Hi, I'm a high school director, and I'm working on my third performance.  I'm learning everything as I go, because I wasn't active in theatre in high school or college.  I've been reading some of the threads and would like to ask this question:

What do you do during the performance?

I read the article that said you should walk around and go back and give pep talks.  I do that sometimes, but mostly I just sit and watch the show and let the stage manager/assistant director do most of the work.  Is this lazy of me?  What do you do?

I am in production right now. I sit and watch the show. I can tie a decent bow tie, so sometimes I do that. If I have done my job, there is nothing for me to do during the show.

Linda

The nights of the run are among my favorite of the entire process.  I love to watch the show I've worked hard (sometimes for twelve months or more) and revel in the performances.  I direct for me.  I picked the show because I liked it and now is my chance to see 3, 4, 6, 8 or more performances.  I don't think its lazy at all and it keeps me out of the actors' way so they can go thru their preparations, nervous gyrations, whatever. I echo Linda, if you've done your job, your job is done.

Once tech week starts besides giving notes to your actors the show is in the stage managers hands... it's there job to cue the lights, sound, and pit... as well as keeping the show together in those mid-show emergencies!

Once the show begins its run, I stay out of the way.  I figure the actors and the tech people have enough to do without my getting in their hair.  I do not roam around backstage; I watch the show and kick myself for all the things I see that I should have done.  I do not do pep talks before a show, and I really don't care for directors who feel they need to do that.  When I act, I use the time before curtain to prepare, to get into character and so on.  During intermission, I check in with the actors to see how they are doing and if I have noticed anything that they need to know, like not turning their backs to the audience or not opening up to the folks at the sides of our thrust stage, I tell them.  I will do the same with the tech people.  After the show, I may make a suggestion to someone of something they might want to try tomorrow night if he/she is an actor who is experienced and receptive to changing things once a show opens.  Some actors are not.  Mostly, I acknowledge that what is going on is no longer under my control and focus on watching and enjoying what has been accomplished.