Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Making enemies

You get paid? Thumbs%20Up

I do this for fun. Confused

Thanks to everyone for the good words. It is good to know that I am not alone out here.

Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

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For most of my 50 years in theatre, I have actually made a good part of my living as a director. I know exactly what all of you mean. But to me, I treated actors in my Community Theatre shows the same way I did the professionals I work with.

I am at a point in life now that I always have a few good actors in mind when I do a show (other than school or children's theatre). I am open minded and pleasantly surprised by new talent at auditions and everyone knows, I change my mind for the BEST possible cast 'mix'.

I never enter the theatre late or unprepared so I expect the same from cast and crew. Few can miss work, come in late or call in sick at will. They can't pull it with me, either.

I have cast many good friends and I have cast many good actors that I loathe, personally.

Everyone knows from the beginning, there can ONLY be one director and all final decisions rest with me. However, I expect them to give the same respect to their crew heads. As much as possible, I deal with crew heads and NOT individual actors in 'heated' situations.

I am not unyielding and I want the actors to be creative. But, I'm in the house and I DO know if what they are doing is right... or out.

Most important, my actors know that criticism from me is constructive. It's their face, their character and their teamwork that an audience loves or hates.

In the end, how many remember who the director was? I tell them, my satisfaction is helping them reach the character's being.

Even friends 'get it' if you can say; if you really want me to go to the cast and say...."she's my best friend and even though she isn't on a par with the rest of you, she thinks she deserves to stay". I'll do that but YOU will stand beside me as I do.

Usually, they'll back down and leave or work backstage OR... if given another chance, they straighten up.

Truthfully, if your cast knows you are looking at them as professionals, they tend to have a better 'tude. ..... MOST of them, that is

Oh my. I sound like a tough cookie and I guess I am. But I like to think a cast trusts me and I do party with them... to an extent.

Da Mama Luvs Ya!

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Author	Message
GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Posted: 8/04/07 at 10:57am
	You get paid? I do this for fun. Thanks to everyone for the good words. It is good to know that I am not alone out here.
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
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Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 8/05/07 at 2:55am
	Most of us do it for fun, but I think when I am no longer having fun, then it's time to do something else.
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ictdramamama Player Joined: 2/04/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Posted: 8/06/07 at 5:28pm
	For most of my 50 years in theatre, I have actually made a good part of my living as a director. I know exactly what all of you mean. But to me, I treated actors in my Community Theatre shows the same way I did the professionals I work with. I am at a point in life now that I always have a few good actors in mind when I do a show (other than school or children's theatre). I am open minded and pleasantly surprised by new talent at auditions and everyone knows, I change my mind for the BEST possible cast 'mix'. I never enter the theatre late or unprepared so I expect the same from cast and crew. Few can miss work, come in late or call in sick at will. They can't pull it with me, either. I have cast many good friends and I have cast many good actors that I loathe, personally. Everyone knows from the beginning, there can ONLY be one director and all final decisions rest with me. However, I expect them to give the same respect to their crew heads. As much as possible, I deal with crew heads and NOT individual actors in 'heated' situations. I am not unyielding and I want the actors to be creative. But, I'm in the house and I DO know if what they are doing is right... or out. Most important, my actors know that criticism from me is constructive. It's their face, their character and their teamwork that an audience loves or hates. In the end, how many remember who the director was? I tell them, my satisfaction is helping them reach the character's being. Even friends 'get it' if you can say; if you really want me to go to the cast and say...."she's my best friend and even though she isn't on a par with the rest of you, she thinks she deserves to stay". I'll do that but YOU will stand beside me as I do. Usually, they'll back down and leave or work backstage OR... if given another chance, they straighten up. Truthfully, if your cast knows you are looking at them as professionals, they tend to have a better 'tude. ..... MOST of them, that is Oh my. I sound like a tough cookie and I guess I am. But I like to think a cast trusts me and I do party with them... to an extent.
	Da Mama Luvs Ya!
	IP Logged

whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 8/11/07 at 6:20pm
	Well, we've had a few painful director/actor confrontations. I think most were due to lack of communication, including people not knowing who is in charge of which decisions (e.g. approving cover art for programs). I got upset, but never left a show. A few actors should've gotten canned (miss a bunch of rehearsals, and the other one can't project). We had a blowup over extreme nepotism in casting (3 members of director's family in prime roles), which led to the assistant director directing that show, but the ex-director came back and acted in our next show (they did resolve it).
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Topic: Making enemies( Topic Closed)
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