Fundamentals of Play Production Production Staff l DIRECTOROVERSEES

Fundamentals of Play Production

Production Staff l DIRECTOR—OVERSEES ENTIRE PROCESS OF STAGING PRODUCTION l PRODUCER—HANDLES BUSINESS END OF PRODUCTION l SECURES RIGHTS AND ROYALTIES l RAISES MONEY l HIRES ACTORS AND STAFF l SUPERVISE PUBLICITY

DIRECTOR’S SKILLS l l l INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, FOCUS AND COMMUNICATE WITH ACTORS AND CREW CONCENTRATION, PATIENCE AND IMAGINATION STRONG VISUAL SENSE—ABILITY TO CREATE STAGE PICTURES UNDERSTANDING RHYTHM, PACING AND STYLE OF PLAY BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF TECHNICAL THEATRE ANALYZE PLAY FOR PLOT, CHARACTER, SETTING AND THEME

DIRECTOR’S STAFF l ASSISTANT DIRECTOR l l KEEPS REHEARSAL PROCESS ORGANIZED, HELPS RUN REHEARSALS STAGE MANAGER l LIAISON BETWEEN DIRECTOR AND TECHNICAL STAFF; RUNS SHOW DURING PERFORMANCES l PROMPTER l l FEED LINES TO ACTORS DURING OFF BOOK REHEARSALS; CORRECTS INCORRECT BLOCKING DRAMATURG RESPONSIBLE FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY OF PLAY l REPORTS TO DIRECTOR, CAST, AND CREW l GIVES ADVICE ON COSTUME, SET, AND PROP DESIGN l CLARIFIES PRONUNCIATION AND MEANINGS OF UNCLEAR LANGUAGE l l CREATES LOBBY DISPLAY AND NOTE TO AUDIENCE IN PROGRAM

PRODUCER’S SKILLS l FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS l UNDERSTANDING OF COSTS FOR A TYPICAL PRODUCTION l PROJECT AND MANAGE EXPENSES l PREDICT AUDIENCE’S RECEPTION l ANALYZE PLAY FOR ARTISTIC AND COMMERCIAL MERIT

PRODUCER’S STAFF l BUSINESS MANAGER l RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FUNDS PAYING BILLS l MANAGING EXPENSES l TICKET SALES AND PROGRAMS l l PUBLICITY MANAGER l PROMOTES THE SHOW IN THE COMMUNITY— ADVERTISING AND GRAPHIC DESIGN l l DESIGNS SHOW LOGO, T-SHIRTS HOUSE MANAGER l RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEATING AND COMFORT OF THE AUDIENCE

PRODUCTION TEAM: DIRECTOR, PRODUCER AND DESIGN TEAM l DESIGN TEAM: ALL TECHNICAL DESIGNERS l MEET EARLY ON TO DISCUSS PRODUCTION CONCEPT l PRODUCTION CONCEPT: HOW THE PLAY SHOULD LOOK AND FEEL l DIRECTOR COMES UP WITH THIS AFTER CONSULTATION WITH PRODUCER AND SCRIPT; PRODUCTION TEAM HELPS TO DEFINE AND REFINE IT.

Types of Stages l Before rehearsals begin, the set designer and director must first determine what type of stage the play will be presented on l Proscenium: Stage with a framed opening, almost like a picture frame; audience views action from one side only.

Types of Stages l Thrust: stage that juts into audience area, with audience seated on two or three sides of action

Types of Stages l Arena: staging in center of room with audience seated on all sides

Types of Rehearsals l Reading Rehearsal Attended by all members of cast and production team l Cast engages in a read thru of the script, production team listens, takes notes, and prepares l l Blocking Rehearsals l Rehearsals in which the director co-ordinates all the planned movements on stage All gestures and movements must be meaningful l Director works to create balanced, unified, and proportional stage pictures that help to tell the story l

l Working Rehearsals most creative part of rehearsal process; actors develop their interpretation the character and words and actions are put together l Actors are OFF BOOK (lines memorized) during Working Rehearsals l l Polishing Rehearsals l l Technical Rehearsals l l During final weeks of rehearsal period, when all the essential elements of the production are in place Final week of rehearsal, when lights, sound, and stage changes are co-ordinated by the various crews Dress Rehearsal: final rehearsal, usually before an invited audience, before the first performance