Directing: A different "ball game"
By singout
@singout (1008)
United States
July 19, 2008 5:43am CST
How many out there have directed a play? Though I have acted in many local plays for community theater, I have directed about a half-a-dozen and believe me, it is a different ball game altogether. If my actors were paid it would be much easier, since you could hold their paychecks over their heads if they didn't attend rehearsal. In community theater, where all actors are volunteers and do it just for the love of it, you have to work around their schedules. Most of the plays I have directed were those with a small cast, such as "Barefoot in the Park," or "A Christmas Carol," "The God Committee," and I swore I would never take on a large cast. Well, I am now eating my words! We are now in production of the revival version of "Annie, Get Your Gun" (That version is a whole "nuther" discussion in itself), and I think I am beginning to feel my age. If you have directing experience, let's read of some of those experiences.
1 response
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
18 May 09
Hey there. I know I'm a little late getting in on this discussion, but I'm new to MyLot. I've directed about 50 plays. All off-, off-off- and Waaaaaaaay off-Bwy. I've directed well know scripts such as "True West", a female version of "The Odd Couple" and "Blythe Spirit". About 30 of my projects were originals done through LoveCreek Productions in Times Square. The last original I directed, "The Ditch" by Joe Hoover started at a little piano bar in the Village and in it's third incarnation was performed at the Samuel Beckett on 42nd St. I've directed some one-person shows for cabaret and my biggest cast was 18. Actor's are a strange breed that's for sure! lol. I remember one actor I worked with insisted he knew more than me. After several attempts to "direct" him, I just let him be. I had the opportunity to work with him again and he was a changed man. I've dealt with a lot of egos over the years but honestly, I found I encountered more trouble from playwrights! There was one woman who I just butted heads with the entire time! Because the production was done through a membership company, neither one of us had a choice but to work with each other if we wanted the production to go on. She just couldn't let go of it. It had to be her vision or nothing. I got as close as I could and, when the show wrapped, told her she should consider directing her own pieces. Over all, my experiences have been positive and there's nothing else in life that satisfies my more than seeing my actors succeed, a full house and a nice blip in some local newspaper!
