There is a myth that has been perpetrated in theatrical circles for years that goes like this:
“A playwright should never direct their own play.”
And this is patently untrue for the above is only half the truth.
It should read like this:
“A playwright should never direct their own play, if they don’t know how to direct.”
In my humble opinion, from working in this business of over 30 years, playwrights SHOULD direct their own work, if they know how to direct, for they know their play better than anyone.
Some of the best work I have seen at Manhattan Rep over 15 years has been directed by the playwright!
So if you would like to take control of your creative life and direct your plays professionally, or if just want to be able to put together a compelling showcase of one of your plays, this directing seminar is for you.
Or if have always wanted to direct a play, as an actor, theatre technician, or creative human being, this seminar is also for you.
DIRECTING FOR PLAYWRIGHTS will give you the skills, best practices and perceptions, so that you can direct your own play or anyone else’s play. It will give you power to choose to bring your own plays to life, when no one is picking them up.
So if you would like to take control of your creative life and direct your plays professionally, or if just want to be able to put together a compelling showcase of one of your plays, this directing video seminar is for you.
What you will learn:
How to prepare your manuscript for rehearsal.
The secret to casting: How to get the best actors for your play.
How to hire the best design team.
With little or no budget: How to be your own design team.
How to schedule the rehearsal schedule productively.
How to build rapport with actors and your design team.
The keys to a great first rehearsal!
Beginner’s mind: How to let the play inform your choices.
How to work with actors so you get their best work.
How to help actors make more compelling choices.
How to collaborate with your actors on staging choices and more.
How to actively lead your actors to create compelling actions and intentions.
How to create compelling events on stage.
How to develop your play further during rehearsal.
Best practices to make revisions.
When to cut and when not to cut.
How to amp up the drama, or amp up the comedy!
How to deal with disrespectful actors and team members.
The best practices to run a tech rehearsal
The best practices to run a dress rehearsal
Actor communication strategies for opening night and more.
AND THIS ONE IS SUPER IMPORTANT:
How to make sure the your story is being told clearly to the audience and not partially imagined by the story you know so well in your head.
What you will get:
4 videos outlining the Directing Process and more!
A Directing Manual: A 30 page .pdf outlining the directing process in great detail.
Incredible insights from over 30 years of directing.
Come learn a new perspective of your possibilities as a creative artist!
This Video Home Study course is taught by Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre, who has directed over 100 plays in his lifetime and has produced over 1000 full-length plays and over 6000 short plays in New York City.
It has been adapted from the original Zoom Seminar: Directing for Playwrights, but it has been reworked for video with a myriad of slides, production pictures and more.