assistant director duties
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=3595
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 2:16pm
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Topic: assistant director duties
Posted By: Scott B
Subject: assistant director duties
Date Posted: 11/11/08 at 4:03pm
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This will be my first time directing a large musical. It's also a very small town community theatre, so most of the time we've doubled up on jobs. This time around we have a few more to help out than in the past. I have an assistant director and hopefully will have a stage manager. My question is ... during rehearsals; what are the responsibilities of each? Thanks - |
Replies:
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 11/12/08 at 9:01am
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I have been very lucky in working with the same AD in all the shows I have directed. She is in charge of writing down all the blocking (and telling me when it looks stupid), assists in the casting decisions (I try not to be a dictator), she keeps us on task, gives cues, fills in for absent actors in rehearsals, makes phone calls needed for reminders and everyone once in a while if I have been real good she will make cookies too. As I said earlier I have been very lucky in working with this person. She has also stage managed each of the shows, keeping a continuity running from auditions to closing night. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 11/12/08 at 11:26am
Thank you, Patrick. Most of the time (in the past) the producer has had to do many of those tasks. With any luck at all, we'll have enough people to avoid having to saddle one person. I'm looking forward to being able to split things up a bit. All of our jobs will be a little easier. (At least I hope.) 
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Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 11/13/08 at 11:00am
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As Patrick posted, having a good SM is a must. To me it is my first priority. Before appointing anyone else on the production team.
I normally on musicals ensure I have also an AD as well, although they can be a pain in the Rsend, if you get a problem one, so basically I go for an SM first, who knows what they are about. As I use the Choreographer & MD to fill the AD role for me, to a certain extent!
I have done a couple of shows over the past few years, where I have used the odd pseudo AD's, which have become like a taking a dose of 'Harpic' & sending me clean around the bend! But that's because I have become some what invalid these days & they attempt to help, good heartedly?
------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 11/13/08 at 3:30pm
| I just feel lucky to have so many people not only able to help with this production, but ones that actually want to help. I think we'll be fine as long as I get the jobs description written up and everyone knows what their responsibilities are going to be. |
Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 11/22/08 at 1:09am
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We don't usually have an SM and an AD -- we have one who does everything. I am AD for our current production and I try to be the kind of assistant director that I would want as director. For example: Try to get there first and unlock the door, turn on lights and turn on the heat.
Get the stage pieces set in place for rehearsal.
Follow the book during rehearsal.
Round up the cast members needed for the scene.
Make some kind of sound effect when needed until the sound tech is in place (ring-ring, ding-dong, etc)
Stand in for any cast member who may be absent.
Bring the director coffee
Keep the company in the loop with frequent emails.
Offer opinions to the director when asked, or trouble shoot when there is something the director does not see.
Just a few things.
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Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:00am
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Kathy ... I think those are all great suggestions. In retrospect I can see where we probably could have gone with one less person next year. In the past few days I've had an experienced actor who wants to work off stage for this production. He stepped up and volunteered to be the SM for me starting day one of rehearsals. I now find myself with the luxury of having both the AD and SM. I plan to draw up specific job responsibilities as I believe this is going to be a first (having both). In the past, the SM was the guy/gal who showed up a week before dress and coordinated scene changes. My thanks to everyone for their input. And Kathy ... I wonder if I can slip in that "bring the director coffee" thing. I'm kinda diggin' that part.  Bless you! |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:59am
good to hear from you Kathy S! 
Stage Managers Do Make Coffee:- by Carissa Dollar http://www.geocities.com/dollariquestnet/SMhandbook.html?200814 - http://www.geocities.com/dollariquestnet/SMhandbook.html?200814
A good reference it covers most all the aspects of the SM job & a wee bit more, though mainly concerned with Proeatre productions, which is equally as valid for Ameatre as well!
This may also help you Scott - it's an olde 'n goody!
Producer:
Leaps Tall Buildings In A Single Bound Is More Powerful Than A Locomotive Is Faster Than A Speeding Bullet Walks On Water Gives Policy To God Director:
Leaps Short Buildings In A Single Bound Is More Powerful Than a Tank Engine Is Just As Fast As A Speeding Bullet Walks On Water If The Sea Is Calm Talks With God Playwright: Leaps Short Buildings With A Running Start Is Almost As Powerful As a Thomas The Tank Engine Is Faster Than A Speeding Spat Dummy Swims Well Is Occasionally Addressed By God Actor: Makes High Marks On The Wall When Trying To Leap Buildings Is Run Over By Locomotives Can Sometimes Handle An Air Gun Without Inflicting Self-Injury Dog Paddles Talks To Inanimate objects
Technicians: Runs Into Buildings Recognises Locomotives Two Out Of Three Times Is Not Issued Ammunition Can Stay Afloat With A Life Preserver Talks To Walls Chorus: Falls Over Doorsteps When Trying To Enter Buildings Says, "Look At The Choo-Choo!" Wets Ones Self With A Water Pistol Plays In Mud Puddles Mumbles To Ones Self Stage Manager: Lifts Buildings And Walks Under Them Kicks Locomotives Off The Track Catches Speeding Bullets In Teeth And Eats Them Freezes Water With A Single Glance Is GOD! {by Anon?}
------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 11/22/08 at 10:01pm
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Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:53pm
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I'm confused here - all the jobs that the AD is doing are what I thought the SM did. Is there a difference then? Or is it sort of the same name for the same thing? (I've never worked with an AD before) ------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 1/13/09 at 2:58pm
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I use a stage manager and he/she has the duties discussed, I wholeheartily agree that a good SM is a must and should be the first person recruited for the team.
Personally I don't like "Assistant Director" because I think people get the wrong impression of their scope ... especially the assistant director. They feel they are second in command and in my way of thinking that falls to the SM. Secondly, they feel they can give the director advice, or even worse, direct the actors behind the director's back.
As a director what I need an assistant for are things like taking notes, watching script when the SM can't, filling in for a missing actor so the SM doesn't have to, or running an errand, etc.
I also don't like the term "assistant to the director", because the wording is clumsy but mostly because it makes it sound like that person is my slave ... which he/she is ... but I don't want others to know that.
 I call that person a "Production Assistant". That's vague enough that I can have them do anything.We used to use have "Student Assistant Director" as a development thing for (generally) High School age kids. However, that was worse than having an adult. Often once a kid got that title they started bossing people around. Rotten kids. I'm glad my wife directs the high school plays and not me.
------------- KEB |