Sarah S
- Research Program Mentor
MA at Carnegie Mellon University
Expertise
Business, Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Public Relations,Playwriting, theatre for social change
Bio
I'm Sarah Schreck (yes, like the ogre), a digital marketing professional working in the non-profit arts sector. I graduated from the University of Central Florida after completing an undergraduate thesis studying the nature of public relations practices on emerging audiences, and after seeing through the production of multiple original plays, and am eager to share my knowledge of these processes. In graduate school at Carnegie Mellon University, I studied arts management and now work at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and the site-specific Quantum Theatre as a digital marketing professional. It's no surprise to learn that I love the arts and seeing shows, but my hobbies also include producing video games with friends (my newest endeavor), practicing yoga, rock climbing, or cooking the most unusual things I can find at the grocery store. You can always find me watching some kind of cartoon or Star Trek in between work periods. I love connecting with people who are passionate about progressing, learning, and creating something actionable. I've always considered continuing my education in the realm of teaching, and making connections with fresh-minded folks is icing on the cake.Project ideas
Comprehensive Marketing Campaign for Musical Production
Creating content for a product or service you love is like inviting everyone to a party. If you're interested in the creative corner of a business plan, and if you enjoy something like the performing arts, you may wish to create something like a marketing campaign for a musical! This may be useful to you in your community, or an example for your portfolio that will amaze your teachers and future employers, not to mention yourself. As an arts organization such as a theater prepares to sell tickets to a show, they must plan, create, and disseminate assets in their community up to a year in advance. In this project, a student may develop many or all of the following: - A creative strategy statement, including a SWOT analysis and scope statement (~1 page) - A general research packet (research about the show, audience, and media, length is up to student) - A target audience analysis (1 page) - A campaign budget - Sample creative assets including e-mail blasts, social media posts, advertisements, radio spots, and outdoor advertising creative concepts - A comprehensive plan/schedule including the timing and placement of all advertising elements - Lobby displays, if interested Should the student wish to complete this project for an actual production, such as a high school play or musical, the project may be adapted for full implementation! Budget, location, and school rules would need to be considered. Additionally, if a student wishes to conduct research involving this process, they may wish to collect data such as show attendance and social media analytics.
10-Minute or One-Act Play
Ten minutes doesn't sound like much time - and it's not too many pages, either. However, a ten minute play can be in the works for months before it realizes its potential as a highly concentrated theatrical work. The same can be said for a one-act of 40 minutes or less. A student interested in writing a short theatrical work may expect to: - Explore the basics of playwriting, major tenants of theatre history, and the context in which the student writes (this is what is known as dramaturgy) - Conduct research concerning their chosen setting or context for a play - Extensively, creatively, brainstorm and challenge convention - Write the play, of course - Edit the work based on feedback from professional sources, and/or anticipated audiences - Learn the standards of formatting convention for playwriting - Witness a reading of the work and take note of its impact and opportunities for growth - Be encouraged to share the work on the National New Play Exchange, or a different platform or publisher of choice This experience may be challenging, but the project may also be exceptionally rewarding. Whether a lighthearted piece or a somber one, there is much to be gained in seeing one’s imaginary friends take to the stage!