1. Chapter 8
The Art of Directing

2. The Birth of Directors
The word director comes from the Greek didaskalos, or teacher.
The playwright or lead actor as director.
The actor-manager of the 19th century.

3. The Birth of Directors
George II, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen ( )
Credited as first modern director.
His wealth allowed him to construct his own theatre and organize a resident company of actors and artists.
Long rehearsal periods and attention to detail in acting.
Advocated historical accuracy.
Stanislavsky was so impressed that he used many of the Duke’s techniques with the Moscow Art Theatre.

4. Before Rehearsals Begin
Script analysis
Works with the playwright (if available).
Spends countless hours rereading the script.
Combing newspaper archives, and researching the history and criticism of the play.
Might work with a Dramaturg, who assists the Director in researching and thinking about the play, the playwright, the audience, and questions of style.

5. Before Rehearsals Begin
Structural Analysis
Theme
Characters
Language
Plot
French scenes
Beats
Michael Brosilow/The Goodman Theatre

6. Realizing the Production Concept
The primary metaphor, symbol, or concept that is essential to the production of this play
Production meetings serve to bring the production team a central point in the collaborative process
© P. Switzer

7. Casting the Right Actors
Cast to type
Cast against type
Gender-neutral casting
Cross-gender casting
Color-blind casting
Joan Marcus

8. The Director’s Role During Rehearsals
Blocking
Shared focus
Profile
Stealing focus
Stage areas
Triangulation
AP Photo/Jerome Delay

9. The Director’s Role During Rehearsals Picturization
© 2013 Cengage Learning

10. The Director’s Role During Rehearsals
Notice how every seated actors’ focus is on the actor standing. The director is utilizing level, gaze and contrast to draw the audience’s eye.
University of Wyoming Archives

11. The Director’s Role During Rehearsals
Can you see how the director is using triangulation with the blocking?
University of Wyoming Archives

12. Types of Directors
Interpretive directors attempt to translate the play from the page to the stage as accurately as possible.
Michael Brasilow/The Goodman Theatre

13. Types of Directors
Creative Directors create “concept productions” based on their unique ideas or interpretations of a play script.
Krysta Ficca/Micki Panttaja

14. Contemporary Trends
Directors, designers and actors work with playwrights in the development of a play from its very conception.
Richard Feldman

15. Curtain Call The Director:
Takes his/her artistic vision and turns the printed script into a production.
Coordinates dozens of theatre artists, technicians, and other personnel to work toward that vision.
Represents the audience by deciding exactly what the audience will see.
Synthesizes the work of the playwright, the designers, and the performers into a unique theatrical event.