Staging a Show
General information:
The Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society (CUMTS) was founded in Summer 1998 with the aim of performing high quality musical theatre in Cambridge. As a society we aim to produce quality musicals in various venues around Cambridge. We put on a wide variety of shows, thus allowing our members a comprehensive range of roles from which to choose.
We pride ourselves on the professional quality of our shows, but we are just as keen to provide the friendly and encouraging support needed for our members to enjoy musical theatre work in Cambridge.
There are clearly many criteria that the committee will be considering when selecting a musical: the general interest of a show, the opportunities for people to get involved, commercial viability and so on. By far the most important decisive factor in show selection is the potential artistic success of a show – its ability to move and inspire an audience.
Making an application:
To make an application to direct/MD/produce, you need to first submit a written proposal that explains your initial ideas and makes the case for your application being selected above others.
Your proposal needs to briefly and concisely (2 or 3 typed pages) outline some of your ideas about why and how you’ll approach your chosen production.
Please download and fill in a cover sheet (Application to Stage a Show) and attach it with your application. If you are applying as a team, feel free to approach different aspects of the application individually or as a group - whichever you find most appropriate, but please do indicate who has written which areas.
Questions to consider:
When writing your application, there are some main aspects you may wish to include:
- A summary of your chosen musical, including show length, orchestration and casting requirements
- Why you have chosen your particular production
- Main concepts/ideas for the show, including how they will be transferred to stage
- How your show would appeal to a wide audience
- How you will deal with acting/vocal/dancing compromises when casting
- The biggest challenges your show will face and how you will overcome them, including:
- Musical (e.g. fixing an orchestra, differing musicality)
- Practical (e.g. set and scene changes, costume, technical)
- Artistic (e.g. character development, choreography)
- Any initial publicity ideas
- A rough indication of budget required, including how it will be subdivided and managed
- A brief summary of your team's experience
- Anything else relevant to your application
Post applications:
After your written proposal is submitted, you will be invited to an interview during the following week. All members of the team making the application should attend. You will be interviewed by members of the CUMTS Committee, all of whom will have read and discussed your written proposals.
The interview is an opportunity for us to discuss your application and for you to ask any questions you may have. You will have opportunity to explain in person why you want to stage your production, and to explain your ideas in more detail.
The selection panel will also have questions arising from their discussions of your written application – they may ask you to develop some of your ideas further, or may ask specific questions about aspects of your production which you did not cover in your written proposals. The interview is intended to be a friendly and interesting discussion of your proposals rather than an interrogation.
Further information:
If you have any questions about the application procedure or anything else related, please don't hesitate to contact the President, Joe Bunker (NULLjehb4NULL@cam.ac.uk). Alternatively, you can also contact the society's Junior Treasurer Tom Cane (NULLtac38NULL@cam.ac.uk).
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