What Goes on When a Theatre is "Dark"?

Kirkwood Theatre Guild is "dark" for the summer months.  This means we do not have any live shows in production.  However, we are still very busy this time of year.  Our 83rd year began yesterday! My how time flies! We are getting ready to begin an amazing season.  Besides the less than exciting office work necessary to start a new fiscal year, we are deep into planning for next year.  First, our Directors and set designers are meeting to discuss what is the technical vision for the show.  Questions that are discussed is how many different scenes and locations are there in the play? Will the set be conceptual or realistic. What is the build budget (a very important consideration!).
The designers will either make a detailed drawing or a 3 dimensional model of what they propose.  This is a very exciting part of the production process.  The show is beginning to come off the pages.  This year for our opening show we have a team working on set design. One is a very experience designer acting as a mentor to a newer volunteer. This is truly what makes community theatre amazing.  We can help those with an interest learn how to become an integral designer themselves. If you know of someone who has always had a curiosity about theatre, please tell them about your wonderful community theatre.  We  have acting class for the bold and mentors willing to help teach in each design area-sound, costuming, lights as well.  Better get back to work!