[Rubiki]

Hello all. As you can see, I am as new as they come for this forum. I apologize if this is the wrong place or if it has already been posted.

With that, I come asking for advice. I am a director who has done several small projects in my small town through community theatre, nothing professional. I want nothing more than to produce/direct RENT. I love the show and I know this town would love it. Plus, as a director, I know it would have a huge turn out both in the audition stage and once it opens.

But I don't know where to start. I've never produced a play from start to finish. The more research I do the more my head spins. It seems very much like a catch-22. I know I can't purchase the rights until I know my dates and the theatre I will use. I can't know my dates until I know my budget. I can't know my budget until I find my investors, and I can't find my investors until I have everything else in order.

I'm thinking, due to it being community theatre, of doing differed pay. Pay my actors once my 'debt' to my investor(s) is paid. Most of my actors are used to working for free, and just have a passion for the arts. The crew I have in mind as well. So as far as finances go, I just need usage rights, theatre rental fees, and set/prop costs... Right?

Any help would be much appreciated. I know most of the "production" stage. It's this pre-production stuff that makes me feel like a fish out of water, so to speak.