year for the past 106 seasons? This is the result of hard work over an 11-month period put in by the extremely dedicated members of the Season Planning Committee (Ann, Albert, Chris, David, Gil, Sarah, and Venetia) led by Jane Morris.
Season Planning Committee: Jane, Venetia, Gil, Ann, Albert, Sarah, and Chris (not pictured: David)
The first committee meeting takes place in January for the season that will begin 20 months later. In preparation, Jane has shared her compilation of potential plays collected over the previous year in spreadsheet form containing a brief synopsis, some pertinent background information and the number and gender of cast members. We begin with a list of approximately 120 titles; the committee members consult the information provided and vote on the ones they would be interested in reading. A few weeks later the committee meets and discusses the results. Majority wins! Any plays with more than 6 votes gets placed on the reading list. If a play is sitting on the fence between minority and majority vote status (similar to the present Canadian Parliament), we re-enact scenes from 12 Angry Men trying to convince other members that the play merits being included in the reading list. After much deliberation, coffee, cheese and crackers, the preliminary reading list is complete and the monumental task and ticking clock begins.
Two scripts of each play are ordered for the members to sign out and read, and the race is on. Well not really a race, more like a leisurely curl up in front of a fireplace with a steaming mug of tea and a script. Each member reads all the plays numbering anywhere from 60-80 over a 6-month period. This amounts to about 3 plays a week to read, digest and analyse. Sometimes, a play is not yet available and thus gets struck off the list until another year. However, this only occurs in a very few cases.
On an elaborate play evaluation spreadsheet, all the ratings from each member are compiled including: OLT suitability, quality, technical requirements, ease of production, etc. There is also a place for comments. The system is robust and foolproof, yet Albert in all his clumsiness inadvertently finds a way to muck up the totals; Gil is usually the one to notice, and Jane gets to correct.
We meet again with all the information and the negotiations begin! The goal is to select 9 plays for the season with an additional 9 for backup if the favorites are not available. We try to match a backup closely with each selected play i.e Christmas play with a Christmas play, mystery with a mystery.
The low-scoring plays are quickly eliminated and the rest remain for analysis and consideration. Lately, we’ve had an Agatha Christie and a Norm Foster every year as they are audience favorites. In addition, perhaps a farce and lots of comedy, and definitely a Christmas play – either a popular family play or Christmas-themed. We try to get some contemporary fare into the mix as well. We look at the requirements of each production and the feasibility of putting it on the OLT stage, i.e. costumes, sets and cast size, and where it fits in the roster.
After much cheese and crackers and coffee, the list is ready for submission to the Board of Directors for their approval.
The next step is to select a director for each play. Those on the Directors List are invited to submit their preferences in order of ranking and their availability along with their vision for the production. Over a delicious meal at Jane’s house (perhaps you can see a theme here), we decide on directors using all the before-mentioned information and any historical knowledge we may have.
The final list of plays and directors is submitted for approval to the Board of Directors. Hints are given as to the titles of the next season at the AGM, and a speed dating process is launched in November where potential members of the design teams can meet with the selected directors for possible matches.
Finally, in March, when we’re ready to sell season subscriptions, the big unveil is made and the roster of plays is released to the public.
So when you are enjoying the excellent performances put on by the OLT actors, superbly directed on an elaborate set built by the production department, please take a moment to think of those members of the Season Planning Committee who started this whole process over a year earlier. We have consumed a lot of calories for your future entertainment pleasure.
-Albert