Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Who directs the musical?

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ACT4JC
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Topic: Who directs the musical?
Posted: 4/09/08 at 3:56pm

Who should direct the acting in a public school musical? Theatre Director or Choir Director?

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jayzehr
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Posted: 4/09/08 at 3:58pm

Is this a trick question?

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ACT4JC
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Posted: 4/09/08 at 4:06pm

Not exactly. I know it is the theater director, but am in a situation currently where I work with a choir director who is convinced that she directs the musicals here. She told me that she's done it for years and it is her baby. She said she can do it without me. I told her that's not how it is done. I don't think anyone else here knows any better.

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B-M-D
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Posted: 4/09/08 at 4:10pm

The fact that it's a public school is not part of the equation. The director of course. I think this is a trick question. The theater director and choir director are the same person. Notice how you never see them in the room at the same time.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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jayzehr
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Posted: 4/09/08 at 5:19pm

Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have been joking around. So, I gather you're new to the job? If so, were your specific job duties something that was discussed by whoever hired you? It would seem to me the only logical course of action is to take it up the chain of command to whoever you both answer to. But I'm not really qualified to comment.

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spikesgirl
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Posted: 4/10/08 at 2:24pm

I would think that it's a 50/50 partnership. Your director would handle the acting aspect, your choral teacher would handle the singing. not sure who would head up the choreography - who ever has the most experience would be my call.

No, the musical director does NOT run the musical - at least not in our theater.

Charlie

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whitebat
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Posted: 4/10/08 at 6:19pm

Our HS... the theatre direct directed the acting, choir director the singing, and the speech teacher directed the choreography (I guess because she had a gift for it). And the choir director and theatre director really didn't appear in the same room that I can ever recall!

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belle
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Posted: 4/11/08 at 11:17am

What is your goal here? Is it "I direct or nothing"?

If the musical director has been directing the whole thing for years, then she's the director whatever her title. She could be the math teacher. If she has put on successful shows for years, then she is the director.

Do you want to help and make the show a success and a good experience for the kids?

I imagine she could use the help, but not if you come in and insist because you are the "theater person," you should direct the acting.

Going to the principal (up the chain of command) will not endear you to any body. The principal doesn't care. He/she wants everyone to get along and not make waves. He/she's not going to piss off someone who has worked for years putting on successful shows.

Talk to the musical director face-to-face and offer to help out. See what she needs. Offer to take some of the weight--costuming, choreography, set design/building--if she is willing to share.

It sounds like you are new to the school. Think of it as being new to a community theatre. She wants to see what you can do before putting you in the lead. She has been successful with shows in the past and is not willing to turn over a big portion of the responsibility until she knows what you can do.

Show her you are as dedicated to a good show and a good experience for the kids as she is. Be on HER side.

Good luck! I'm sure you have a great contribution to make.

Let us know what happens.

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ACT4JC
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Posted: 4/11/08 at 3:03pm

You understand the situation completely. All you said is correct. I'm new - with 8 years experience, but new to this school. She's done it and been successful as far as I know for 17 years. It doesn't appear that the principal cares.

That said, I think my attitude has been excellent considering the choir teacher did not say "welcome to the program - here's how we've been doing it - how can we work together on this?" Instead, she said "You don't understand - this is my thing and I'm doing it - I can do it without you." So, I said "Alright, I'll design the set and lights and direct the stage crew, but next year it will need to be different."

Well, nothing has changed. I agree that she is entitled to her position, but the way she went about it was all wrong. And, it seems she is completely oblivious of the traditions of musical theatre.

Maybe a better question for this forum is "How do choir directors and theatre directors get along?"

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jayzehr
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Posted: 4/11/08 at 3:23pm

Didn't you have any discussion about your job description when you were hired?

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Topic: Who directs the musical?( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
ACT4JC Walk-On Joined: 1/09/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Who directs the musical? Posted: 4/09/08 at 3:56pm
	Who should direct the acting in a public school musical? Theatre Director or Choir Director?

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jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 4/09/08 at 3:58pm
	Is this a trick question?
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ACT4JC Walk-On Joined: 1/09/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/09/08 at 4:06pm
	Not exactly. I know it is the theater director, but am in a situation currently where I work with a choir director who is convinced that she directs the musicals here. She told me that she's done it for years and it is her baby. She said she can do it without me. I told her that's not how it is done. I don't think anyone else here knows any better.
	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 4/09/08 at 4:10pm
	The fact that it's a public school is not part of the equation. The director of course. I think this is a trick question. The theater director and choir director are the same person. Notice how you never see them in the room at the same time.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 4/09/08 at 5:19pm
	Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have been joking around. So, I gather you're new to the job? If so, were your specific job duties something that was discussed by whoever hired you? It would seem to me the only logical course of action is to take it up the chain of command to whoever you both answer to. But I'm not really qualified to comment.
	IP Logged

spikesgirl Celebrity Joined: 3/30/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 129	Posted: 4/10/08 at 2:24pm
	I would think that it's a 50/50 partnership. Your director would handle the acting aspect, your choral teacher would handle the singing. not sure who would head up the choreography - who ever has the most experience would be my call. No, the musical director does NOT run the musical - at least not in our theater. Charlie
	IP Logged

whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 4/10/08 at 6:19pm
	Our HS... the theatre direct directed the acting, choir director the singing, and the speech teacher directed the choreography (I guess because she had a gift for it). And the choir director and theatre director really didn't appear in the same room that I can ever recall!
	IP Logged

belle Star Joined: 9/12/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 75	Posted: 4/11/08 at 11:17am
	What is your goal here? Is it "I direct or nothing"? If the musical director has been directing the whole thing for years, then she's the director whatever her title. She could be the math teacher. If she has put on successful shows for years, then she is the director. Do you want to help and make the show a success and a good experience for the kids? I imagine she could use the help, but not if you come in and insist because you are the "theater person," you should direct the acting. Going to the principal (up the chain of command) will not endear you to any body. The principal doesn't care. He/she wants everyone to get along and not make waves. He/she's not going to piss off someone who has worked for years putting on successful shows. Talk to the musical director face-to-face and offer to help out. See what she needs. Offer to take some of the weight--costuming, choreography, set design/building--if she is willing to share. It sounds like you are new to the school. Think of it as being new to a community theatre. She wants to see what you can do before putting you in the lead. She has been successful with shows in the past and is not willing to turn over a big portion of the responsibility until she knows what you can do. Show her you are as dedicated to a good show and a good experience for the kids as she is. Be on HER side. Good luck! I'm sure you have a great contribution to make. Let us know what happens.
	IP Logged

ACT4JC Walk-On Joined: 1/09/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/11/08 at 3:03pm
	You understand the situation completely. All you said is correct. I'm new - with 8 years experience, but new to this school. She's done it and been successful as far as I know for 17 years. It doesn't appear that the principal cares. That said, I think my attitude has been excellent considering the choir teacher did not say "welcome to the program - here's how we've been doing it - how can we work together on this?" Instead, she said "You don't understand - this is my thing and I'm doing it - I can do it without you." So, I said "Alright, I'll design the set and lights and direct the stage crew, but next year it will need to be different." Well, nothing has changed. I agree that she is entitled to her position, but the way she went about it was all wrong. And, it seems she is completely oblivious of the traditions of musical theatre. Maybe a better question for this forum is "How do choir directors and theatre directors get along?"
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 4/11/08 at 3:23pm
	Didn't you have any discussion about your job description when you were hired?
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