Theatre and Dance

Academic Expectations For Students Enrolled In Credits For Directing A Production In The Studio Theatre

General Parameters: Student directors will enroll in at least three credits prior to beginning any work on the production. The number of credits enrolled will be determined by an agreement between the student director and the faculty member supervising the project.

Deadlines and Attendance: Student directors will:

• meet all production schedule deadlines as posted on the departmental production calendar.
• meet all deadlines (set by the supervising faculty member) for the various assignments involved in the project.
• attend all concept meetings and all production meetings.
• hold individual conferences with the faculty supervisor at least once per week.
• complete the project within the allocated budget.

Assignments: The student director will complete the following in the process of presenting the show:

• work with administrative specialist to obtain permissions and confirm royalty quote;
• write a script analysis;
• work with stage manager to prepare audition forms and related materials;
• work with stage manager to prepare preliminary rehearsal schedule;
• insure that stage manager is submitting daily rehearsal logs to faculty supervisor and technical director;
• prepare preliminary prompt book;
• maintain rehearsal notes;
• work with promotions staff to prepare publicity copy;
• assemble final prompt book/project summary

Grading: 40% Quality Factors (artistic/substantive achievement on the following elements) prompt books, staging (directorial elements), performance (characterization elements), inanimate elements (designs, technical production); 15% Attendance Factors (as outlined above); 20% Deadline Factors (as outlined above); 25% Assignment Factors (timeliness and thoroughness of the following) completion of the preliminary prompt book and script analysis, completion of the final prompt book and project summary.

Detailed Information about assignments:

Preliminary Prompt Book: This should include the following:
1. script analysis (see detailed instructions below)
2. script with blocking and floorplan(s)
3. preliminary rehearsal schedule budget (how much is to be spent in each area)
4. research notes/production notes
5. any preliminary forms, handouts, organizational materials

Detailed Instructions for Script Analysis: The analysis should include all the following elements:
1. Identify and define the drama by genre.
2. Provide historical/cultural context of the drama's action and setting.
3. Outline the dramatist's literary and/or theatrical career. (This is not a biography.) Give particular attention to the elements in this drama you are directing that exist as thematic or theatrical trends in the dramatist's larger body of works.
4. Discuss your artistic vision for the production. What is the significance or importance of this drama? What effect or impact do you wish the show to have upon the audience?
5. Discuss each character's dramatic function in the show, including each character's overall motive/goal/desire and each character's metaphorical/emblematic value.
6. Identify and discuss the conflicts that arise as a result of the collision of the various characters' motives/goal/desires. (Show how the characters' motives create conflict.)
7. Anything else you want to discuss.

Final Prompt Book: This should include the following elements:
1. script with final blocking and floorplan(s)
2. rehearsal schedule(s)
3. budget report (how much was actually spent in each area)
4. rehearsal notes
5. all forms, handouts, organizational materials, and daily rehearsal logs
6. summary essay (see detailed instructions below)
7. copies of all promotional materials and program
8. all research notes, rehearsal notes, etc.

Detailed Instructions for Summary Essay: A typewritten essay enclosed within the final prompt book that includes discussion of:
1. Your work as an artist: audience response--success with your intended vision; character development--your work with the actors; inanimate element--your work with the designers.
2. Your work as an executive: marketing--your efforts to promote the production; logistics--your work with the stage manager; technical elements--your work with production staff and issues.