Directing: New Director

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New Director

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2353
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 5:32pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: New Director

Posted By: lola
Subject: New Director
Date Posted: 4/15/07 at 4:15pm

I'm a theatre education student in a rather intimidating situation. I never went to public school, I was home schooled all the way through college. Recently I started volunteering with a local high school to get more experience with the public school system. I actually fit in very well there. The kids and I have a great relationship because they look to me as an athoraty figure, but are more comfortable with me than they would be with an actual teacher.

Ufortunetly, this particular school dosent care very much about the arts and the drama teacher is practicly doing everything alone. you can imagin how hard it is to only have high school students to assist with everything from lighting to advertising. I have considerable experience with theatre, so she asked me to direct a show there next year.

now, heres my delema. I do have a lot of experience, but I've never directed. I know she'll help me as much as she can, but given that she'll probobly be directing a show at the same time, she can only do so much. I'm honered for the opertunity, but I'm so intimidated. the kids and I get along very well, but i dont know if they'll respond well to my sudden increase in authority. I was hoping to get some advice from more experienced directors on what to expect. the show I'm doing involves 2 elderly charictors and some kissing scenes. I'm really having a hard time figuring out how to aproach this as well.

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you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.

Replies:

Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 4/17/07 at 5:19pm

What's the show? Is it something we might have heard of?

My general advice to a new director comes down to this: know what you want and what you don't. There can certainly be room in your vision for change and for input from the actors, but you need to start with something fairly clear, because if you don't, you'll become lazy and let the actors create their characters without the guidance to bring all of their creativity into the same project.

Good luck.

Posted By: lola
Date Posted: 4/18/07 at 8:09am

thank you. the show is "Squabbles".

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you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.

Posted By: eagle10
Date Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:59pm

I think that teens can work really well and professional with the proper guidance and clear instructions and of course plenty of practice. I have working on the technical side of productions at my school with the students. Of course it varies from year to year but having a range of maturer and younger students can certainly work. In fact, committing to drama, they'd want to make the show work too so they will understand and even work better with you having more authority. Still, you do have to go with the idea that they don't have the background you do and you will have to work together with them rather than just give them verbal instructions...

Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 4/29/07 at 5:36pm

This may sound a bit basic if you have considerable theatre expierence but if you have never directed before...i suggest you go to the local library and get a book of fundamental theatre directing. You may know what you want but directing is an intricate science. Brush up on the ins and outs before you present yourself in a directorial situation. You may be surprissed by what you discover and will definately help your self confidence.

Good luck on you're new adventure. I started directing plays when I was 17 and I haven't stopped since....over 40 years later.

Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:19pm

As jaytee060 has said, a book would do you wonders. Directing is like being an air traffic controller, you have all they different areas buzzing around and if you are not on top of things then you have some delays, which can be a pain.

Directing is more than "you go here, you go here, etc." You'll be involved in many aspects (set design, lighting, costumes, playbil, p/r). Many of these guide books offer suggestions, guidance, and sometimes check lists which can be very useful.

The most important thing is not to let it over stress you. The audience is not going to care that you wanted blue walls and they are painted tan. They are going to care more about if the actors are having fun and it will show in their performance.

Good luck.

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The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

Posted By: lola
Date Posted: 4/30/07 at 3:03pm

is there any book in particular i should get?

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you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.

Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:49pm

Here is a book that I would reccommed to you very highly. It is simply titled "GUIDE TO DIRECTING" and it is published by the magizine staff at Stage Direction magazine. This book covers just about ever area of directing that you can possibly think of and is perfect for the new director.

It is available through Amazon for less then $15.00.

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 4/30/07 at 10:44pm

Another good one is "Play Director's Survival Kit" by James W. Rodgers and Wanda C. Roders. It has checklists, descriptions of the duties of the different areas of production, charts, and more. I think it is very important to start your own library of theatre books if you expect to continue in any area of theatre.

Posted By: avcastner
Date Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:04pm

If you are doing a musical in the future, try "Staging Musical Theatre."

My favorite directing book is out of print, but may be available on Ebay or at a used bookstore: "Principles of Stage Direction" by Gilmor (published by Samuel French in the 1930s)

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