chapter six the director and the producer power point copy

Chapter 6

The Director Most closely associated with the performers Guides and coordinates the artistic side Responsible for the overall style, pace, and

visual appearance of the production

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Evolution of the Director The function of the director has always been

present in one way or another Term “director” became common at the end of

the 19th century▪ Emergence of director coincided with important

social changes▪ There was a marked increase in communication


Evolution of the Director continued

The director must draw disparate elements together to create a unified whole


The Director at Work Begins with a close examination of the text

▪ Discovery of the spine (also called the main action)

Develops a directorial concept▪ The overall image or metaphor of a play


The Director at Work continued

Begins the casting▪ Finding an actor or actress for each role▪ Auditions

Works with scene, costume, lighting, and sound designers to develop the visual aspects

Rehearsals



Blocking Stage picture or visual composition

▪ How the entire scene onstage will appear to the audience



Gives shape and structure to a play in two dimensions, space and time

Establishes appropriate movement, pace, and rhythm for the production


The Director’s Collaborators Lyricists, choreographers, music directors,

technicians, artists, consultants, etc. Stage manager

▪ Coordinates all the rehearsals and the actual running of a performance


The Director’s Collaborators continued

Dramaturg or literary manager▪ Discovers and reads new plays▪ Works with playwrights to develop new scripts▪ Identifies overlooked plays from the past▪ Prepares information on the history of classical

works▪ Researches past productions and criticism


The Auteur Director “Auteur” is French for “author” Auteur directors do not serve the purposes of

a text; rather, they demand that the text serve their purposes


The Auteur Director continued

Alters texts drastically Combines texts from other sources Introduces other elements such as film, video,

dance, and the visual arts Rearranges times and places in which the

action occurs


Producers in Commercial Theatre The director’s counterpart in the business and

management side of a theatre production Typical responsibilities

▪ Raising money to finance the production▪ Securing rights to the script▪ Dealing with the agents for the playwright, director,

and performers▪ Hiring: director, performers, designers, and stage

crews


Producers in Commercial Theatre Typical responsibilities continued

▪ Dealing with theatrical unions▪ Renting the theatre space▪ Supervising the work of those running the theatre▪ Supervising the advertising▪ Overseeing the budget and the week-to-week

financial management of the production


Noncommercial Theatres Administrative Organization of a Nonprofit

Theatre▪ Board of directors

▪ Selects the artistic and the managing directors▪ Oversees the financial affairs, fund-raising, long range

planning


Noncommercial Theatres Administrative Organization of a Nonprofit

Theatre continued

▪ Artistic director▪ Responsible for all creative and artistic activities▪ Selects the plays that will run▪ Chooses directors, designers, and other creative personnel

▪ Executive or managing director▪ Similar to the producer


Noncommercial Theatres continued

Responsibilities of the Noncommercial Producer or Manager▪ Building maintenance▪ Budget▪ Publicity▪ Front of the house


chapter six the director and the producer power point copy

Education

mcgrawhill companies

director similar

term director

production securing

auteur director auteur

artistic director responsible

century emergence of

managing directors