Chapter 6

The Director

An interpretive artist. Unifies the production by coordinating the work of

all theatrical artists as they make decisions about possible meaning and significance.

Tries to champion the perceived intent of the playwright.

Uses the play as a pretext to represent his/her own vision or ideas that are inspired or supported by the script.

Design meetings

Staging can help to tell the story of a play. Interpretation is creating meaning beyond what is

literal or obvious in the text. Concept is the artistic decisions meant to

communicate a specific interpretation to the audience.

Because plays must be interpreted, no two productions can be the same.

Design meetings

Typically, the director will start meeting with designers even before casting the actors for the show.

The director focuses the work of the designers and inspires them to make their own artistic contributions while shaping all of the work into a single, unified concept.

Casting

The standard tool for casting is the audition. During auditions the director is looking for :

physical characteristics vocal characteristics how the actors works with others

When casting a show, the director will even consider how an actor takes direction.

Rehearsals (Blocking)

Blocking refers to actor movement for a show? The director will make notes in the script and

sometimes draw small pictures to help them visualize the movement and stage pictures.

During blocking rehearsals actors still have their scripts and the director is focused on fine tuning the movement and stage pictures.

Rehearsals (Run-Through)

A rehearsal of the entire show. Gives the actors a sense of the play's dramatic

development and rhythm Allows designers to see emerging movement

patterns on stage

Rehearsals (polishing)

It is the job of the director to help the actors achieve a successful characterization while working together effectively.

Time to take chances and explore the character Speed runs Improvisations

Rehearsal (Tech)

Dry tech (no actors, just directors and designers) Cue to Cue (rehearse cues and scene changes only) Tech Rehearsal (Full run but focused on tech more

than acting)

Rehearsals (Dress)

Costumes for production are added Generally a Dress (rehearse costume changes) And a Final Dress Preview Opening Night (Directors job is pretty much over) And he hands it off to the. . .

Stage Manager

A good stage manager takes care of practical matters so that the director can focus on artistic development.

coordinate a show during rehearsal keep the director's artistic choices intact during the

show's run Calls the cues for a show generally over a headset. Organize the running crew who maintain and execute

cues for props, costumes, set, lighting, and sound during the run of the show.