The Director

1. The Director goals: • The central interpretation of the play text - central idea, something that will communicate to the audience • Coordinate/unify all other artists’ work.

2. Director’s Concept • The director’s idea for presenting the play that will communicate to the audience. So how do they do that? Their tools: - The play text - Other artists: actors technicians designers

3. Director’s Responsibilities • Text analysis – leads to central interpretation • Production concept of central message and style • Production meetings -translation of the ideas of the director by designers 4) Casting by holding auditions

4. Process cont.: 5) Rehearsals: these include -readings of the script by actors - blocking of movement of the actors - character discussions between actor and director - refining of all of the above - technical rehearsals where all designers add their pieces - dress rehearsals (everything looks like a performance)

5. Training • May start as an actor, move to directing • University or college trained • Constant self education (watching, research, reading, trial and error) • Familiar with every aspect of theatre, all areas.

6. Training cont. • Ability to work with people • Broad general knowledge of: - psychology - sociology - history - arts (visual periods, all periods) And finally, practical experience in theatre is the greatest teacher.

7. Because of a smaller potential audience the director’s budget is lower than a movie director’s. The director must be imaginative. No amount of money buys excellence.

8. vocabulary When studying the director, these are important words to remember. What the director looks for when analyzing a play: Exposition Falling Action Conflict denouement Rising action Climax

9. Vocab cont. • General vocab: Genre Ground Plan Theme Dramaturg Stage Manager Symbolism Protagonist Antagonist