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 theatre and will have a specific theme and facilitator. These events are free, however, we ask that you email Scott Nichols (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) so that we will know 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	Date and Time
Script Analysis	March 28, 7 p.m.
Working with Your Design Team	April 4, 7 p.m.
Running an Audition	April 25, 7 p.m.
Working with Your Actors: The Rehearsal Process	May 2, 7 p.m.
Taking the Hell Out of Hell Week	May 9, 7 p.m.

 

Script Analysis: Forming a Vision

The first session in this series (Script Analysis: Forming a Vision) will be on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. 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 4 at 7 p.m. 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 25 at 7 p.m. 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, 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 2 at 7 p.m. 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 to stop a scene vs. when to take a note vs. let them work their way out of it), 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 9 at 7 p.m. 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).