Directing Professionally: A Practical Guide to Developing a Successful Career in Today's Theatre

Kent Thompson's book Directing Professionally provides a pathway from training, apprenticeship, and assistant directing to an established career as a director in the theatre industry. It offers insights into the passion, commitment, artistic vision, directorial experience, leadership skills, and persuasive gifts needed to succeed in this field, with case studies and interviews with professional theatre directors, artistic directors, producers, critics, managing/executive directors, and theatre leaders.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 232 pages
\n Publication date: 10 January 2019
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Drawing on his extensive experience and that of other theatre professionals from the US and UK, Kent Thompson illuminates a pathway from training, apprenticeship, and assistant directing to an established career as a director. Directing Professionally: From Training to Artistic Director first lays out paths for aspirant directors to train, grow, and succeed as directors, then advises freelance directors on how to establish and accelerate their professional careers. It also reveals the most significant ways those directors become artistic directors today. With a frank, thoughtful, and often humorous examination of the job of professional direction and artistic direction, Thompson writes about the passion, commitment, artistic vision, directorial experience, leadership skills, and powerful persuasive gifts needed to succeed in this extraordinary field. Featuring case studies and brief interviews with professional theatre directors, artistic directors, producers, critics, managing/executive directors, and theatre leaders currently working in the field in the UK and the US, this volume will equip you to develop your career as a professional director in today's theatre.

Training:

Training is the foundation of any successful directing career. Aspiring directors should seek out opportunities to learn from experienced professionals in the field. This can include attending workshops, seminars, and masterclasses, as well as working as an assistant director on professional productions.

Apprenticeship:

An apprenticeship is a valuable opportunity for aspiring directors to gain practical experience and learn from experienced directors. It can involve working on a variety of productions, from small community theatre shows to large-scale Broadway productions. Apprenticeships can last for several years and provide valuable insights into the workings of the theatre industry.

Assistant Directing:

Assistant directing is a crucial step in the career of an aspiring director. It involves working closely with the director to help shape the production and bring the vision to life on stage. Assistant directors are responsible for a variety of tasks, including blocking, rehearsing actors, and working with the production team to ensure that the production runs smoothly.

Establishing a Career:

Once aspiring directors have gained the necessary training, experience, and skills, they can begin to establish their careers as directors. This can involve working on a variety of productions, from small community theatre shows to large-scale Broadway productions. Networking is also essential for establishing a career as a director. Aspiring directors should attend industry events, meet other professionals in the field, and seek out opportunities to collaborate with other artists.

Freelance Directing:

Freelance directing is a growing field in the theatre industry. It involves working as a director on a contract basis
basis for a variety of productions, from small community theatre shows to large-scale Broadway productions. Freelance directing productions can provide a great opportunity for directors to gain experience and build their portfolio. However, it can also be challenging to establish and accelerate a professional career as a freelance director.

Artistic Director:

Becoming an artistic director is a goal for many aspiring directors. It involves taking on the responsibility of leading a theatre company or artistic team and leading the artistic vision and direction of the production. Artistic directors are responsible for a variety of tasks, including selecting plays, casting, rehearsing actors, and working with the production team to ensure that the production is successful.

Conclusion:

Directing is a challenging and rewarding profession that requires a combination of training, experience, and skills. Aspiring directors should seek out opportunities to learn from experienced professionals in the field and establish a career that aligns with their artistic vision. Freelance directing can be a great opportunity for directors to gain experience and build their portfolio, but it requires a combination of passion, commitment, artistic vision, directorial experience, leadership skills, and powerful persuasive gifts. Becoming an artistic director is a goal for many aspiring directors, but it requires a combination of passion, commitment, artistic vision, directorial experience, leadership skills, and powerful persuasive gifts. By following the pathways.

\n Weight: 362g\n
Dimension: 156 x 232 x 13 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781474288767\n \n