I'm AD/SM for a show where the Director is being extremely rude- humiliating even- to the cast during notes and other times.  I know to be impartial under normal circumstances, but this is clearly a problem.

Background:  This is an experienced director who seems to have lost his edge.  It's Hell Week and he didn't have the team needed to have the set, lights, props, band, etc. ready by now, so we are all scrambling to the finish.

The actors have had to costume themselves,  find their own props, build and paint the set without adequate direction.  Then the Director vetoed many items, causing the cast to have to do it all again.  I realize some CTs depend on actors for all this, but that's not the expectation of actors at our theater.

Some scenes/musical numbers aren't polished, but everyone is giving it their all. 

Here's the point:  His notes include phrases like, "I'd be embarrassed if I was you", "I'm tired of watching you" and "That was awful", without giving specifics or coaching them how to change.  He singles out individuals and berates them in front of the whole cast.  He mocks the way they move, literally stands up and makes fun of how dancers move.  He denigrates actors to their face and even when they're not present- sometimes to the the whole crew.

What can I do?  Go to the Board?  This man is President of the Board!
Advice, please.  It may be too late for this show, but what should an AD do in this situation?

I want to add that, when you do take this to the board, and you really should, advise them that one way to make a differnece in this type of experince, is to try a system we use. (it dosen't always work, but it does put someone else on the hook) for each of our shows we have the Director (and of course for musicals, a musical director and choreographer) they may have an AD/SM, but each show also has a producer who insures all of the tech elements are seen too and that the show is moving along well. They are responsible to the board. We also include a "board liason/advisor" for each show. this is a board memeber who makes themselves available during the rehearsal process and may be contacted should a cast member have a problem with the directorial/production staff that they can't resolve or dont feel comfortable tackling on thier own... You might want to try something like that fo rthe future

Maybe one cast member with enough guts (and the willingness to follow through) to stand up to him and say "Enough is enough.  If you continue in this manner you can do the show without me."  I know that this close to production and could cause a huge mess but sometimes that is what's needed.  We once had a director who was very similar sounding.  The producer and board rep both spoke with him to no avail.  It actually took a cast member (and I'm not sure if I'd do it again now that I am sober) threatening the director with a severe thumping to get him to stop berating the cast.

So I should get drunk and threaten to thump the director.  Got it.  Sounds great, actually.  Thanks.

Originally posted by pdavis69 "Enough is enough.  If you continue in this manner you can do the show without me."

I said something very similar to a director about five hundred years ago.

As I recall, he shaped right up.

If somebody wants to treat me like an ***hole, I'm gonna act like one.