Final Product

 Front Cover:

Contents Page:

Double Page Spread:

Audience Feedback of Final Product

“I think it’s great, I like the way you used the same colour scheme throughout.” – Emma Harrison, 16

“I don’t like the picture that’s on the front cover, I think it would be better if there was a picture of someone performing.” – Jane, 13

“It looks good, but I think to improve you should include things for older people too.” – Avril, 40s

“I like it, but I wouldn’t buy it because it’s too expensive.” – Lesley, 40

“It’s not my kind of music, so I wouldn’t buy it, but it looks great.” – Kyle, 17

Audience Feedback of Final Draft

"Put a frame around all the pictures in you article, to create a better sense of cohesion - use a polaroid frame, wooden frame, or drawing pin graphic."

"I think you should change the picture on the top left of the front cover, because it's someone's back so it's not very accessible on the cover."

"I don't think you need the second part of the introduction to the article, the first bit and the title is enough."

"You need more pictures on the contents page, there's not enough variety, because it's the same articles as on the cover."

"Move the editor's letter to the top of the page."

Draft of Editor's Letter

[Photo]

 [Signature]

Hey there!

Welcome to the first issue of brand new mag, Debut, bringing you the best of all musical theatre right now – old and new, local and worldwide – with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to musical television shows and films, as well as performances all over the globe.  In-depth interviews, balanced reviews, and never-before-seen pictures are just some of what’s on offer in this amazing first issue.

Flip to page 51 for our reviews section, or our quiz of the fortnight on page 4.  Our cover-page star, Lucie Mardon, has a whole four pages to tell us what she really thinks of her new life, and model this season’s hottest colours in our photo shoot beginning page 47.  Theatre correspondent Holly Max gives us all the goss on page Cabaret, on page 54, and on page 18 we chat to the Royal Ballet School about their showcases next month.

Hope you like it!

Article Copy

My Original Draft:

So, Lucie, to start off...  How does it feel to be a celebrity?

[Laughs] Don’t call me that!  It’s so strange; I don’t feel like any of this is happening to me... I wake up in the morning like, “Wow, this is my life now... It’s awesome!”

What do your friends and family think of this new life?

They’re all so supportive, and I’m so grateful to have them all there for me.  They’re trailing round after me - my best friend had to drive me here today!  But they get invited to all the celeb parties and stuff, so I hope that makes up for it!

And what about school?  Because you’re famous for being the hard-working, girl-next-door kind of person...

Yeah, I know, people look at me in the corridors and do a double-take!  It’s weird, I feel like people are always talking about me... How big-headed does that sound? [Laughs] No, it’s just paranoia... But at least I can get feedback on my song lyrics and stuff from my friends, one of them is in a band as well, and we collaborated for some of the tracks on my album... It was so much fun; I loved every second of it!

Ahh, so you can use your own contacts to help your friends?  That’s great...

I know, I’m glad I can do it... He’s so good, I’d love to know I’d helped him to get where he wants to be... Anyone reading this, go check Temporary Challenge out on MySpace, they’re amazing!

How do you fit school work around performing?

Well, if anything, it’s the other way around!  My parents refused to let me give up school, which is good, because I don’t think I would have anyway, but it means I always have like a safety net.  And if I have not done my homework, I will not be going to the party!  My dad’s quite protective, he always wants to know who I’m with and where we’re going and how long we’ll be... But then I guess a lot of dads are like that, aren’t they?  He just wants to make sure I’m safe, and I’m not going to complain about that!

What’s he like about boys?

When I was younger, he was really strict, he was all “No boys are getting their grubby hands on my daughters!” but now he’s kind of mellowed.  When I remember when I was eleven, my sister was fifteen and started to get noticed by boys, and a lot of her friends had boyfriends, but she just wasn’t interested.  I think that made it a lot easier for me, because he learnt that he could trust us not to go out and drink or smoke or get off with random guys, and now he’s ok with me going out because he knows that that lifestyle is just not for me.

Critical Feedback:

The conversation feels comfortable which is because of the sense of a level of informality, she is able to relax in conversation and make it feel like she’s saying what she thinks.

It feels like an actual conversation with a new celebrity which we can see when for example she says she still doesn’t feel like a celebrity, still just a normal person.

All the questions are open which is good because it allows the person to elaborate on their answer and not just give a straight short answer.

I think there could be a couple of more ‘fun’ questions added in such as ‘What was your most embarrassing moment?’ or something like that, just to keep the reader as interested, or to make them laugh. Even a question which the person will tell something the audience didn’t know.

My New Question:

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Well, after a show last week, I went to Subway with Ricky (Johnson, currently playing Fiyero to Lucie’s Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked), and we got a big tub of nachos, with loads of sauce, and I spilt this massive stream of sauce all over myself, because I was holding the pot of sauce right by my face, and it went down my chin and on my front, and I think there was even some in my hair!  And then some random paparazzo came by and took a picture, where we’re both laughing and I’m covered in sauce, with him trying in vain to wipe some of it off my face... Yeah, that didn’t work!  It was so gross. [Shudders]

Cover Lines

Existing Lines:

“Kathleen Turner – Matt Wolf needs a Hollywood Superstar.”  - Down left-hand side of page, KATHLEEN TURNER in capitals, bold and bright colour to attract attention, easy-to-read font.

“What are the top ten French operas?” – Down right-hand side of page, in contrasting colour to background, easy-to-read font.

“Early English Opera: A Heritage Beyond Handel.” – Down right-hand side, easy-to-read font, bright against background of page.

“Diana Damrau flies high.” – Name in bold, down left-hand side, easy to read font, bright against backdrop.

“The Man Who Dressed Dame Joan.” – Unobtrusive, down left-hand side of page, not in bold, easy-to-read font, white against black.

“Parade Marches On.” – largest cover line, easy to read, eye-catching, stands out against colour background in white.

“Exclusive! My Fair Lady.” – bright colours, down left-hand side, underneath hat in picture so noticeable, largest cover line on page.

“John Wayne ... The Duke Is King.” – name in bright colour, larger and bolder than resst of line, between two lines, eye-catching but inobtrusive.

My Ideas:

1) The highs and lows of Fame
2) Ellen May's shocking new look
3) The West End’s hottest new actress opens up!

4) The latest news and pics from new film TRACKS
5) WIN! With PLAY.COM   Tickets for the best new production in town!

6) Is Priscilla: Queen of the Desert really the greatest new musical out there?

Music Magazine Name Ideas

Ø  Supernova – sounds good and has musical connotations, but would not work well with intended genre – more useful for a rock magazine, so I will not use it.

Ø  The Show – musicals/performances/“TV shows”, simple name, already in use?  Won’t use.

Ø  Piece – performances, part of a larger entity – too obscure?  Won’t use.

Ø  Track – like soundtrack of a film/musical, although sounds more like a train magazine than music.  Will not use.

Ø  Chorus – show, musical reference, simple, easy to remember, already in use?  Will not use.

Ø  Demo – like soundtrack, needs knowledge of genre to be recognised, doesn’t sound right for magazine name.  Will not use.

Ø  Debut – new, interesting, exciting, debut on the stage, debut performances.  Will use.