Chapter 8Chapter 8

The Art of DirectingThe Art of Directing

The Birth of DirectorsThe 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.

The Birth of DirectorsThe Birth of Directors

George II, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1826-1914)George II, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1826-1914)

• Credited as first modern director.Credited as first modern director.• His wealth allowed him to construct his own theatre His wealth allowed him to construct his own theatre

and organize a resident company of actors and and organize a resident company of actors and artists.artists.

• Long rehearsal periods and attention to detail in Long rehearsal periods and attention to detail in acting.acting.

• Advocated historical accuracy.Advocated historical accuracy.• Stanislavsky was so impressed that he used many of Stanislavsky was so impressed that he used many of

the Duke’s techniques with the Moscow Art Theatre.the Duke’s techniques with the Moscow Art Theatre.

Before Rehearsals BeginBefore Rehearsals Begin

Script analysis Works with the playwright (if available).Works with the playwright (if available). Spends countless hours rereading the script.Spends countless hours rereading the script. Combing newspaper archives, and researching Combing newspaper archives, and researching

the history and criticism of the play. 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.

Before Rehearsals BeginBefore Rehearsals Begin

Structural AnalysisStructural AnalysisThemeThemeCharactersCharactersLanguageLanguagePlotPlot

French scenesBeats

Michael Brosilow/The Goodman Theatre

Realizing the Production ConceptRealizing 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

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Casting the Right ActorsCasting the Right Actors

CastingCast to typeCast against

typeGender-neutral

castingCross-gender

castingColor-blind

casting

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The Director’s Role During The Director’s Role During Rehearsals Rehearsals

BlockingShared focusShared focusProfileProfileStealing focusStealing focusStage areasStage areasTriangulationTriangulation

AP Photo/Jerome Delay

The Director’s Role During The Director’s Role During RehearsalsRehearsals

PicturizationPicturization

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The Director’s Role During The Director’s Role During RehearsalsRehearsals

Notice how every seated actors’ Notice how every seated actors’ focus is on the actor standing. The focus is on the actor standing. The director is utilizing level, gaze and director is utilizing level, gaze and contrast to draw the audience’s eye.contrast to draw the audience’s eye.

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The Director’s Role During The Director’s Role During RehearsalsRehearsals

Can you see how the director is using Can you see how the director is using triangulation with the blocking?triangulation with the blocking?

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Types of DirectorsTypes of Directors

Interpretive directors attempt to translate the play from the page to the stage as accurately as possible.

Michael Brasilow/The Goodman Theatre

Types of DirectorsTypes of Directors

Creative Directors Creative Directors create “concept create “concept productions” productions” based on their based on their unique ideas or unique ideas or interpretations of interpretations of a play script.a play script.

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Contemporary TrendsContemporary Trends

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

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Curtain CallCurtain Call

The Director:• Takes his/her artistic vision and turns the printed Takes his/her artistic vision and turns the printed

script into a production. script into a production. • Coordinates dozens of theatre artists, technicians, Coordinates dozens of theatre artists, technicians,

and other personnel to work toward that vision.and other personnel to work toward that vision.• Represents the audience by deciding exactly Represents the audience by deciding exactly

what the audience will see. what the audience will see. • Synthesizes the work of the playwright, the Synthesizes the work of the playwright, the

designers, and the performers into a unique designers, and the performers into a unique theatrical event.theatrical event.