I have had the pleasure of being a part of Valley City Comedy Tonight!, a Saturday Night Live-esque production that VCSU Theatre is putting on this Thursday through Saturday night. In this blog, I am going to talk about all the different Web tools that this production is using and promote it.
First off, I'm going to explain the show. VC:CT is a mixture of sketches (prepared mini-plays), improv (making stuff up on the spot during different "games"), stand up (student comedians doing...well, stand up), and video (some student-made and some made especially for the production).
VC:CT is utilizing technology like we never have before. I don't want to give too much away (you'll have to come see the show) but one of the sketches involves Facebook. For this skit, a Facebook page is shown up on a screen with one of the characters interacting with it on their own computer. The bit centers around the fact that people take Facebook more seriously than real life events.
Another Web aspect that this production is using is email during the Improv game "Pocket Lines". The point of the game is to pull a line from your pocket and say whatever is on the piece of paper, no matter how out of context it is. Instead of putting the lines on a piece of paper and putting it in your pocket, the improv performers will be getting suggestions from the audience via e-mail. I am not one of the people planning that out so I’m not sure exactly how it’s going to work. I personally think that pocket lines would work better than the e-mail. There is also no chance of a technical malfunction when using paper. That said, I’m sure that using the e-mail will be just as entertaining as the pocket lines.
The entire show will be streamed on the internet live (Here's the link to it). This is something that has never been done before in a VCSU production, but I think it’s a good idea. Parents can watch their children perform in a play even if they live across the country or even out of the country. Friends who can’t make your play can watch it instead.
One bad thing about the show being streamed: ticket sales might go down. If people can watch from the comfort of their home, what’s to stop them from making this the deciding factor on whether or not to go to a show?
So…food for thought. Do you think streaming VC:CT will effect ticket sales (Keep in mind, it’s in Theater 320)? Do you think it will impact VCSU in a positive way, a negative way, or neither? Do you think it is a good idea for the theater at Valley City to use the web tools this way?
If you’ve seen the play by the time you read this, either live or by streaming, please comment on what you thought and your favorite part(s). Lastly, are you planning on coming to see the production? Alicia Kelly wrote some of the sketches and Zack Lee is a director/performer. I urge you to check it out. It's going to be pretty funny.
Will ticket sales go down, yes of course they will. If you want to get profit from the streaming, you could place a small charge to view the link. I do not think it will hinder the ticket sales from the older individuals. I know that the theater department here has some very loyal theater goers, and they will keep coming no matter what. The VCSU student attendance will be the most affected. That might be a good thing, as it is sometimes difficult to find room in Theater 320. No matter what, I think it will be a positive step for the department.
ReplyDeleteKayley -
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that the ticket sales will go down, but I think that streaming the production would definitely spread the word about the theatre department as well as promoting these different programs that the department puts on. Feedback could be given about whether or not people enjoyed the comedy night as well as seeing how the streaming works. I was not able to see the shows, but I heard great things about it. I would have streamed it had I been able to use a computer, and I think it's a great tool to use.