I have been having a bit of a dry spell lately because most of the activity that happens from day to day, seems repetitive to me.  It isn’t, I know, but I just feel that it isn’t that exciting to write about. 

I have been keeping rather busy.  I have arranged for several Toulouse Lautrec posters to be framed and need to have them hung at the condo in Playa Blanca.  I have traveled back and forth by bus to the condo, in order to hand over keys to renters.  Sunday, all day, I am helping with the spay and neuter clinic where 170 animals are scheduled for sterilisation.  I ride every morning, almost, up in the Jaramillo mountains.  Because pasture is almost non existent for the horses, I have been gathering bags of cut grass every 3-4 days.  I am pretty active, but I decided to try a couple of new activities that I have absolutely no experience doing.

I have accepted to act as “Producer” for Chiriqui Players’ play Sylvia.   A.R. Gurney’s play “Sylvia” is about a love triangle involving Greg and Kate, who are married, and Sylvia — a dog. 

I had no clue what the job entails, but I knew the group needed some help.  I felt that I could leap in and take on the task, without too much difficulty.  But, what does a producer do?  Everything the Director doesn’t do.  This didn’t tell me much, so I looked it up.....I think I have some work cut out for me in the next month !!

Unlike a director who brings out the best in the actors through rehearsals, or a manager who oversees everything that goes on within the building in which performances are held, a producer's role is to generate enough interest and revenue in a project that it can actually open to a paying audience.

1. 1.Scope of Responsibility
   

Whether the venue is a modest community theater or a major playhouse on Broadway, a theater producer's primary job is to find new material, assemble the best talent to perform it, and attract investors who are willing to underwrite the full cost of the production. In some cases, the producer herself is the "angel" who bankrolls the show and receives credit for doing so in the theatrical programs, press releases and on the theater marquee.

2. 2.Creative Collaboration
   

While the casting of a production is generally the prerogative of the artistic director, the amount of money advanced and the clout of the investment team dictates whether the producer participates in the audition process or can designate that certain roles be played by specific actors. Producers can also assume the role of scouts if an "A" list actor approaches them looking for a particular type of play in which to star. In addition, theater producers spend a lot of time reading unproduced scripts and seeking original gems that they can either option or purchase outright from the playwright. How much the playwright is allowed to participate in the development process is left to the discretion of both the producer and the artistic director and is usually predicated on the writer's name value and reputation.

3. 3.Locating a Performance Space
   

Producers are either associated with one specific theater to which they bring all new shows and revivals or they seek out performance spaces that will best fit the theme, size and budget of each new production they want to launch. This not only involves finding an appropriate theater but also locking down rehearsal and performance dates, negotiating bonds with the employee unions connected with that theater, and negotiating policies for workers compensation and liability insurance.

4. 4.On the Road
   

Shows that are bound for Broadway not only go through a succession of previews in other cities across the country prior to their opening but are also subject to multiple touring productions after they have opened to acclaim in New York. Producers are, thus, responsible for scouting locations for performances and going through all of the steps in the previous section with the theater in each new location.

5. 5.Behind the Scenes
   

The producer works in tandem with the theater manager in hiring all of the backstage personnel necessary to make the show a success. This includes set designers, wardrobe mistresses, lighting technicians, box office managers and ushers. For touring productions and Broadway shows, this often means working with individuals who are already on the theater's payroll and filling in with additional staff as needed.

6. 6.Staying Within Budget
   

In addition to acquiring funding sources for a production, a producer is held accountable for seeing that the funds are properly administered. Typical expenses include rental of the theater facility, insurance, actor and technician payrolls, set construction, costumes and props, utilities, taxes, janitorial services and an advertising campaign. Theater producers work with owners of each theater in determining ticket prices.

7. 7.Getting the Word Out
   

Producers work extensively with regional public relations firms in generating a buzz about upcoming productions and, in concert with theater managers, assist in arranging interviews, coordinating photo shoots and scheduling pre-show parties for the media.