The New Colony
Moonshot Survey 2
Part One: Play Vetting and Selection
Logan Jones
Thank you for taking this survey on behalf of
Your experience and insights are highly valuable to us!
In this next step in the Moonshot process, we look closely at specific past play and season selections. The survey is in two parts (both links below). Start with Part One, focused on individual play vetting and selection. After you have completed Part One, continue to Part Two - Season Selection.
We ask about an hour of your time. If you’d like to spend more - great! - but please feel free not to! Answer as many or few of the questions as you wish. Start with those plays you were most associated with and/or recall best. It’s alright not to provide answers for every play.
If you are an Adaptor or Director, we do ask that you respond to the quick answer questions in each section for your play, optionally providing brief responses to open questions to the extent you are able.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Your responses to both parts must be completed no later than
To save your responses, you must press the save button at the end of each section. You may return to any question and edit your response. You may also exit either part of the survey and return to complete it anytime through
Here are your links:
Part One: Play Selection (your link to return here!):
Part Two: Season Selection (follow this link!):
Important!
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SAVE OFTEN!
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Anytime you leave the survey (or your computer or device), press one of the save buttons. If you lose your connection, even briefly, you’ll lose any unsaved work.
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Note: each save button saves all data entered since the last save. Generally you’ll see a confirmation message, but not always as the program periodically autosaves. You can confirm your data has been saved by refreshing your screen. If your data appears, it’s been saved to our system. If not, check your Internet connection.
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We highly recommend completing this on a computer or tablet if possible (vs. smart phone).
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The survey uses a lot of memory and may take a few moments to load or switch between play selections.
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The stronger the Internet connection (and faster your processor), the smoother the interface will be.
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Depending on your connection, you may experience some delays in keyboard responsiveness. Typing your response into a separate document then cutting and pasting is the suggested work around. If a real problem, STOP, contact Kristin and we’ll figure out a better work around.
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Don’t share your link! Each is individualized and another respondent using your link will overwrite all your responses.
Please email or text Kristin (at kristin@ensembleconsulting.org or 708-275-7126) with any questions or technical issues.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART ONE: PLAY SELECTION
We have selected six productions for closer study.
To navigate, select the first play in the “Name of Show” drop down list found top of page. Work your way through the question set for that play. You may skip questions that don’t seem relevant, or for which you don’t have an answer. Once you have completed the question set, return to the drop down menu top of page and select the next play in the list.
At the end of each play’s question set is a place to indicate whether you have completed questions for that play.
Let’s start!
The New Colony
Sunday, October 27
Sunday, October 27
I have completed my responses for this play
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
(Retrospective) Production Forecasting, Confidence Level and Evaluation
Which of the following best describe(s) your relationship to this production? (Check all that apply)
Recall of production
Ensemble Engagement
(check all the following you participated in and recall at least fairly well)
If you didn’t have a relationship to this production or have little recall of the process, skip the remaining questions and move on to the next play.
Otherwise please continue, skipping any questions that don’t seem relevant or are outside your experience of the production and process.
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Select the response that best describes your relationship to the decision making process for this play
If you selected response 5, skip entire Considerations section below.
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Other Play Success Indicators
Any other expectations you had for this production or other success indicators relevant to this production? If so, note:
On a scale of 0 (extremely low) to 100 (extremely high), how would you rate your enthusiasm for this play at the time it was first proposed?
On a scale of 0 to 100, how would you rate your confidence level for this production’s overall prospects at the time it was slated for a season in terms of:
Overall confidence in production’s artistic success
Overall confidence in production’s financial and other nonartistic success
Confidence in macro-environment (things outside our control) being auspicious for this production and/or ability to navigate to success given macro factors (0-100%)
Why?
What was your sense of this production’s riskiness at the time of its season slating?
Artistic Risk
Financial and other Risk
What informed your risk assessment at the time?
Was your risk assessment accurate?
No
Yes
If not, explain
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Answer each of the following from your own perspective.
Note: The following questions are subjective. They are included to inform consultant understanding of Ensemble perceptions. What is reported back to the company will be aggregate high level take-aways, not specific to particular plays.
Overall, what is your sense of the artistic outcomes of this production?
What do you think were the main reasons for this artistic outcome?
What is your perception of how this production did by financial/ logistical/ organizational measures?
What do you think were the main reasons for this outcome?
On a scale of 0 (extremely low) to 100 (extremely high), how would you rate your enthusiasm for this play upon seeing the finished production?
Provide any additional context you believe would be helpful.
If you were not involved in the Ensemble greenlighting process or discussions, skip the sections below and return to the dropdown list top of page to select and move on to the next play.
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Play Selection Considerations
For purpose of these questions, put yourself back in time to when you were considering whether this play should be greenlit. Try to avoid allowing what happened later to influence your answer.
For each of the following play considerations (PC1-PC9) identified earlier in the Moonshot process, answer the following two questions, selecting the best response to each from the drop down list:
PC1: It feels aesthetically like a TNC show.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC2: It is a story people crave vs. one being told a lot/tired.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC3: It advances our playwright and director demographic goals.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC4: Writer and TNC on same page regarding script development needs.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC5: Ensemble members are involved.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC6: Other trusted artists are involved.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC7: The right people have been in the room from the start or have been added as the needs of the script have evolved. Right team and dynamic. Attention to loyalty and service to script.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC8: This is a play for where we are in the current political and equity/diversity/inclusion landscape.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC9: Exclusive rights are available or in hand
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC10: Sufficiently unorthodox.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
PC11: Likely to have a post-production life.
How much of a consideration was this for you?
Which of the following responses most accurately reflects the sense you had of this consideration in relation to this play?
Feel free to briefly elaborate.
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Other Play Selection Considerations
Any other important considerations in moving this play forward?
Any other considerations that in retrospect, we should have thought about in moving this play forward?
Decision to Include in Season
Which of the following describe your sense of this pick at time of inclusion in season? (check all that apply)
If replacement or compromise pick, reason(s) couldn’t go with initial choice or nature of compromise
What do you recall as the top considerations in determining to slate this play in the season?
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Adaptor and Director please skip next question and continue to section below.
All other Ensemble Members respond here and continue to next play or to Part 2 of the survey:
I have completed my responses for this play
No
Yes
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
(Retrospective) Production Forecasting and Assessment -
Adaptor and Director only
For the following questions, put yourself back in time to when this play was slated for production. Try to avoid allowing hindsight bias to influence your answer! Skip questions that don’t seem relevant or that you don’t recall what you thought at the time.
For each of the play success indicators (PSI 1 - PSI 7) identified earlier in the Moonshot process, answer the following questions, selecting the best response from the dropdown list.
PSI1: Telling the story we want to tell
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI2: Script reaches desired level of development and realizes potential
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI3: Production meets TNC production standards
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI4: Cohesive Artistic and Production Team
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI5: Good experience. Safe, professional, collaborative environment maintained
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI6: Theatre-going community/peer response
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI7: “You just know”: high level, feels like TNC, impact
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI8: Core ensemble engagement
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI9: Performance relative to budget
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI10: Ticket sales
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI11: Attendance
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI12: Door donations
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI13: Critical response
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI14: Word of mouth
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI15: Awards
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI16: Further life
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI17: Increased playwright standing
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
PSI18: Increased interest in TNC
At the time of play selection, I anticipated that succeeding on this indicator would be:
In my assessment, the following best describes our actual success on this indicator with this production:
If there were notable performance targets/measures for this indicator, note here.
Comment on actual performance relative to expectation and why.
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Answer each of the following from your own perspective.
Overall, what is your sense of how this production did artistically?
How predictable or unforeseeable was this artistic outcome?
What is your perception of how this production did by financial/logistical measures?
How predictable or unforeseeable was this non-artistic outcome?
Provide any additional context you believe would be helpful to understanding why this production hit/missed or came out somewhere in the middle. Any lessons learned regarding what works/doesn’t out of this production that you would like to share?
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Any other expectations you had for this production or other success indicators relevant to this production?
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
I have completed my responses for this play
No
Yes