Want to Direct A Play at Riverwalk Theatre?
Show submissions for season 37 (2025-2026) are officially open! What do potential directors need to know about the selection process? Vice-President for production Shannon Bowen is here with the details.
Hi! I’m Shannon Bowen, Vice President of Production on the Board of Directors. Let’s talk about season selection for Season 37, which runs Fall of 2025 through spring of 2026. After much consideration and evaluation of our selection process for shows and directors, the Board and season selection committee have decided to change the way we pick our season.
What are the submission dates and how do directors submit?
We’ll open submissions the week of September 30th, and accept proposals through noon on November 1st, 2024. There will be a link to submit via Google Forms posted on our social media, website, and Ripples Newsletter, and there will also be a PDF version available to fill out if you are unable or uncomfortable submitting online. Please visit our website or contact our Artistic Operations Manager in our office at 517-482-5700 to get a copy of the PDF.
What is the submission process?
During last year’s submission process, the Board of Directors voted on four titles to pre-select for the 2024/25 season. This was the first time we pre-selected titles and called upon directors to submit for them. While we love the structure this provides to the season direction we hoped to shape, we have determined we will not pre-select titles, but will instead encourage submitting directors to take inspiration from the “ buckets” we introduced last year. The biggest piece of “direction” we want to provide to submitting directors is to think of shows that will be a “draw”-- meaning the title will attract volunteers and patrons alike. Name recognition is very attractive to us and our community!
Tell me about the “buckets”
At Riverwalk, we are striving to capture opportunities to present shows that will align with our organization’s core values. The suggested buckets allow us to provide structure for what types of shows we hope to present. The buckets are as follows:
Open the "Buckets" file below to see samples of how pays may be classified in buckets
What are the submission dates and how do directors submit?
We’ll open submissions the week of September 30th, and accept proposals through noon on November 1st, 2024. There will be a link to submit via Google Forms posted on our social media, website, and Ripples Newsletter, and there will also be a PDF version available to fill out if you are unable or uncomfortable submitting online. Please visit our website or contact our Artistic Operations Manager in our office at 517-482-5700 to get a copy of the PDF.
What is the submission process?
During last year’s submission process, the Board of Directors voted on four titles to pre-select for the 2024/25 season. This was the first time we pre-selected titles and called upon directors to submit for them. While we love the structure this provides to the season direction we hoped to shape, we have determined we will not pre-select titles, but will instead encourage submitting directors to take inspiration from the “ buckets” we introduced last year. The biggest piece of “direction” we want to provide to submitting directors is to think of shows that will be a “draw”-- meaning the title will attract volunteers and patrons alike. Name recognition is very attractive to us and our community!
Tell me about the “buckets”
At Riverwalk, we are striving to capture opportunities to present shows that will align with our organization’s core values. The suggested buckets allow us to provide structure for what types of shows we hope to present. The buckets are as follows:
- A family-friendly show or one that features and attracts children and families. This could be a musical or non-musical. Think along the lines of James and the Giant Peach, SpongeBob the Musical…shows like that.
- The second “bucket” we’d like to fill is a Classic Musical. Even if it’s not a musical from the grand old days of theatre, we’d like it to have that classic feel.
- For our third “bucket” we want directors to submit holiday shows. This can be anything from Halloween-New Year’s, or get creative with it! It could even be a cabaret or set of vignettes with holiday themes. This can be a musical or non-musical.
- Public domain titles are very attractive to our organization– these are titles that are no longer held by a publisher and subject to royalty fees for performances. More importantly, these are titles that have stood the test of time and have continued to attract volunteers and audiences alike.
- And last, we have a total wildcard option — submit anything you’d like. Like in the past, if there is a show you want to do that you think would be great on one of our stages, we want you to bring us your vision!
Open the "Buckets" file below to see samples of how pays may be classified in buckets
|
Download "Buckets" sample by clicking the adobe icon ------>
|
| ||
STEP 1 - Review the submission process
PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR PROJECT(S) PLEASE REVIEW THE process by watching this interview with Shannon bowen OUR VP PRODUCTION, or reading the document above.
STEP 1 - Review the submission process
PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR PROJECT(S) PLEASE REVIEW THE process by watching this interview with Shannon bowen OUR VP PRODUCTION, or reading the document above.
STEP 2 - Click on the link below and complete a submission form.
https://docs.google.com/.../1jbkmRwGYq.../edit
Step 3 - Submit your forms
Submissions will be accepted through noon on friday, November 1. late submissions will not be accepted..
https://docs.google.com/.../1jbkmRwGYq.../edit
Step 3 - Submit your forms
Submissions will be accepted through noon on friday, November 1. late submissions will not be accepted..
