Maeser Drama

So, It's no secret that this show is outside of the norm.  Not only is it an unusual script for school productions (most schools stick to musicals), but the audience experience is different, there's food, and the students are doing all the work. I am all for providing real-world experiences to students.  I "hire" high school students to work as student directors.  I ask art students to help paint the set.  I get business-savvy students to handle the budget and house management.  This year I went to the extreme. The set was designed by a 9th grader, built by my middle school drama class, and painted by both my class and the same 9th grader.  The kitchen is managed by an outdoor caterer (in accordance with state Health Department guidelines) but completely run by 7th graders.  All the servers are 8th graders.  My house manager who handles all ticket reservations and ushers is a 7th grader. My tech crew is made up of two 8th graders who had never...

Normally, I'd guard these like the dragon in "Harry Potter," but my kids have been so incredible this show I just have to put them out there. *Not Pictured: Andrew Kennington, Tatum Berthold

This production has a lot of firsts.  This is the first dinner theater I've ever done.  This is the first time I've ever reserved tickets before the show.  It's also the first time I might not come in under budget.   I've done a lot of shows in my life, both as an actress and as part of the production staff.  I've been to several dinner theaters.  I've even performed in a few productions, but those were added on to full-functioning restaurants.  Actually running your own food service is difficult.  Permits from the health department, cleaning out a moldy fridge, and pricing out a menu. Reserving tickets creates a new element.  I wasn't sure how it would go, but I think it's going well.  So far we've reserved 15% of our tickets and a third of one show.  (If you're planning on coming to the matinee on the 15th you should probably book those seats now).  It's actually working and things are going good. It just adds another ...