Want to Know Who Likes Your Work? Get to Know Your Local Theatre People.

This isn't rocket science, but it requires getting off your comfy writing chair and, well, being a human. The cold submission process feels like throwing your lovingly crafted baby into a black hole. It's impersonal, and honestly, the odds are stacked against you. You're a name on a pile, hoping to stand out from thousands.

But when you get to know the folks running and acting in your local community theaters? That's when the game changes. You shift from being an anonymous submission to being a real person with a real play. And here's why that matters:

• They're Your Audience (and Your Network): These are the very people who will either produce your play, act in it, or cheer for it from the audience. They're also the ones talking to other directors, actors, and theater boards. Their recommendations carry weight.

• They Know the Local Landscape: They know what kind of plays their theater typically does, what their audiences respond to, and what their resources (and challenges) are. This insider info is gold for you as a playwright.

• They're Passionate (Just Like You): Community theater folks are there because they love theater. They're volunteering countless hours for the art. They want to find great scripts. They want to connect.

So, How Do You "Find Your People"?

It's simpler than you think, but it requires consistent effort and a genuine interest in the local scene.

1. Go See Local Shows: This is rule number one. Buy a ticket (or better yet, a season pass!). Go see performances at every community theater within an hour's drive. Don't just watch the show; pay attention to the directors' notes, the actors, the set design.

2. Hang Out After the Show: This is where the magic happens. Don't just rush out. Stick around for five or ten minutes. Congratulate the actors, compliment the director if they're visible. Be genuine.

3. Volunteer (The Golden Ticket): This, my friends, is the absolute best way to get to know local theatre people. Offer to usher a show, help build a set, paint flats, or even stage manage if you're feeling ambitious (and maybe a little crazy). You can't just walk into Steppenwolf or the Guthrie and expect to do these things, but rare is the local community theater who will turn down a helping hand! You'll meet everyone, see the inner workings, and become a familiar, helpful face who understands their world.

4. Offer an Informal Reading: Once they know you a bit – maybe you've volunteered on a show or struck up a few conversations – ask if you can get some of their people together for an informal read. Maybe you can do it at the theater if they have a free night, or just at your house with some snacks (always bring snacks). This is a fantastic way to actually hear your script read aloud, and you'll automatically see if they connect with your play and your work in general. Plus, they get free entertainment, which is always a win.

5. Let Them Inspire You: Here's a cool side effect: once you start really knowing the theater people and the actors in your area, you may even be inspired to write shows and characters specifically for them. Maybe your friend Sam plays the ukulele like a fiend, and you realize you just have to write a character who needs that exact skill. You start seeing the local talent as a resource, not a limitation.