Stage Directing: a Director's Itinerary

302 Pages·2012·46.578 MB·English

by  Wainstein, Michael

Stage Directing
A Director’s Itinerary Michael Wainstein

Stage Directing
A Director’s Itinerary
To my partner, Kamon,
and my talented, dedicated colleagues at SCAD
Stage Directing
A Director’s Itinerary
By Michael Wainstein
Focus Publishing
Newburyport
Stage Directing A Director’s Itinerary
© 2012 Michael Wainstein
Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Company
PO Box 369
Newburyport, MA 01950
www.pullins.com
ISBN: 978-1-58510-508-3
Also available in paperback (ISBN: 978-1-58510-395-9)
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Last updated February 2012
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments and Photo Credits ...........................................ix
Preface ...............................................................................................xi
Part I: First Things First .........................................................................1
Chapter 1 The Director: Past and Present.....................................3
What Is a Director? ...............................................................................................3
Final Thoughts .......................................................................................................8
Suggested Reading ................................................................................................8
Chapter 2 Choosing a Play and Securing a
Performance License ......................................................................9
What Play Will I Direct? ......................................................................................9
Making It Legal ...................................................................................................10
Theatrical Publishing Houses ...........................................................................14
Chapter 3 Budgeting ......................................................................17
Understanding a Budget ....................................................................................17
Final Thoughts .....................................................................................................18
Chapter 4 Reading the Play ..........................................................19
First Reading: Read for Pleasure .......................................................................19
Second Reading: Read for Vision ....................................................................20
Third Reading: Read for Analysis .....................................................................21
Final Thoughts .....................................................................................................21
Suggested Reading .............................................................................................22
Chapter 5 Interpreting the Script ..................................................23
The Importance of Analysis .............................................................................23
I. Spectacle ...........................................................................................................24
II. Character ........................................................................................................25
III. Plot ..................................................................................................................27
IV. Ideas ...............................................................................................................30
V. Rhythm ............................................................................................................31
VI. Dialogue .........................................................................................................33
Final Thoughts ....................................................................................................34
Suggested Reading ..............................................................................................35
Chapter 6 Research........................................................................37
Why Research? ....................................................................................................37
Assembling Research ..........................................................................................37
Categories of Research .......................................................................................39
Chapter 7 Concept ........................................................................43
Developing the Psychological Concept...........................................................43

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Developing the Visual Concept .......................................................................48
Final Thoughts .....................................................................................................53
In Your DPN .......................................................................................................54
Suggested Reading .............................................................................................54
Part II: Written Word to Three-Dimensional World .........................55
Chapter 8 The Visual Collaboration .............................................57
Working With Designers ...................................................................................57
Meeting with Designers ....................................................................................60
From Design to Tech ..........................................................................................62
Final Thoughts ....................................................................................................68
In Your DPN .......................................................................................................68
Chapter 9 Casting ..........................................................................69
Identifying Your Needs ......................................................................................70
Casting Notices ...................................................................................................71
The Audition ........................................................................................................74
Casting Musicals .................................................................................................81
Final Thoughts .....................................................................................................83
Part III: Rehearsals ............................................................................85
Chapter 10 Preparing for Rehearsals ...........................................87
Rehearsal Schedules ...........................................................................................88
Preparing the Rehearsal Room .........................................................................95
Final Thoughts ....................................................................................................98
In Your DPN .......................................................................................................98
Chapter 11 The First Rehearsal and Table Work ..........................99
The First Rehearsal .............................................................................................99
Table Work .........................................................................................................101
Table Work Exercises ........................................................................................107
Other Table Reading Work ..............................................................................113
In Your DPN ......................................................................................................114
Suggested Reading ............................................................................................114
Chapter 12 Staging Rehearsals ....................................................115
Elements of Staging...........................................................................................116
Stage Pictures ....................................................................................................125
Blocking: Discovery or Planned? ...................................................................127
Classroom Exercises ........................................................................................136
Chapter 13 Blocking in Different Stage Configurations ............137
Proscenium ........................................................................................................137
In the Round .....................................................................................................138
Three-Quarter Thrust, Arena..........................................................................140
Final Thoughts ...................................................................................................140
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Part IV: Rehearsing a Musical .......................................................143
Chapter 14 Initial Rehearsals of a Musical.................................145
Working With a Musical Director .................................................................145
Working with a Choreographer ......................................................................148
Initial Rehearsals of a Musical ........................................................................152
Chapter 15 Staging Musical Scenes ............................................157
The Technique Elements ..................................................................................157
Staging the Opening Number .........................................................................161
Staging a Scene Without Music ......................................................................165
Staging a Scene With Music ............................................................................165
Staging Solos ......................................................................................................168
Buttons ................................................................................................................170
Act One Finale ...................................................................................................171
The Eleven O’clock Number ............................................................................172
The Finale ...........................................................................................................172
Chorus Numbers ...............................................................................................172
Part V: Rehearsals Continue ...........................................................175
Chapter 16 Listen to your Inner Voice and
Direct the Moments .......................................................................177
Listen to Your Inner Voice ...............................................................................177
Direct the Moments ..........................................................................................177
Chapter 17 Working with Actors ...................................................179
About Actors ......................................................................................................181
Dealing With Actors ........................................................................................184
Final Thoughts ...................................................................................................188
Chapter 18 Solving Problems ........................................................189
Exercises for Rehearsal ....................................................................................190
Suggested Reading ...........................................................................................202
Chapter 19 Stumble-throughs, Work-throughs,
and Run-throughs ........................................................................203
Work-throughs .................................................................................................204
The Stumble-through ......................................................................................206
Running with Notes ........................................................................................207
Designer Runs or “Crew Views” ....................................................................209
Final Thoughts ...................................................................................................210
In Your DPN .....................................................................................................210
Chapter 20 Technical Rehearsals and Adding Elements ........211
Technical Rehearsals ........................................................................................211
Adding in the Elements ....................................................................................217

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Part VI: Opening the Show ............................................................227
Chapter 21 Final Dress to Opening Night .................................229
The Lead-up to Opening Night ......................................................................229
Opening Night ...................................................................................................231
Final Thoughts ..................................................................................................235
Appendix 1 Genre and Playing Style .........................................237
Appendix 2 Script Analysis Case Study—
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams ...........................247
Appendix 3 Sample Rehearsal Schedules ................................267
Appendix 4 Master Schedule of Director’s Deadlines .............277
Appendix 5 Contracts ..................................................................279
Glossary ..........................................................................................283
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