Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Stage Direction Basics

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   How did this eventually turn out? I'm reading this post for the first time and laughing my ass off.  

I love (and very much hate) when actors hold on to some minuscule note like this. The thing is, it's probably from some other production or acting class they were in -- which at the time probably made complete sense to adhere to. 

I recently had to explain to an actor that it was okay to turn and yell up some stairs to a second floor, though he was taught to never to turn his back on the audience. 

He was trying to yell upstairs, that were behind him, by yelling out towards the audience.  It was the most wonderful moment of absurdity.  I thought I was having a stroke. 

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jjpeppers Walk-On Joined: 7/09/12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/09/12 at 1:54pm
	How did this eventually turn out? I'm reading this post for the first time and laughing my ass off. I love (and very much hate) when actors hold on to some minuscule note like this. The thing is, it's probably from some other production or acting class they were in -- which at the time probably made complete sense to adhere to. I recently had to explain to an actor that it was okay to turn and yell up some stairs to a second floor, though he was taught to never to turn his back on the audience. He was trying to yell upstairs, that were behind him, by yelling out towards the audience. It was the most wonderful moment of absurdity. I thought I was having a stroke.
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vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 7/12/12 at 6:56pm
	I once worked with a director in a similar situation with an opinionated actress. The director was a real southern belle and she handled it by listening graciously till the opinionated actress stated her case, then said that was " thank you for an interesting viewpoint, which might make sense if she (the actress) was directing" then she continued on with her original direction, "but we are trying it this way". The actress knew that her opinion had been heard, but clearly she and the cast now knew that the director's vision was what they were going to execute. Or stated another way (my husband's), listen, then say "we'll do it your way next time."
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
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Rorgg Celebrity Joined: 2/10/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Posted: 8/09/12 at 11:44am
	When directing, unless I'm absolutely married to my ideas for whatever reason, I'll usually allow one try of pretty much anything. Doesn't mean I'll like it, or go with it, but I'll WATCH it once and see. YEah, seems pretty absurd in the OPs case, though.
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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Topic: Stage Direction Basics - HELP
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