Producing: How to get from

Idea to Reality

O’Hare, Tortuga, and the Race of the Century: The Process

O’Hare, Tortuga, and the Race of the Century was an original touring childrens’ play entirely written, produced, directed, performed and designed by Weber State University Students.

It Starts with an Idea

My first step was a staged reading to get feedback. Once I new the script would work for the grant I had in mind, we could hit the ground running.

2. The Grant

Included in my grant proposal was:

1. The emails from schools interested in the hosting the play

2. A budget outline

3. A draft of the script

4. A description of the project

See Grant Proposal Here

3. Getting the Team Together

Once I got the grant, came getting the right people in the room and working productively together. I worked closely with Elijah Soderquist, the playwright, and faculty advisors to send application information out, run interviews, and decide our production team. Lucky for me, the choices practically made themselves.

See Applications Here

4. Workshopping the Script with Joanne Parker

Pictured from left to right Joanne Parker, Award winning playwright and director; Spencer Sanders, director; Elijah Soderquist, playwright

Because most of the production team had never worked on a childrens’ play before, I hired Joanne Parker, an award winning playwright and director, to workshop the script and advise us on style.

This served a dual purpose as we invited all students to attend the workshop, ask questions, and learn about the playwriting process.

5. Data Management

A big part of the production process is organizing information. Here is some of the things I did to keep me and my team organized.

I had a good stage manager (probably the most important part)
Production Calendar
Financial Documentation/Budgeting (with the help of faculty advisors)
Managing the Creative Team: bimonthly progress checkups with the production. The essential question is ‘do you have the information, resources, and support to get the job done?’

6. Building and Rehearsals

Working on the set: Spencer Sanders, Director

In Rehearsals: pictured left to right Tessa Eager, Actor; Cooper Hartman, Actor; Christian Redmond, Actor

The first table reading: pictured from left to right Elijah Soderquist, Playwright; Cooper Hartman, Actor; Christian Redmond, Actor

Working on the set: pictured from left to right Porter Lance, Set Designer; Elijah Soderquist, Playwright; Spencer Sanders, Director

In Rehearsal: pictured left to right Grace Warner, Actor; Darbey Bills, Actor; Brian Stuart, Actor

7. Advertising Materials

I am very passionate about what poster art can do for a production and about supporting local artists. So, I went to local art galleries to commission an artist to do the artwork. I settled on BJ Jensen at Gallery 25.

I gave BJ the Directors concept: “O’Hare, Tortuga, and the Race of the Century is a child’s Fable blown into life through their imagination using the style of Eric Carle.” I wanted him to use Eric Carle’s style of collage to create the art work and I gave him some inspiration photos to use as a reverence.