"White Christmas" at Midland Community Theatre (Michael Bauer|Odessa American)
by Chris Peterson
I think every community theatre should consider adding a holiday show to their season, if they haven’t done so already.
Holiday shows are an obvious choice for families looking for things to do with their kids over the holidays, and for people with visitors in town. There are also lots of people looking for alternatives to typical December activities, and a holiday show at the theatre would be perfect for them.
Your theatre could be the place people go for holiday entertainment. Consider it for your season next year.
1. You have an opening with people who don’t normally buy tickets.
When trying to reach new audiences, we spend so much time searching for ways to attract them to our shows. Holiday productions are among the simplest ways to invite people to a theater event.
A holiday show can be an easy way to get someone to come to your theatre who would otherwise never attend. They can see that you are putting on a holiday show and think, “A holiday show! I can bring my parents to that.” Or “A holiday show! I can go with my friends to that.” This doesn’t mean that they will come back for your February drama, but it does mean that you have a chance to make them want to come back for more.
(And if it needs to be said, if you don’t have QR Codes in your theatre lobby directing to sign up for emails or an email newsletter, get that going right now!)
2. You could become somebody’s annual tradition.
Most people have traditions for the holidays. Some are even very attached to them. This can even be very negative for a theatre if people try to take the holiday production out of their holiday traditions.
A holiday production can become part of anyone’s annual tradition. It could be the show the grandparents take the kids to see, or the night at the theatre that a group of friends goes to before everyone is off to their respective family functions. Creating that kind of attachment to a theatre takes time and a lot of work to ensure the experience is good. I would want to be one of the places that people consider for that kind of tradition.
3. It gives people a reason to buy tickets together.
Buying tickets for a family of six to attend a production as a group is far different from buying a single ticket to see a play that piques someone’s interest. A holiday production gives people a reason to organize a trip with family and friends.
4. It doesn’t have to be a spectacle to be spectacular
Please consider the people who would have to build it.
A short play, a staged reading, or even a short seasonal concert could be great. This would be something the volunteers could rehearse and enjoy. No one wants to spend the holidays exhausted and miserable. Audiences who attend a Christmas show often enjoy a quieter performance that focuses on the holiday's true meaning, not just an endless barrage of Christmas lights and music.
5. It’s a chance to be useful to your community.
I keep coming back to this point as well. The holidays can be stressful. An evening of affordable theater could provide something to look forward to.
This matters to me, as it gives people a chance to recognize a neighbor up on stage and then bond with them post-show.
I’d happily make room in a season for that.