DRAM 1310 Chapter 8: Directing

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 (1826-1914)
• 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
 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
Casting
 Cast to type
 Cast against type
 Gender-neutral
casting
 Cross-gender
casting
 Color-blind casting
JoanMarcus

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
©2013CengageLearning

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.
UniversityofWyomingArchives

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

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.
KrystaFicca/MickiPanttaja

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

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.