Exploration: Directing and producing

Exploration: Directing and producingDrama I Unit 2What is a Director?Oversees the entire process of staging a production

STAGING: coordinating everything that actually happens on stageWhat does the director do?ROLES:Read and re-read scriptInterpret its meaningForm a vision of how the production should lookDecide how the action should unfoldConduct auditions, choose cast, divide the play into rehearsals, schedule the rehearsalsBlockingCharacter relationships/emotionsEvaluate as you rehearseConsult with all designers and techiniciansWhat skills does a director need?SKILLS:Must be able to see end resultMust inspire, motivate, and focus actors, and crewStrong visual senseCertain personality traitsBe able to handle movementKnowledge of technical theater and actingBe able to analyze a play and present an interpretationWho are part of the directors staff?STAFF:Assistant Director helps keep the rehearsal process organized and running smoothly, a variety of other tasksStage Manager directors technical liason backstage during rehearsals and performancePrompter feeds lines to actors when they forget themHistory of the Director1500 1600sNo director (like we have today), an actor-manager fulfilled all responsibilitiesMany plays, few different looks all productions basically looked the same1800sEmphasis on realism and advancements in technologyProduction more elaborate too much for an actor-managerGeorge II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1826-1914) considered the 1st modern directorFormed a small court theaterInnovative: use of platforms, presenting crowds as small groupsWhat is a Producer?Handles the business end of the productionWhat does a producer do?EVERYONE works for the producerSecure rights to the playRaise moneyHire actors and staffArrange for theaterSupervise publicity and ticket salesWhat skills does a producer have?Financial managementMarketing savvyAssess artistic merit and commercial potential of a playWho is part of the producers staff?Business Manager responsible for fundraising, publicity, programs, ticket sales, paying bills

Artistic Director handles the hiring of the director, cast, and designersThe Production TeamDesign TeamDesign and coordinate the productions set, props, lighting, sound, costumes, and makeup

TOGETHER, WITH THE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER, THEY MAKE THE PRODUCTION TEAMThe Production ConceptProduction Concept how the play should look and feel

How does it happen?1st discuss the script and production concept2nd discuss marketing and budgetDesigners begin formulating ideas to meet budget and conceptOnce decisions about set design are made, rehearsals can beginOther decisions makeup, sound, costumes, etc. are made throughout the rehearsal processAssignmentThink about a film that you know and analyze the production concept it reflects. What kinds of images come to mind when you think about the production? What forms and colors predominate? What prevailing mood does the production convey? When you have analyzed different elements that contribute to the overall production concept, then summarize them.What is theatre defined by?3 things

A story to tell script

Someone to tell it actors

Someone to listen audienceTypes of StagesProscenium Stage

A picture frame

Audience sits on one side to watch action Thrust Stage

Combination of arena stage and proscenium stage

Audience sits on two or three sidesArena stage

Audience sits all around the stageStage AreasRight

Left

UpstageArea away from the audience

DownstageArea towards the audienceTheatre Space Layout and TermsLobby where the audience gathers before and after performances and during breaks

Box office buy tickets

House where the audience sits

Orchestra seats nearest the stageOrchestra pit area for musiciansBalcony projecting upper floorsMezzanine lower balconyLight and sound booth where technicians control light or sound

Stage HouseStage where actors performFly space above the stage where lights and scenery are suspendedProscenium arch picture frameScenery onstage decorationCurtains 3 kindsApron acting area that extends beyond the proscenium archBack wall separates the stage from backstageBackstageAll areas other than the acting space

Wings they are immediately outside the scenery, unseen by the audienceStage managers booth the place the stage manager calls the showProp table where all items carried onstage are keptDressing rooms where actors get readyMakeup room room for makeup and hairGreen room a lounge area in which actors may wait before they go onstageStage door a private entrance for actorsScene shop where scenery is builtCostume shop- where costumes are made, maintained, and storedProp shop- where props are made and stored