Directing in Musical Theatre

This important new guide, a companion to Joe Deer's Acting in Musical Theatre, presents an accessible and compellingly practical approach to the art of directing musicals.

This comprehensive guide, from the author of Acting in Musical Theatre, will equip aspiring directors with all of the skills that they will need in order to guide a production from beginning to end. From the very first conception and collaborations with crew and cast, through rehearsals and technical production all the way to the final performance, Joe Deer covers the full range.

Deer's accessible and compellingly practical approach uses proven, repeatable methods for addressing all aspects of a production. The focus at every stage is on working with others, using insights from experienced, successful directors to tackle common problems and devise solutions. Each section uses the same structure, to stimulate creative thinking:

• Timetables: detailed instructions on what to do and when, to provide a flexible organization template
• Prompts and Investigations: addressing conceptual questions about style, characterization and design
• Skills Workshops: Exercises and 'how-to' guides to essential skills
• Essential Forms and Formats: Including staging notation, script annotation and rehearsal checklists

• Case Studies: Well-known productions show how to apply each chapter's ideas Directing in Musical Theatre not only provides all of the essential skills, but explains when and how to put them to use; how to think like a director.

  'This will be an essential handbook for anyone faced with the challenge of directing a musical. Deer writes from a wealth of experience in directing, and a thorough knowledge of the musical theatre repertoire.' Dominic Symonds, University of Portsmouth, UK 'Directing is a somewhat 'ethereal' job those who do not do it have a hard time articulating what it is we exactly do as Directors. I think this book is both practical, but asks the right questions so that directors do not merely 'replicate' another show.' David Gram, Director, Dramaturg, Actor & Teacher, USA 'Finally! A step-by-step handbook on how to direct musicals. Joe Deer's Directing In Musical Theatre is the perfect book for aspiring and experienced directors alike. The craft of directing can be quite mysterious, but as Joe masterfully tells it, with thoughtful insight, extraordinary detail and great passion, the director's role becomes vividly clear. This book is sure to become a valuable resource for anyone working in the theatre.' Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Tony Award Nominated Director & Choreographer, RAGTIME 'A terrific analysis of how to mount a musical. From reading the script, right up to opening night, Joe Deer's insights are practical and inspiring.' Walter Bobbie, Tony Award winning Director, CHICAGO 'Joe Deer's book is an eloquent and accurate analysis of what a director in the musical theatre actually does. He understands the many components of a musical and how to coordinate and integrate them. I highly recommend it to anyone contemplating directing a musical.' Jerry Zaks, Tony Award winning Director, GUYS AND DOLLS and SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ 'Directing In Musical Theatre is a splendid text for anyone wishing to explore directing for the musical stage. It deals with every essential aspect of this daunting task, and explains each with singular clarity and intelligence. The work is well organized, thorough, and completely accessible. Finally, here is a book that gets to the heart of this art.' Gregory Lehane, Professor - Former Head of Directing, Drama and Music, Carnegie Mellon University 'Joe Deer's Directing in the Musical Theatre is a well-informed exploration of the musical theatre directing process that is filled with heart, intellect and spirit. If every director was required to read the chapter on staging alone, we would be blessed with productions more truthful, entertaining, and ultimately satisfying. This book, which equally balances craft with artistry, will be helpful to beginner and seasoned veteran alike.' Cary Libkin, Professor, Head Of Musical Theatre Degree Programs, Penn State University

  Autorentext

  Joe Deer is Distinguished Professor of Musical Theatre and Director of The Musical Theatre Initiative at Wright State University. He has directed off-Broadway, in top regional theatres across the US and at many of the finest educational institutions in the world. His first book, Acting in Musical Theatre: a comprehensive course (co-author, Rocco Dal Vera) is also available from Routledge.

  Klappentext

  This important new guide, a companion to Joe Deer's Acting in Musical Theatre, presents an accessible and compellingly practical approach to the art of directing musicals. Suitable for aspiring and professional directors alike, Directing Musical Theatre leads the reader through the five key stages of a production: Conception, Collaboration, Rehearsal, Production and Performance. Deer's innovative framework takes in case studies, checklists and workshops, offering striking prompts alongside examples from successful directors and productions. The aim is to provide the reader with the skills, and the understanding of those skills, to ensure they truly think like a director.

  Inhalt

  Table of Contents

Foreword by Eric Schaeffer

Introduction

How To Use This Book

Phase One: Conception

Timetable One: Preparation

Chapter One: Preparing for Collaboration

Unit 1.1 Reading and listening to the Musical

Unit 1.1.1 Gathering Impressions

Questionnaire: First Impressions

Unit 1.2 Creating a Research Portfolio

Unit 1.3 History and Society Viewed Selectively

Unit 1.4 Tradition

Unit 1.5 Dissecting the Script and Score

Unit 1.5.1 Units of Action

Questionnaire: Unit Analysis

Unit 1.6 Character Analysis

Unit 1.6.1 Facts

Questionnaire: Character Given Circumstances

Unit 1.6.2 Character Journey

Unit 1.6.3 Charting Change

Unit 1.6.4 Attitudes

Questionnaire: Character Attitudes

Unit 1.6.5 Ambitions

Questionnaire: Character Ambitions

Unit 1.7 Directing and Style

Unit 1.7.1 What Is Style?

Unit 1.7.2 Establishing Style in Your Production

Unit 1.7.3 Unity of Style

Unit 1.7.4 History and Genre

Unit 1.7.5 Worldview

Questionnaire: Defining Worldview

Unit 1.7.5 Articulating Style

Questionnaire: Elements of Style

Unit 1.8 Visiting the Performance Space

Unit 1.9 Getting It Down On Paper - Creating a Concept Statement

Unit 1.9.1 This Is The Story Of ...

Unit 1.9.2 Themes and Ideas

Unit 1.9.3 Images and Visual Style

Unit 1.9.4 State Your Passion

Chapter Two: Imagining The Chorus

Unit 2.1 What is a chorus?

Unit 2.2 Populating the world of your musical

Unit 2.3 The power of the group

Unit 2.4 Applying Pressure

Unit 2.5 Chorus as Storyteller

Unit 2.6 Chorus as Spectacle

Unit 2.7 Chorus as Characters

Unit 2.8 Engaging Chorus Actors

Phase Two: Collaboration

Timetable: Phase Two

Chapter Three: Creative Collaboration

Unit 3.1 The Passionate Center

Unit 3.2 What is a Choreographer?

Unit 3.3 Theatre Dance vs. Concert Dance

Unit 3.4 Musical Collaboration

Chapter Four: Directing the Design

Unit 4.1 Design Process: Scenery

Unit 4.1.1 Scenic Design Preparation

Questionnaire: Scenic Design

Unit 4.1.2 What to Expect in the Scenic Design Process

Scenic Design Process for Big River

Unit 4.2 Design Process: Costumes

Unit 4.2.1 Character Analysis for Costume Design

Unit 4.2.2 Practical Requirements

Unit 4.2.3 Cast by Scene Breakdown

Unit 4.2.4 What to Expect in the Costume Design Process

Gregg Barnes' Costume Design Process for The Drowsy Chaperone

Unit 4.3 Design Process: Lighting

Unit 4.3.1 What to Expect in the Lighting Design Process

Natasha Katz' Lighting Design Process for Follies

Unit 4.4 Budgets and Creative Limits

Checklist: Effective Design

Phase Three: Rehearsal

Timetable Three: Auditions to Final Studio Run-Through

Chapter Five…