Art in ActionDIRECTING

The role of a director is to lead a unique and unified vision of the complex elements of acting and design in order to express the playwright’s story.

To effectively execute the vision, a director ensures there are available assets for the project;• Cast – will the project fit the available cast (gender, capability of actors)• Venue – can the production be staged in the available space; is it

appropriate for the audience (Peter Pan)• Resources – are the means in place (production of a musical)

If these elements are affirmative, then the director proceeds with the project.

The Seeing Place

Analysis

Collaboration

Execution

The Big Three

Analysis – Establishing the Vision• Aristotle’s Poetics

• Plot, Character, Theme, Language, Music and or Rhythm, Spectacle

• Techniques of Analysis• Stanislavski – Given Circumstances

• What are the given circumstances? When and where is the play set, what is the physical environment, time and place the social and political climate

• Commanding Image – The landscape of the work.

• Hodge Analysis

• Backwards and Forwards

• Mother Courage and Her Children• Forges the vision’s foundation. which star your ship is steering by.

The Play’s The Thing

Analysis

• Breakdown the Action (Backward & Forwards)• Determine which action builds onto the next action• Dissect into beats and moments

• The Story• Structure – Central conflict – determine the function of each scene in the

overall story• Language – subtext and commonalities – the voices of the characters• Super objective of the play

• Research Style and Period • Molière differs from Shakespeare from Miller• Establish the style• Discover the styles distinctive characteristics

• Vision• Create an analytical supported vision backed by the playwright’s text.

Analysis forges the vision’s foundation. The process of collaboration begins.

The Play’s The Thing

• Ensemble• Shared Vision• Active dialogue

• Openness to other ideas

• Gateway to constructive problem-solving

• All Stakeholders• Producing entity

• Actors

• Designers

• Technicians

Collaboration

• Communication• Production Meetings• Open two-way door of communication

• Established Expectations

• Rehearsals• Active Discovery

• Actors

• Designers

• Technicians

Collaboration

Rehearsals (cont)• 1st Week of Rehearsals

• Discuss analysis • Initial read through • Second read through discuss motive and meaning of individual scenes• Score scripts for beats and moment• Share discoveries• Compare and discuss

• 2nd Week of Rehearsals• Staging• Movement - style• Utilize different acting processes to achieve style and moments• Work transitions• Work key moments• Discuss scene challenges

• 3rd Week of Rehearsals• Review notes of challenges; implement solutions• Refine staging – working with props, costume pieces, set pieces• Work key moments and stylistic innovations• Work key scenes• Lines off run-through

Execution

Rehearsals (cont)• 4th Week of Rehearsals• Work challenging scenes• Run-through• Discuss notes• Costume fittings• Dry tech rehearsals

• 5th Week of Rehearsals• Tech production • Tech Rehearsals with and without actors• Tech and costume rehearsal• Final dress rehearsal• Box office and house• Opening Night

Execution

PUBLICITY EXAMPLES