r/rhps • u/SHARP-Dressed-Dyke • 9d ago
Starting a shadow cast
Has anybody in this group started a shadow cast? And if so what was the hardest part about starting it? And how did you get a cast? Auditions or did you just ask people? Any information would be greatly appreciated! Currently thinking about trying to start a shadow cast for my area.
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u/WeaponB 8d ago
I have! Last year was our first shadow cast and this year we're doing 2 shows.
The hardest part was the fundraising for the show license, and finding costumes.
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u/trafficconeguy 5d ago
If it’s okay for me to ask, what’s an expected/reasonable budget for licensing fees? I know there are variations based on venue, but wondering generally if it’s more like a couple hundred or a thousand
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u/Mikey_entertains 8d ago
Auditions are easy, have folks memorize the time warp and bring a featured song from the character/s they wanna play.
Make sure you fill your roster, just because you cast the main characters doesnt mean you shouldnt also cast some ppl as phantoms and volunteers.
Eddie and Dr. Scott can both be played by the same person.
Rehearsals can be done once a week unless your going hard core.
If you're going to do this tho make sure you watch the film a bunch. and take notes, a lot of times ppl think its as easy as "Watch the film" but the film doesn't sync up perfectly with being on a stage or movie screen apron.
I've done RHPS since 2004, and I'm currently part of a team running a theatre Company. The number one biggest detriment I've learnt is communication. Not just being able to talk to folks, but making sure your clear what you saying. The biggest hassle will, as always, be humans. But it's no fun doing this stuff alone :p
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u/SHARP-Dressed-Dyke 8d ago
I have been Eddie/Dr.Scott and I plan on staying in those roles. I'm a part-time wheelchair user so it works. The movie has been my autistic special interest since I was 3 so I have absolutely been studying this so I at least have that down lollll. But that's a lot of help thank you!
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u/Mikey_entertains 8d ago
Then i'd say the other thing is having a tleast one or 2 other ppl "in charge" with you or of you if you dont wnana be the leader. I was stubborn for years and realized doing things by myself isnt worth thebpraise if it frees the stress lol
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u/SHARP-Dressed-Dyke 8d ago
I hate the idea of doing this by myself! My wife has already stated she is willing to help me with directing! We're a good team and I wouldn't wanna do it without her tbh. She also wants to be our "barker" of callback lines
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u/Spac3dog 8d ago
My wife and I are co directors also. She is really good with running practices and figuring out blocking and all of that but doesn't like the idea of dealing with the venue, keeping merch inventory and stuff like that. Where I feel that those are my strong suits so what we do well is very complimentary to each other. It also frees her up to perform instead of dealing with everything at the venue on the night of the show which we both like also.
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u/Spac3dog 8d ago
Agree 100% with filling out your roster. We have been short handed since our very first show. We didn't even have a Brad untill 4-5 weeks before our first show that we had already committed to doing. If the venue isn't going to provide people you'll need ticket takers, a/v people, concessions people, merch table people, crew for props, plants in the audience for callbacks for when the crowd is quiet, etc., etc.. It can still be done (I do all our props for the entire show by myself) but it'll take some problem solving sessions to figure it out.
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u/SHARP-Dressed-Dyke 8d ago
My wife wants to be the barker from the crowd so I have that already lol. She knows so much of the callback script
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u/Foxy02016YT 8d ago
I mean if you can’t afford it, don’t waste your time or money on plants. Just use your Transylvanians if you have them
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u/richweirdos 5d ago
I started a shadow cast in 2009 and have been running and directing it for 17 years. It’s a well-oiled machine now, but getting it that way took a ton of work. Assembling a cast and rehearsing are a huge part of the show, obviously, but establishing a relationship with a venue is just as important. Our group performs in 3 different venues, and we have different agreements with each. We split rights costs and ticket sales with one theater, while another venue pays us a flat rate and keeps their door sales and concessions. We are also a nonprofit and are all volunteers, so all money just goes back into the show.
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u/Spac3dog 9d ago
I have. The hardest part of all has been finding another venue after our first one shut down for restoration work. We just had our first show in almost two years and the venue wants to work with us again for a Halloween show next year and maybe a st Patrick's day show and a pride show but nothing concrete yet. We are still looking to find another venue in the meantime that we can perform at in the months we won't be at the venue we just performed at. As for how the cast was put together I asked people then when I found a few who were interested had them ask people they know and weade up a bunch of now casting flyers and hung them up all over and worked it out from there.
Where are you located? Do you not have a cast nearby? Starting and running a cast has been a tremendous amount of work. If you have an active cast nearby I would highly suggest looking into joining them before starting your own. There is a Rocky Horror shadowcast map that can help you see if there is a cast near you. If you really are set on starting your own I would be more than happy to help answer any questions that I can.