Theatre: Art in Action

Chapter 8: Directing & Producing

Overview

To ensure a successful, meaningful, and satisfying experience for everyone involved in a play, a director/producer must have an abundance of desire and dedication. The director/producer chooses the play, analyzes it, develops a vision of it, and attempts to execute that vision. This person is in charge of the auditions, the rehearsals, communicating with the design teams, and dealing with any obstacles that may arise in any venue of the production. The director/producer is constantly challenged: from picking and coaching actors, to thinking about publicity, to blocking the performance, to making sure everything gets done in a timely manner, to seeing that everyone from the tech crews to the actors are on the same page. The director/producer constantly works on making his or her vision a reality. A young director/producer's journal on her experiences shows the challenging nature of the profession and how it requires dedication and passion.