However, every now and then one of them sparks a producer's interest. The next step is usually a workshop. Workshops Michael Bennett directs one of the famous workshop rehearsals for A Chorus Line . Up until the 1960's, a producer would take a show on the road, hoping to work out any problems before facing the Broadway critics. When the owner of Bloomingdales produced a musical that was ailing in Philadelphia, he asked playwright George S. Kaufman for advice.
Workshops use minimal sets, props and costumes.
They may involve major stars or unknown performers, and be staged anywhere from an empty Broadway theatre to a rehearsal hall. Producers often bring potential investors to see the results. While a workshop can only give a rough idea of what a show will be like, it must look good enough for people to lay dollars and reputations on the line for it. Many producers team up with non-profit theatre companies that can stage a workshop in a cost efficient manner. If the show is a hit, the theatre company gets a small percentage of any future profits and a nice dose of prestige.