Principal
Welcome to the faculty! I'm so glad you've joined us. In addition to your classroom duties, I'd like to offer you the opportunity to develop our annual orchestra concert! This, as I am sure you realize, is quite an honor!

New Teacher
Well-I'm flattered, but beyond a few piano lessons, and singing in the youth choir at church, I really have no musical training...

Principal
Quite all right! Quite all---right! We have a wonderfully talented group of kids, and I know you'll do beautifully with them...say, something by Beethoven? The Ninth Symphony, perhaps?

New Teacher
The Ninth symphony? Really, sir, with its mix of instrumental and choral work of an advanced nature-

Principal
It will sound delightful, no? We have a closet under the stage with some instruments-at least I think we do...just see if you can post a flyer, or something, for auditions, or whatever it is you creative people do, and I'm sure you'll be a big hit!

New teacher
But-haven't the children their own instruments? Who gives them instrumental lessons?

Principal (with a blank look)
Lessons? Why would they need those?

--From the preface, First You Sit On The Floor.

Unfortunately, if the subject were music, or art, this conversation would never happen. But theatre? It happens all the time.

This book is for people who want to develop something new, important, and exciting, but are perhaps a bit overwhelmed by the scale of the project. Developing a dynamic, important youth theatre program is one of the most rewarding undertakings you'll ever tackle. With the help of this book, you'll be well on your way to success!