Don't let lack of a press release keep your seats empty
When writing a press release, the most important information is when, where and what. When it is for a theatrical event, the most important information becomes the basis of failure or success of your presentation. You want the press to report that you are having an event (a play, music presentation or movie premiere), and when and where it is. Also add any information that could be considered a plus for advertising, such as if one of the performers has been in a movie, TV show or commercial. It is newsworthy and that's the point. Make your event news in any way possible.
Instructions
1. Create a great headline. This should catch an editor's eye and can simply be a performer's name and "starring" in the name of the event, if that performer is newsworthy. It can also be a local talent known to the town or city where the production is being held, or choose to make the short run of the production or its "historic" location the headline. Choose what's most interesting about your event and include that in your headline.
2. Put the city and state of the production company and the date the news is to be released preceding the first line of your first paragraph, separated by dashes. Example: Seattle, WA -- July 4, 2011 -- The stars will shine with the first production of...
3. Use that first paragraph to introduce time, place and any special features of the presentation. If The Greek on Main is your theatre, mention that right off the bat along with the name of the production. The run of the play, from its first night to its last (if it's a closed run), also needs to be in the first paragraph.
4. Condense the plot of the play, musical or event into a few sentences in your second paragraph, and make it sound as interesting and exciting as possible.
5. Create paragraph three to entice. Here's where you mention that the lead (or a special guest-starring character) is played by someone the audience might know from their other work in TV or film. Even a popular commercial is worth mentioning. Lacking that, mention famous songs from a musical or notable productions of a play that might trigger memories and create a desire to see a new production.
6. Finalize with ticket prices and ways to purchase tickets. Add in a contact name and telephone number for any followup to your press release.
7. At the very end, drop down a couple spaces and center three "hash" marks (really, pound signs).
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This signals there is no more copy and it is, indeed, the end of the press release.
Tags: first paragraph, press release, important information, mention that, most important, most important information