Drama Appreciation \ Drama 1

Notes pp 455-494

Chapter 15 : The Director

The art of directing is an exercise in leadership, imagination and control.
The Historical Development of Directors
Phase One- from the Greeks (2000 BC to the 1870’s) there were Didaskalos (Greek for "teacher"). Teacher/directors.
Phase Two- 1870-1890’s the Realistic Directors began. George II, the King of Germany in the late 1880’s, the former Duke of Saxe-Meningen, was the first Realistic Director.
      - by the 1890’s Andre’ Antoine at the Paris Theatre Libre and Konstantin Stanislavski, at the Moscow Art Theatre also began to realistically direct.
Phase Three- in the 1890’s the Stylizing Directors began in Paris with Paul Fort at Theatre d’Art.
      - by the 1900’s in America all directors are stylizing directors. Contemporary directors synthesize script, design and performance into an event.
Directorial Function
A. Preparation stage...
1. Play selection...the director’s interest, the audience’s interest, and the capability of the theater to produce.
2. Concept...insight into characters and theme. Social and philosophical statements are made or exposed.
3. Designer selection...set, costumes, lights, props, etc.
4. Designing...production meetings begin
5. Casting...the most crucial aspect where auditions take place and the cast is chosen. Can be open or closed auditions, prepared or cold readings. (The casting couch does exist in Hollywood).
B. Implementation Stage
1. Staging and/or blocking..... is done during rehearsals ("re-hear").
2. Actor-coaching..."block and run" technique (the director tells them once in rehearsal then lets the actor run with it), or "authoritarian" technique (a very dictatorial director decides every move and word the actor makes).
3. Pacing...quantity and quality of information. Tempos are intermingled just like a musical score.
4. Coordinating....this is "tech week" where the director co-ordinates all of the sets, lights, costumes, blocking and props so that it all works in an ensemble. This is the most nerve-wracking part of directing.
5. Presenting....this is the actual performance time. Some directors watch each performance and give notes after each performance. Other directors leave the area or stop watching after the opening night and let the actors perform unaided by the director’s eye.
Director Training
1. Learn the ability to conceptualize visually and intellectually.
2. Develop a strong literary imagination. READ, READ, READ!
      We will soon be having an interview with both directors and actors...and possibly designers and technicians.....so please be on time and in attendance for this class to come. The information you receive during the interview with these drama personnel will be part of the essay of your midterm exam.
End of chapter 15

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