1. What kind of shows do you list on the NJTheater.com?
2. Hey, that "Getting Listed" page is long with lots of big words. Can you just "bottom line" it for us?
3. Our theater company has it's own website.  Can't you get the information you need off there?
4. How much does it cost to be listed on NJTheater.com?
5. Then, what do you get from the theater companies?
6. I don't run a theater company.  But, I'm an actor/director/playwright, and would like to be listed.
7. So, I should just sent you a copy of my acting resume?
8. What plays are the most popular?
9. Where do we vote for "Most Popular Actor"?
10. Do you know auditions/theaters for my show/acting schools for my child?
11. When did you start this?
12. What does the database that runs the site look like?
13. What's your connection with Theatre.com & BuyBroadway.com?
14. What's your connection with the New Jersey Theatre Group?
15. What's your connection with the Perry Awards and RECT ?
16. Can I advertise on NJTheater.com?
17. Why do you sometime say "I" and sometimes "We" when talking about the site?
18. So, who's the man behind the curtain?
19. But, how can one man create this incredible complex site while still holding down a day job and occasionally getting out to actually see a play?
20. So, who's  paying for this?
21. So then, why are you doing this?
22. That sounds really noble. So why are you really doing this?
23. I'm still not buying it... Why are you doing this?

What kind of shows do you list on the NJTheater.com?

Our requirements are very simple.

1. It must be a theatric presentation (No concerts or dance shows)
2. It must be staged in NJ (No NY or PA shows, even if staged by a NJ company)
3. It must be open to the public. (No school touring shows)

If it meets those criteria, any show or performing troupe can be listed. We've listed college productions, and even high school shows. For the details of what we need to know click here.

Back to Top

Hey, that "Getting Listed" page is long with lots of big words. Can you just "bottom line" it for us?

OK... If you'd like your theater company listed, here's the simple "minimal effort" steps. Each step below takes slightly more effort, but provides us a bit more information to help us promote your shows.  Go as far along this list as you have time or resources to do so, but remember, the more you help us, the more we can help you.

Back to Top

Our theater company has it's own website. Can't you get the information you need off there?

Well, we could...But checking 100+ websites daily hoping to find something that's changed is not really a good usage of our time. It would be better for all concerned if you proactively told us what's happening.

Back to Top

How much does it cost to be listed on NJTheater.com?

Back to Top

Then, what do you get from the theater companies?

Well, we would appreciate a little reciprocal advertisement. Normally, we ask to be mentioned in the "Special Thanks to..." section of your programme, although, some companies have offered us free ads in the programme and the like.  And, of course, we'd never refuse a free ticket.

Back to Top

I don't run a theater company.  But, I'm an actor/director/playwright, and would like to be listed.

No problem.  Just send the information to our email address.  We have just two simple requirements: You must have been associated with some NJ production. We will not list people with dreams of being an actor, who have not yet been cast.  Second, if the show you were cast in is not yet on the website, you must provide us with enough information for a complete listing (this may have to include the details of the theater company, if they aren't already listed).  It would also be nice if you gave us the complete cast list.  (Note, for legal reasons, to list anyone under 18, we must have their parents' permission)

Back to Top

So, I should just sent you a copy of my acting resume?

NO! We do not list  resumes.  We display bios, like you would put in a show programme.  We also list past performances.  If you'd like your older shows listed, you can email them in, but you must send the complete cast list (them's the rules!) so we can enter everyone at once.

Back to Top

What plays are the most popular?

Please see our Statistics page

Back to Top

Where do we vote for "Most Popular Actor"?

There is no voting.  It based on the number of show the actors have been cast in. "Most Cast Actor" would probably be a better name for it, but that sounds awkward. And note that the results are skewed by people (such as Mark & Chris) who have given us their complete acting histories (by they gave us the complete cast list for each show, so we entered them)

Back to Top

Do you know auditions/theaters for my show/acting schools for my child?

They are all listed in our Auditions, Theaters, and Yellow Pages sections.  We aren't keeping any secrets from you.  Everything we know on these matters, we put on the site.  Please don't email us with questions like those.

Back to Top

When did you start this?

Thanksgiving Day, 1997

Back to Top

What does the database that runs the site look like?

After two and half years running this off of a Microsoft Access .MDB file, we were finally able to move this to Microsoft SQL Server.  It's probably one of the most strictly normalized databases for its size that you'll find. It holds all the information for the entire website (except for the photos), in a little more than 3 MB (Remember, we list nearly 3000 people, most with full actor's bios).  To see a graphic of the database schema, click here.

Back to Top

What's your connection with Theatre.com, BuyBroadway.com & Broadway Online?

A few months after I started the site, I thought I'd try getting mentioned in InTheater magazine, either in a letter to the editor, or in Ken Mandlebaum column.  I went to their web site for find the appropriate email addresses, and discovered that intheater.com is part of the larger umbrella web site, BuyBroadway.com, and that they were recruiting other websites to join the conglomerate.  I emailed (and eventually 'did lunch' with) BuyBroadway's CIO, Toby Simkin, who offered a partnership, the principle effect of was I was able to move NJTheater.com from my then ISP to BuyBroadway's web server, making the expense of running NJTheater virtually nil.  A few months later BuyBroadway evolved into Theatre.com., and then later still, into Broadway Online  After about two years, we moved back to a commercial ISP, but we never miss an opportunity to thank them for their help.

Back to Top

What's your connection with the New Jersey Theatre Alliance?

None at all, really, other than having similar names and URLs.  They are an association for 19 non-profit professional theater companies in NJ, which as one of it services, runs a website.  We are a website which lists 140 professional/ amateur/ community theaters companies.  Their primary focus is servicing the theater companies.  Our primary focus is servicing the theatergoer.

Over the past two years, we've twice asked them to add a link to NJTheater.com on their "Theatre Links" page.  Both times, they've agreed to.  They've yet to actually do it. 

Back to Top

What's your connection with the Perry Awards and RECT (Recognition of Excellence in Community Theater)?

Right now, we're list publishing the list of the Perry Award nominees and  winners.  However, both NJTheater.com and RECT wish to increase their partnership in the future.  Exactly what form this will take will be clearer in the coming months. 

Back to Top

Can I advertise on NJTheater.com?

Yep-- After over two years of being advertising-free, we joined the Pegasus Ad network, which specializes in selling ads on arts-oriented websites, with theater company sites most prevalent.  Shortly thereafter, Pegasus left the advertising business, and we went ad free for another two years.  Then, we join Burst!Media adverting network, offering us the ability to annoy our users to numerous low-paying ads.  You can join that throng by adverting on the Burst! network.   

Alternately, if you'd like an ad placed specifically on NJTheater.com, you can contact our ad department here.  Full details about advertising on NJTheater.com are here.

Back to Top

Why do you sometime say "I" and sometimes "We" when talking about the site?

Back to Top

So, who's the man behind the curtain?

James M. Curran. I am the entirety of the permanent staff of NJTheater (and except for me occasionally asking a friend for a favor, there hasn’t been any temporary staff)

Back to Top

But, how can one man create this incredible complex site while still holding down a day job and occasionally getting out to actually see a play?

Back to Top

So, who's paying for this?

Well, until the Burst!Media deal starts paying off, that would be me, James Curran.

Back to Top

So then, why are you doing this?

To help out the many small theater companies in New Jersey.

Back to Top

That sounds really noble. So why are you really doing this?

So I know what's playing before it's too late to see it.

Back to Top

I'm still not buying it... Why are you doing this?

To meet actresses.

Back to Top