Working in the theatre is hard! For most theatre artists, a career does not involve working 9-5. The hours are long and irregular, the pay is usually very low, and the stress is sometimes very high. Nevertheless, many people still want to follow their dream of doing theatre as a full-time job. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a professional actor, director, designer or marketing director, this MAGPI program is for you. You will meet and learn from artists who work for BRAT Productions, a professional company based in Philadelphia. These highly trained (and award-winning) people will share insights into the challenges and rewards of working in a competitive and fast-paced business, where sometimes the biggest obstacle to overcome is the fear of failure. Along the way, our artists will talk about marketing a show using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube), and share some tips and tricks for making theatrical magic on a very limited budget.

Videoconference Outline

• 
Introductions (5 minutes)
  Each site will have 30 seconds to introduce themselves - - and our speakers will introduce themselves as well. Please be prepared to share the name of your school, where you are located and what you hope to learn during today's session!
• Why Theatre? (15 minutes)
  A conversation about what got us into this business in the first place. We will talk about our first taste of theatre, what got us into the business, and why we’ve continued to stick it out. We’ll discuss our career goals, our “ultimate dream job” in theatre, and where we see theatre heading in the next 5-10 years (when students will be entering the work force).
• Different Ways to Have a Life in Theatre (10 minutes)
  Not everyone can be on Broadway, so what are some other options? How many different jobs are there in theatre? How hard is it to break into the business? With BRAT’s team members, we will discuss acting, directing, designing, and public relations/marketing for the theatre.
• Getting Creative (30 minutes)
  Most theatre companies operate with relatively small budgets, meaning that most plays cost a tiny fraction of what movies and TV shows do. Plus, these 3 popular art forms are totally different in terms of artistic outlook and audience size. What are the differences between film, TV and theatre? What makes theatre special? And, how can you be resourceful and creative when working on a really small budget? This part of the discussion will center on our production of CARRIE and utilize costumes and props, a DVD presentation of some of the special FX in the show, and an internet exploration of the comprehensive marketing and PR campaign we created.
• Questions from the Audience (25 minutes)
  Anything goes! We'll conduct this session of the program in 'round robin' format -- so each school will be permitted to ask one question and then we'll move on to the next. After each school has had a turn, we'll repeat the rotation until time runs out.

Pre-Videoconference Activities

• Producing a Play: Students should read a play before the event. Perhaps their English teacher can assign one, such as a work by Shakespeare. Other good playwrights to read include Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco and Anton Chekhov. After reading the play, students should take notes as if they were the producer. How many actors are needed? What kind of settings, costumes, sound, etc. Is the play “realistic” or does it use language and situation in a strange way? What challenges could arise while staging this play? And…how much money do you think it would cost to put it on?
• Read The Empty Space by Peter Brook (Suggested! Not required!): If students can get their hands on The Empty Space, by Peter Brook, their eyes may be opened to all kinds of theatrical ideas that don’t require big money, resources and famous actors.

A Note about Content:

BRAT Production's fall show is CARRIE, and they will be discussing certain production aspects of the show during this program. Some of the special FX they will talk about & show involve blood FX, fire, smoke from explosions, and electricity. But the show itself is a comedy, and nothing that the team will show will be terribly inappropriate for kids. If students live in the Greater Philadelphia area and would like to see the show live, BRAT productions recommend that audience members be 13 years of age or older.

About BRAT Productions

The vision of Brat Productions is a world in which theatre shares a place in the common cultural consciousness alongside music, film, television and the internet; where theatre speaks to everyone. Founded in 1996, Brat Productions is a theatre company that produces both contemporary material and re-envisioned classics, working with new artists, working in non-traditional venues, and working to keep ticket prices low. We have a ten-year track record as Philadelphia’s premier avant-garde theatre, and has become known for using unusual performance venues to enhance our original and noteworthy productions. Brat Productions generates new theatre-goers by creating theatre that is unpredictable, courageous, and compelling. We value risk, innovation, and fostering the growth of artists in the greater Philadelphia region.