MACT

Managing the Production

By Cindi Calhoun from Stage Agent (StageAgent.com)

Congratulations! You’re directing your first show and are probably feeling a little overwhelmed right now — which is totally normal. Whether you are directing at a school or with a community theater, all directors have the same starting point: choosing the show. Selecting the show requires considering many factors, including people, time frame, budget. And then, after the show is chosen, you now have many things to consider before auditions even start, and all of these things can be broken down into two categories: aesthetics and logistics.

Aesthetics is the artistic vision you have for the show. While having a “vision” might seem like a pretentious cliche, it’s necessary as it will be the guiding force for your decisions. The most successful shows have a unifying concept, what some directors will call a “dramatic action statement,” and in literary circles is referred to as a theme. This concept is the director’s interpretation of the show, and is what makes this particular production unique. For example, Beauty and the Beast is one of the most popular musicals, but each theatre puts its own individual stamp on the show.

After you’ve made choices for your aesthetics, you need to consider how to implement those for your show, and this is where logistics are important. Logistics are the procedures for the show, and include both the calendar and the people. Your calendar is not just the rehearsal schedule — which should include dates, characters/actors called, and the objectives for each meeting — but also the deadlines for the business of the show: set construction, costumes, marketing, and advertising.  

Read the full article from the Stage Agent blog by clicking here.