The Directors' Round Table Series is designed as a forum where directors with all levels of experience (well-seasoned to novice or prospective) can meet in a less-formal setting to share their insight and suggestions. Each event will be held in a more social setting near the theater and will have a specific theme and facilitator. These events are free; however, we ask that you register for these sessions so that we can have an approximate number of attendees for each.

The themes include: Script Analysis (forming a vision); Working with Your Design Team; Running an Audition; Working with Your Actors (the rehearsal process); and Taking the Hell Out of Hell Week. 

 

Session Summary

Session	Date & Time	Facilitator(s)	Registration Link
Script Analysis: Forming a Vision	March 24, 7pm	Lois Evans	Completed
Working with Your Design Team	April 7, 7pm	Eric Lund, Scott Nichols	Register
Running an Audition	April 21, 7pm	Mickey Lund, Darice Clewell	Register
Working with Your Actors: The Rehearsal Process	May 5, 7pm	Jim Gallagher, Darice Clewell	Register
Taking the Hell Out of Hell Week	May 19, 7pm	Mickey Lund	Register

Script Analysis: Forming a Vision

The first session in this series (Script Analysis: Forming a Vision) will be on Tuesday, March 24th at 7 p.m. at Harry Browne’s and will include the following topics: analyzing the script for clues; communicating your vision; dramaturgy (researching setting, characters, timelines); when to follow the writer’s direction; understanding the conflict; knowing the strengths and challenges of the play and why you want to direct it. 

Working with Your Design Team 

This session will be on Tuesday, April 7th at 7 p.m. (location: Harry Brownes) and will include the following topics: know your own strengths and weaknesses (technical, organizational skills); building a team that works to your strengths and weaknesses; communicating your vision; the role of the designer (getting them to bring their ideas to fulfill your vision); when and how often to “check-in” with members of your team; committing to a schedule and its deadlines.

Running an Audition

This session will be on Tuesday, April 21st at 7 p.m. (location: Harry Brownes) and will include the following topics: planning for the audition (deadlines, synopsis, character descriptions, selecting sides); “Shaking the Trees”—getting people to come out to audition; introductions (yourself, theatre, committee, play, selected scenes); when to require prepared monologues; giving time to rehearse a scene and effective use of time; things to look for during the audition (characters’ key elements, taking direction); auditions vs. call backs (casting at the end of the audition, holding call backs). 

Working with Your Actors: The Rehearsal Process

This session will be on Tuesday, May 5th at 7 p.m. (location: Harry Brownes) and will include the following topics: rehearsal scheduling (conflicts and deadlines); the read-through and table talk; communicating your vision and sharing research; getting actors to bring their interpretations; directing vs. dictating; when other production staff should be there (stage manager, designers); blocking in the round and having a productive rehearsal (using actors’ time wisely).

Taking the Hell Out of Hell Week

This session will be on Tuesday, May 19th at 7 p.m. (location: Harry Brownes) and will include the following topics: time management--dealing with logistics before tech week (time with designers, tech vs. actors); dry tech is your friend! (communicating effectively with designers/technicians); challenges of cue-to-cue; when it is appropriate to stop a run-through (train wrecks vs. taking a note); the “pep talk” to cast and crew; when to let go (and when to still be available for guidance).