Hola,
So here are some ways that the audience has been used before in other projects that I have done or seen. Some are practical, some are a little out there. All the same, this may give you some ideas.
1) Plants: Your characters/extras can be planted in the audience. I did a piece once where the six actors acted like the concert hall was one big bus. They sat next to random audience members, whispering or shouting their lines, eventually exiting as if they were leaving the bus. Incredibly effective.
2) Sensors: This is a tech one. You can use sensors for a variety of things, like activating a sound, image, or change in video. A little easier for a smaller production, but thought I would throw it out there. I most often see this in dance recitals and installations, where a motion activates media.
3) Props: I once did an anti-war piece where the entire auditorium was strewn with "bloody" baby clothes. A bit gory, but got the point across.
4) Props 2: Same weird piece, I had performance artists running around with fake guns, pointing them at people and caressing the guns. Technically I could have been kicked out of school for that one, but it worked well! So if they are talking about wars on the earth, would be interesting if a bunch of extras got up with guns and started causing mayhem, then disappeared just as quickly.
5) Audience sings: Not as successful in my experience, but some productions have included the audience in singing snippets of popular songs, patriotic anthems, or hymns.
6) Directly addressing the audience: During a meeting, the actors can directly face the audience as if they are the members in the meeting. This is a great time to "plant" people in the audience who can shout/sing their lines as if they are members of the audience.
7) Giving the audience props: Once again a little shaky, but the audience gets props and are prompted to use them or are given instructions. Anything from egg shakers to cell phones can be used. Just depends.
8) Cell phones: One performance I saw involved everyone in the audience writing their cell phones and at a specific time in the concert, their phones began to ring. With all the apps we have nowadays, there is a lot that could happen.
7) Apps: This is fairly new, but some organizations have developed apps that audience members can follow during a performance. I find it distracting, but who knows? The apps can be anything from insights to the performance, text, translations, or even a "voting" system.
8) Donations: Some concerts ask for food/clothing donations at the door as part of admission. But the idea can be anything.
9) Metal Detectors: The artist Juan Si Gonzalez created a faux airport security line before people could enter his installation (then he promptly closed the door on them and turned out the lights). Each audience member had a flashlight and was able to maneuver the small space safely (just a photograph gallery), but the feeling of claustrophobia was intense.
Ok, these are some of the ideas that I have seen or done in the past. Hope one of them is helpful! :) None really fit the traditional idea where the audience just watches, so maybe you can take one of these ideas and run with it. Or even use them for the chorus. :)
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