Mind Behind It: Show in a Box

With Jennifer (Jenn) Swain, Chief Marketing Officer

​We sat down with Jennifer Swain, Chief Marketing Officer at The Academy of Arts & Logos Theatre to “open the box” (the Show in a Box that is) and share with you what we found inside!

Every Story Has A Beginning

​“What if we put all our brains in a box?” – this is where the Show in a Box story begins, according to Jenn. A few years ago, the artistic team at The Academy of Arts, under the direction of Nicole Stratton – daughter of founder, Nicky Chavers – sought to answer a need brought to them by teachers from across the country.

“Teachers were struggling to put on shows and asking us for help in staging their own school plays”, Jenn said. She told us how The Academy of Arts has sent traveling full scale theatre teams to schools for decades, teaching students how to act, stage, costume & put on a show within a week. ​

But the Academy can only go to so many schools in a calendar year – how could they possibly help everyone who needed it? This was when the artistic team dreamt up the solution – what if they could put all their ideas, notes, suggestions & scripts into a physical box – and mail them to the schools?

A Collaborative Effort

​The team began brainstorming, just like how they would work together to put a show on stage, only this time it was to put a show into a box!

It took collaborative effort from the whole team to pull this off. Each team member compiled together their costume examples, set suggestions, prop designs, casting ideas, sound & lighting cues and more.

​These “trade secrets” were fastened into a binder for use by the school’s play director. But the Academy of Arts team didn’t stop there.

All The Pieces Inside

Each Show in a Box includes other items a director would need to easily and effectively stage the play. Things like access to production recordings, musical scores, and sound cues can also be inside.
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(Watch the unboxing video to see what it looks like!)

The team additionally created an exciting community hub for teachers staging their school play – from all over the country – to join together, online. The Director Hub has unlimited video training resources – everything from tips on how to apply character make-up to how to cast a show. This exclusive online membership is included in your Show in a Box and is available up until your performance date. “The Director Hub creates a community space for directors to learn from each other, ask questions and have 24/7 access to our brains”, Jenn said.

More than Excellent Theatre

​Show in a Box also includes a production specific devotional for each student that demonstrates Biblical truths with scripture. As a part of the play journey, the director will have the tools they need to encourage and edify their cast in their walk with the Lord.

​Jenn summed it up by saying, “We want to create more than just excellent theatre – we want your student body to be edified for the Glory of God.”

What’s Next On The Horizon?

“Well, we are releasing two new Show in a Box productions this summer” Jenn said. If you want to be the FIRST to know when these new kits are released, sign up here and get the news delivered to your inbox.

Sign Up to be First to Know

Curious For More Information?

Here are a few more insights about the Show in a Box process and how you can take advantage of this resource in your school:

• Browse available shows on the website (and maybe order the production video! It’s low cost and a great way to see if the story is right for your school).
• Request your FREE Perusal Pack here – within a few days you will receive your own sampler of digital examples from the Show in a Box of your choosing.
• Think through big questions like: how many cast members are involved in the show? How many male/female roles are there? Should I get an abridged or full version of the show? What is my casts’ ability to perform this story? What are my staging limitations? (although be ready to think outside the box! Show in a Box will give you lots of creative ideas on staging)
• Order your kit! (Check out options here) There are multiple options to choose from – select the kit that fits your needs. If you just need scripts – great! If you’d like help from start to finish, get the Show in a Box+. And with everything available in between, it’s up to you. 

Browse Show in a Box Options

Request Free Perusal Packet