Working for the library is murder!
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The Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center in Fayetteville, NC, has been successful in using interactive mystery plays as public programs and as staff team-building exercises.
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Working for the library is murder!
- 1. WORKING FOR THE LIBRARY IS MURDER! Tiffany Hayes, Library Training Coordinator Sana Moulder, Local & State History Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center Fayetteville, NC
- 2. OBJECTIVES What is an interactive play? How to find a script Casting the parts Personalizing your script Find the money Team-building exercise
- 3. WHAT IS IT? • Script is ONLY a suggestion • Cast interacts with the audience and draws them into the action • Dialog changes as the audience becomes part of the event • Audience members attempt to solve the mystery based on the evidence
- 4. FIND THE PERFECT SCRIPT Write Your Own Pros • Less Expensive • Easy to tailor to your group Cons • More work • Writers inexperienced with the format Purchase one from a vendor Pros • MUCH less work • Glitches already worked out • Script has been used successfully Cons • MORE expensive • May not be specific enough
- 5. RECRUIT YOUR CAST Recruit the most outgoing Consider ALL staff Use staff from outside agencies Consider family and friends of staff Use a local drama club
- 6. GUIDELINES FOR CAST Allow staff to choose their own character, if possible Need to “create” the character One read-through and 4-6 rehearsals If you make changes, give them to EVERYONE
- 7. PERSONALIZE THE SCRIPT Be sure to mention (and thank) your funders and your administration Mention library events Include local landmarks Be aware of the sensibilities of your community
- 8. FIND THE FUNDING Friends of the Library funded ours Adapt script to reduce props Cast uses their own costumes or borrow from a theater group Sample budget • Script: $25 • Props/costumes: $40 • Refreshments: $40
- 9. PUBLICITY & PROMOTION • Advertised in our Monthly Calendar of Events • Posters, signs, and fliers posted in all of our branches • Heavily promoted on Facebook using cast photos • Televised segment on our monthly cable PSA
- 11. TEAM BUILDING PORTION What Worked What Didn’t Work Assigning teams randomly; Clarity; we should have staff loved working with people explained what we expected and that were unknown to them not relied on them to read it Script was rewritten to be Timing; we didn’t allow library and cast-specific enough time for set-up Zombie concept was popular Teamwork; no debriefing
- 13. THANKS FOR COMING! Questions? Comments? Tiffany Hayes (thayes@cumberland.lib.nc.us) • (910) 483-7727 ext 1306 Sana Moulder (smoulder@cumberland.lib.nc.us) • (910) 483-7727 ext 1363
Editor's Notes
- 9:45 to 9:47 (Both)
- 9:47 to 9:50 (Both)Read over Objectives
- 9:50 to 9:55 (Both)1.The script is more a suggestion; as long as the characters stay true to the plot, the dialog doesn’t really matter2. The cast interacts with the audience; they sit next to audience members and draw them into the action. Often audience members are asked to participate by playing a small part or helping the cast to define clues or motives for the rest of the audience3. Each audience member has a program/ballot. At the end of the play, the guests fill out the ballot, identifying who they think committed the crime any why4. The ballots are collected before the conclusion/solution of the mystery and the library awards prizes to those who guessed correctly (we used copies of Mystery ARCs as gifts)
- 9:55 to 9:58 (Sana)Write your ownPros—less expensive; you can tailor it for your group and your communityCons—more work; the writer(s) may be inexperienced with the formatResourcesStaging an interactive mystery play: a six-week program for developing theatre skills By Justine Jones and Mary Ann KelleySuspects & Sleuth's Murder Mystery Design Guide: A Guide to Creating, Writing, and Hosting your own Murder Mystery... by Steven E. French and Brianna Carlisle Purchase one already writtenPros—much less work, glitches already worked out, script has been used successfullyCons—cost, the script may not be specific enough for your purposesResourcesSusan Haley Productions (www.haleyproductions.com)Murder Mystery Scripts (www.murdermysteryscripts.net)Pioneer Drama Service (www.pioneerdrama.com/Comedy_Murder_Mysteries)
- 9:58 to 10:01 (Tiffany)First time, we asked specific people1. We chose the funniest, most gregarious and outgoing people we knew2. Our system has eight branches, and we’ve had staff from all eight participate3.For each play, we have ended up using library staff from another county organization; once from our Community College and once from a public Junior High School. 4. You can always use the spouses and families of your staff. We’ve typically had trouble finding enough men to play parts in our little productionsSecond time, we sent out an all staff email1. We ended up with volunteers that we might not have considered2. We did have to do some begging and had to revise the script to reduce the number of male cast members
- 10:01 to 10:08 (Tiffany)1. If possible, you might want to allow them to choose the character they’d like to play. That said, we have not done that. We think we know our staff pretty well and have a really good sense of who would be best for what role2. Get the complete script to your cast and give them about two weeks to read through the script and to begin to get a sense of the character they are playing and how that character interacts with the rest of the cast.3. You’ll need at least one read-through and 4-5 rehearsals to get the timing down and work out the specifics for your location and “stage” area. 4. Make sure that if you find you need to change the script (i.e. there’s a line of dialog doesn’t work or that the physical positioning of the character is wrong), that ALL of the cast members make the changes on ALL copies of the script.
- 10:08 to 10:15 (Sana)Whether you write your own or choose a prewritten script, it’s important that you personalize it to fit your organization and community1. Mention your library and it’s important benefactors and administration2. Link it to your community and notable community eventsSince much of the action is improvisation, your cast needs to have a good sense of the character they are playing1. The staff should be able to react to customer comments and plot twists by adlibbing dialog that is consistent with the character they have developed2. The specific dialog doesn’t matter as much as maintaining the motives for the crimeMake sure that the script fits the sensibilities of your community1.The second play we did was set around a movie set for a Zombie film; we found that a few staff were not comfortable with the Zombie theme2. Depending on your audience, you may need to alter scenes and motives to remove references to gambling or premarital sex or prostitution; simply substitute another motive for the one you need to remove
- 10:15 to 10:18 (Sana)1. Friends of the Library funds our programming needs system-wide2. You can always adapt your script to remove or change a specific prop or costume is you can’t find one or can’t afford something3. Costumes were generally supplied by the cast member. For example, Jane found her costume at Goodwill for $3 and Tiffany used some of her belly-dancing garb. Our second production was set as a Hollywood-type premiere party and the ladies all wore evening dresses, many of them old bridesmaid dresses. Our two male characters both owned tuxedos, so they wore those. There may be a local theater group or drama club in your area that may loan you costumes4. Sample BudgetSupply list for Murder in Maui: Fake blood, 100 leis, fake knife, Hawaiian backdrop should cost around $40Sheet cake and bottled water for 75 people will run about $50-60Cost of the script and all supporting documents: $25
- 10:18 to 10:20 (Sana)Promoted to the publicAdvertised in our monthly Calendar of EventsPosted photos of the characters in costume on our Facebook pagePosters and fliers displayed within the libraryFacebook photos were shared by the cast on their own personal pages
- 10:20 to 10:25 (Both)1. No production will ever be perfect. EVER!2. Remind your staff that the whole idea is to HAVE FUN. If your cast members are enjoying themselves, then your audience will too3. Find a spot where your cast can go to re-check the script if they get lost or fix a costume or whatever it is they need to do4. For most of these plays, the murder takes place “off screen.” This means that for your cast to be suspected of the crime, they need to be out of the room during the “murder.” Make sure that they don’t all leave at the same time and have plausible reasons to leave. 5. Have a few “production assistants” roaming the room to help the cast stay on track and remind the audience to pay attention when there are important “clues” being uncovered or motives being outlined6. What are you going to do with the “dead” person? We usually hang a sign on them that says “Dead, but still interesting” and they continue to interact with the cast and the audience as a dead person (ghost). There is NO script for this, so make sure your “dead” person is comfortable with improvisation7. Appoint someone as official photographer. We were bad at getting photos for the second event8. Like most libraries, we use comment cards to gauge the success of our programming. One thing many audience members asked for was being able to dress up in costume for the program. We hadn’t expected that, so keep that in mind.
- Very similar to the public performance, except that staff are divided into teams 1. We randomly assigned 60 staff to one of six teams to promote 2. Each team has specific tasks that have to be completed as a team, such as “auditioning” for a part, creating a team name and sign, etc.What worked:1. Staff loved working with other branch staff that they don’t get to see very often (breaking into random teams worked very well)2. Mystery was library specific—a character’s dying words might be, “Have . . . to get . . . to Headquarters for Hot Dog Day!” as he staggers across the stage3. Zombies. And staff feeling comfortable enough to BE zombies.What could be improved:1. Timing—we needed more time to get set up, get teams organized, complete the teamwork portions2. Clarity—instead of saying “you’re going to audition to be zombies,” we needed to say, “when our director comes up with the camera and says ‘give me your best zombie impression,’ you have 60 seconds to be a zombie; once all teams have auditioned at least one person, we will vote on who gets a part, using the scoring cards included in your packet”3. Teamwork—because of the lack of time and clarity, we didn’t get the full experience of the teamwork aspect, and some staff members were able to dominate their teamsSuggestions1. Give each person an envelope with a short description of their role: Facilitator, Reporter, Photographer, Spy, Cheerleader; allow them to choose roles if possible2. Tasks—decide what you want to emphasize or promote—creativity, communication, etc. Do you want them to be doing an activity at the same time as they are watching/solving the mystery? If not, plan in chunks of “down time” to do the team exercise.3. Some suggestions for team challenges from Susan Haley Productions: Have team members switch teams at a designated point; have team turn in one compiled solution log; make a team sign or presentation; pick team members to audition for parts in the “movie”; debrief and team assessment.
- Here are some photos from our Staff Development Day presentation.
- 10:35 to 10:45