TABLE OF CONTENTS If you Go to page Play well with othersDirector5 Have a song in your heartMusical Director9 Like to make things happenProducer13 Enjoy telling stories without words Set Designer17 Think all the world’s a stageStage Actor21 Believe the show must go onStage Manager25 Imagine seeing your name in bright lights Write a Fun Career Adventure 29 Get help with tricky wordsGlossary31 Locate specific information in the book Index32 4
Seeking seasoned theater director for new Broadway production Candidate must bring unique vision to the script Responsibilities include casting actors and collaborating with set and costume designers Communication skills are key Cool calm and collected leader preferred Must work closely with the stage manager to bring the story to life Ready to take on this challenge Turn to page 6 Want to explore a career as a Musical Director instead Go to page 9 Rather consider other choices Return to page 4 Explore the world of musical theater at http bit ly HighSchoolMusicalGuide DIRECTOR 5
From Script to Broadway Hit As director of a Broadway play your work begins months before the premiere as you read through the script nearly a million times OK maybe not quite that many but a lot Each time you read it you make notes of creative ideas for how to stage it This preparation is a big help to you when actors come in to audition You know exactly what you’re looking for and assemble the perfect cast You also spend a lot of time sharing ideas with a producer and the stage manager Success depends on all the cast and crew sharing the same vision for the play Once any kinks are worked out the set and costume designers get busy creating the spectacular onstage world where your play will take place Lighting designers and other theater technicians also add their creative spark to the production Everything they do must meet with your approval since you’re the play’s director Now finally it is time for rehearsals to begin How Stars Are Born As you follow the rehearsal from your spot in the third row you notice the male lead is having trouble with an important monologue You ask him to try it again but this time you have him move diagonally across the stage when he’s midway 6
through his speech That small shift in blocking makes a big difference You also direct him to say one line with more excitement The stage manager keeps track of these changes adding them to the script After each rehearsal you give the cast members feedback on their progress and motivate them to give their best performance You respect that people including actors sometimes have fragile egos so you’ve learned to be diplomatic Even if it’s true you don’t tell an actor Your big love scene in Act Three was as romantic as a grocery list Instead you say Good start Next time let’s crank up the heat in the third act Opening Night Jitters Everyone in the cast and crew works long hours to tighten the production On some days everything seems to go wrong and you might wonder if the whole production is cursed Nerves fray but you keep everyone focused and feeling positive about the play Before you know it opening night arrives And you tell the cast right before the curtain rises Break a leg 7
