Running Your Theater: Finding Directors

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Finding Directors

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5408
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 2:09pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Finding Directors

Posted By: dynamicstheater
Subject: Finding Directors
Date Posted: 11/14/12 at 11:06am

I was curious about what other theaters do to find and develop directors. We have been running into problems finding people with the time and willingness to direct spring and Christmas shows.

Where do you look to recruit the people that direct your shows?

Thanks.

-------------
Jim Smoot
Program Coordinator
Dynamics Community Theater
www.dynamicstheater.org - www.dynamicstheater.org

Replies:

Posted By: edh915
Date Posted: 11/14/12 at 7:08pm

We recruit "Shows", rather than "Directors".

In other words, we make it known that if anyone is interested in directing a play for our group, please attend a board meeting and make a presentation. (We do this through ads in our own programs and in other local theater groups' programs, e-newsletters, etc.) The prospective director comes, tells us about the show and his/her vision of it. There's a question and answer session, then the director leaves a copy of the script for the board to review. We all pass the script around, talk about about it among ourselves, ask the director back to another meeting if there are additional questions, then we decide. Sometimes we "may" offer an alternative play if we like the director's credentials, but aren't fond of the proposed play - but that's rare.

We are familiar with most of the people who wish to direct shows; some as directors, some as actors who wish to expand their horizons - and we certainly view their credentials. If it's someone totally new, we may assign an assistant director to them to help show them the ropes.

We've been very successful in finding directors. We usually do five shows a year. Our 2013 season is filled, and we've got two shows already slated for 2014. By having directors propose shows, we coincidentally end up with a wide variety of offerings, and we don't fall into the trap of doing the same type of shows all of the time. Our audiences enjoy the balance, too. We do the "traditional" type shows, sure; but at least two per year are a little "off the wall" and are more often than not well received by our public.