intro to theatre
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Intro to Theatre . DIRECTING. Why the director?. Because the product of the director's art is not directly visible, audible, or sensed, it is perhaps the most ambiguous and mysterious in the theatre. Didaskalos ( διδάσκ α λος ). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
TH 101: Intro to Theatre
DIRECTING
Why the director?Because the product of the director's art is not directly visible, audible, or sensed, it is perhaps the most ambiguous and mysterious in the theatre.
Didaskalos (διδάσκαλος)
Although the development of
the director has occurred in the past century, DIRECTING has been going on since theatre began.
Greek – teacher
Medeival – master
Playwrights served as directors during the “Golden Age”
The French playwright, actor and “director” Moliere
Actor-managers served as directors from the 17th through the 19th centuries
David Garrick Edwin Booth Henry IrvingEnglish Actor-Manager American Actor-Manager English Actor-Manager1717-1779 1833-1893 1838-1905
At first, teacher-directors provided knowledge of the accumulated wisdom of the "correct" performance…
Richard Burbage,The Globe Theatre
Moliere and the Comedie
Francaise
Realistic directors
...sought to rehearse a company toward a comprehensive theatrical presentation that reflected real life.
The first Modern Director
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen1826-1914
Productions of the Meiningen Players were vigorously rehearsed and inspired other “new” directors
Andre Antoine in France
“The Earth” at Theatre Antoine, 1900
Konstantin Stanislavski in Russia
The Seagull at the Moscow Art Theatre - 1898
Directors who allied themselves with nonrealistic playwrights, however, soon began another phase...the Stylizing directors who aim at the creation of originality, theatricality, and style.
Their numbers are still growing.
Unrestrained by verisimilitude, these directors introduced symbolism, an expressive and abstract use of design, explosive theatricality, and contrived methods of acting that continue to affect drama and theatre profoundly.
Today, the director has nearly limitless possibilities when considering a vision for his or her work.
War Horse on Broadway
Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris
KINKY BOOTS on Broadway
Directed by Jerry Mitchell
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and MurderDirected by Darko Tresnjak
Fun Home
Directed by Sam Gold
The Flick
Directed by Sam Gold
HAMILTON directed by Thomas Kail
Cirque du Soleil
Founding director Guy Laliberté
Functions of the DirectorWhen an independent producer is not involved, the director accepts responsibility for the financial support of the production as THE PRODUCER.
VISION
Fundamentally, the director envisions the primary lines of the productions and provides the leadership to realize that vision.
Ah, Wilderness - Directed by Joe Dowling
Before rehearsals begin
THE DIRECTOR selects the play, formulates the concept, selects designers, guides collaborators in designing the look and sound of the show, and casts the actors.
During rehearsalsmuch of the director's focus turns to the actors, as she stages movement, coaches the actors, conducts the pacing, coordinates the designs with the acting and general staging.
Director Jose Cura
Ionesco’s THE CHAIRS
Where do directors come from?Mike Nicholswas an actorand acomedian
Susan Stroman was a choreographer married to a stage director. When he died unexpectedly, she took over his final project...
David Mamet was a playwright and an acting teacher
Today most have trained as directors in a conservatory or dramatic graduate program...
The Julliard School, NYC
University of Washington
School of Drama
Programs of note include...NYU – TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTSCARNEGIE-MELLONNORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYJULLIARDROOSEVELT UCLAUSCWASHINGTON
Graduate degrees in other fields can be usefulLiterature Dance FilmMathematics Education HumanitiesArt and Design Sociology
and/orPRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN
Stage ManagementActingTheatrical Design
Where aspiring directors have developed...
Rabbit Hole - directed by Jim Bartruff
a strong literary and visual imagination
strength in conceptualization
Spring Awakening - 2015 revivalDirected by Michael Arden
a sound knowledge of theatre history, styles, and masterworks
...and a familiarity with the potentials of technology,
design, and theatrical space.
THE DIRECTOR’S ROLE
Communicate a vision for the production
Joe Mantello directed WICKED
Collaborate with designers
Working with actors
CastingStagingRehearsing
CoachingPacing
Laurie Metcalf and Joe Mantello
Prepare for opening night...
Tech rehearsals
Dress rehearsals
Previews
Jerry Mitchell’s ON YOUR FEET
South Pacific at ESU
NOTABLE DIRECTORSGeorg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Konstantin Stanislavski
The Lower Depths, 1904
Peter Brook
RSC, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1970
Mike Nichols
Matthew Warchus
Boeing, Boeing - 2008
ArtLife (x) 3Lord of the RingsNorman ConquestsGod of CarnageLaBeteMatilda, the Musical
God of Carnage - 2008
LaBete on Broadway 2010
Matilda on Broadway
CONTACT - 2000
The Producers2001
Young Frankenstein - 2007
The Scottsboro Boys - 2010
Big Fish
Little Dancer
Julie Taymor
The Magic Flute
The Lion King
Joe Mantello
The Santaland Diaries
Blackbird
Wicked
THE LAST SHIP
STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS
Began in 1962 when Bob Fosse was contracted to direct and choreograph LITTLE ME...
Who will be next?