The Stage directions guide to directing / edited by Stephen Peithman, Neil Offen.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Peithman, Stephen.

Offen, Neil.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Theater--Production and direction.

Theater.

Physical Description:

viii, 168 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, [1999]

Summary:

Every director -- from the beginner to the most experienced -- will find in this book invaluable information to make their direction more effective. Topics covered include: things to look for ill an audition, selecting the right play, criticizing effectively, basics of directing a musical, staging a big show with a small cast, blocking tips, managing rehearsals and schedules, and much more!

Contents:

Part I Preproduction 5

1 Ten Steps for Picking the Right Play: What to Look for Before You Decide 6

2 Finding the Right Play for You: How to Use Play Catalogues to Guide the Way 8

3 Thirteen Reasons Not to Pick a Show: A Baker's Dozen of Common Traps 11

4 Seven Reasons Not to Attempt the Classics: ...And All the Reasons Why We Should, Anway / Dale Lyles 14

5 How to Read a Script: Ten Ways to Judge Whether a Play is Right for You / Jim De Young 18

6 Is It Legal to Change the Script? 21

7 Photocopying Plays: Publishers Explain What's Legal and What Isn't 24

Part II First Steps 31

8 Getting It All Together: How to Work with Your Production Team 32

9 Off to a Good Start: Set the Ground Rules Early

and Stick to Them 35

10 Great Expectations: A Successful Opening Night Begins with the First Rehearsal / Nancianne Pfister 37

11 Make Time Work for You: How to Keep on Top of Things Throughout the Rehearsal Period 40

12 Off Book, On Target: Offstage Readers During Rehearsal Get Actors Out of the Script and Into the Play / Sue Wurster 42

Part III Staging The Play 47

13 Using the Framing Device: Here's How to Bring the Action Full Circle 48

14 The Case for Delayed Blocking: Sometimes a Different Approach Can Be Useful / Michael Kanter 50

15 When to Block out of Sequence: Flexibility Sometimes Is More Important Than Strict Order 52

16 Ahead of the Crowd: How to Handle Large Groups on Stage 54

Part IV Actor and Director 57

17 A Matter of Style: How You Direct Depends on the Play and the Actors 58

18 Play the Intention, Not the Line: Why the Script Is Only Twenty Percent of a Successful Performance 62

19 Succeeding with Difficult Actors: Recognizing the Types Is Step One 66

20 Working with Inexperienced Actors: It's Difficult, but Potentially Rewarding 70

21 The Tortoise and the Hare: With Experienced Actors, Different Strokes for Different Folks 74

22 Helping Them Be Heard: Projection Is a Special Challenge for Many Actors / Diane Crews 77

23 Triumphing over Mumblers: Practical Tips to Help Your Actors Project to the Last Row in the Theater / Sarah Anne Starr 80

24 Past Tense: Advice and Exercises to Help Actors Rid Themselves of Nervousness / Sarah Anne Starr 84

25 Having Words with Your Actors: Twelve Ways to Criticize Effectively 87

26 Avoiding Personality Conflicts: How to Keep the Communication Lines Open 89

Part V General Concerns 91

27 A Chemistry Lesson: Sometimes Being a Good Director Means Being a Good Manager 92

28 Lighten Up: Seven Ideas for Boosting Morale 95

29 Onstage and Backstage Behavior: Etiquette, Schmetiquette

It All Boils Down to One Thing 97

30 Dealing with Bad Reviews: Helping Actors Deal with

and Learn from

Criticism 103

Part VI Directing the Musical 105

31 Song and Dance: The Eight Basics of Directing the Musical 106

32 Get a Move On: In Musicals, Pacing Is Key 111

33 Step-Kick-Turn: How One Non-Choreographer Coped / Stephen Peithman 113

34 Big Show, Small Cast: Turn a Challenge into an Advantage by Rethinking Your Artistic Concept / Scott Miller 116

Part VII Special Challenges 119

35 Staying Focused Under Fire: Actors in a Controversial Play Need the Support of the Director 120

36 You Want to Do a Play About What?: A Fisthand Experience in High School Theater / Jerome McDonough 125

37 Hold for Laughter: Effective Comedy Needs Work to Seem Effortless / Nancianne Pfister 127

38 Who's in Charge Here?: Codirecting Challenges Two Leaders to Share a Vision

Here's How to Make It Work / Nancianne Pfister 131

39 When You're Asked to Take Over a Show: Take a Deep Breath and Plunge In

After You've / Thought It Through 136

40 The Student Director: Lead a Little, Lead a Lot

Which Works Best? 138

41 Putting on the Dog: Canine Actors Can Be a Joy

If You Know How to Select and Direct Them / Mary Johnson 140

42 Let the Good Crimes Roll: An Interactive Murder Mystery Requires Preparation and Planning / Lori Myers 146

43 The Cutting Edge: The Pitfalls

and Secrets

of Editing a Script for Competition 149

44 The Final Picture: How to Stage an Effective Curtain Call 153.

ISBN:

032500112X

OCLC:

40587972