Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: "A Few Good Men"

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   Has anyone attempted to direct this show?

I do have limited directing experience from College, but I am a veteran, 

and understand the modern military.

Which brings me to yet another question..How difficult is it to direct 

something that has been made into a motion picture? Is it difficult to 

distance yourself and the production from the movie?

My take is that name recognition might get people through the door, but 

unless they have something other than an attempt to copy the movie, 

they won't recommend it to others, and might even leave early. 

An suggestions on giving them a performance they haven't seen 

Nicholson and Cruise already do?

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Doug Menke Walk-On Joined: 2/09/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: "A Few Good Men" Posted: 2/09/04 at 12:05pm
	Has anyone attempted to direct this show? I do have limited directing experience from College, but I am a veteran, and understand the modern military. Which brings me to yet another question..How difficult is it to direct something that has been made into a motion picture? Is it difficult to distance yourself and the production from the movie? My take is that name recognition might get people through the door, but unless they have something other than an attempt to copy the movie, they won't recommend it to others, and might even leave early. An suggestions on giving them a performance they haven't seen Nicholson and Cruise already do?

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Mike Polo Admin Group Community Theater Green Room Joined: 2/01/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 286	Posted: 2/09/04 at 1:04pm
	I haven't tried or read A Few Good Men, but have directed or been involved with a couple of shows that were movies. Name recognition does get people in the door and directing one isn't all that difficult. The main thing to do is forget that it's ever been done before. This is much easier if you haven't seen the movie, but still can be done. After all, the play is always different than the movie (unless the movie was made of a stage production). In addition, in reading the script, you will see things differently than they were portrayed in the film version. After all, Nicholson and Cruise did a version of their characters, but certainly not THE version. Read the play. Interpret. Look at how your actors audition. You'll get ideas, trust me.
	Mike Polo Community Theater Green Room http://www.communitytheater.org
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Adam Guest	Posted: 3/02/04 at 2:34pm
	I have never done any direction; but my local Community Theatre put this show on and I know most everyone involved (I was cast, but just before I was notified I accepted a stage management gig at a local dinner theater, so didn't participate). This is a pretty large cast with a lot of men (and only one woman, who is sure to get lots of attention back stage). The big problem that the director ran across is that a lot of the roles are very small, and convincing enough people to participate in rehearsals and performance of a 3 hour play when they are only on stage for a few minutes and have, maybe, two lines, was difficult for her. The other problem was costuming. A LOT of different uniforms are required, with all things that go with them. The show was fabulous, though, and sold out every show. It was a little strange watching the play after knowing the movie as some of the lines are delivered by different characters.
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Doug Menke Walk-On Joined: 2/09/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/18/04 at 9:04am
	Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I've decided not to approach this one now, but will file it away for the future. Doug
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