DIRECTING II
TH 452
Bob Yowell, PhD
CAC 108 PH 523-2279
E-Mail: Robert.Yowell@nau.edu
Office Hours: 11:00-12:00 T/Th

Class Meets: MWF in Studio Theatre – MWF @ 2:00 – 2:50

Purpose: An advanced course that will introduce the student to the fundamental concepts of play direction. Students will learn theory and practice of the basic techniques of directing.

Specifics: 1. Five Fundamentals of Play Direction

2. Techniques of working with the Actor
3. Play Selection and Analysis
4. Management of the rehearsal procedure
5. Mounting the production

Requirements:

1. All reading as assigned Class Projects (in class work) All Exams
4. First Five-Minute Scene
5. Production Concept (Paper) Class Attendance
7. Director's Notebook
8. Direct a One-Act Play

    1. Written Evaluations of Scenes/One-Act
Required Text: Fundamentals Of Play Direction by Dean/Carra 5th Edition

Evaluation:

    1. In-Class Exercises-Improvisation Work 10%
    2. Exams 10%
    3. Quality of First Five Minute Scene 10%
    4. Production Concept 10%
    5. Director’s Production Book 10%
    6. Quality of Final Project – One Act 30%
    7. Attendance/Attitude 20%
Attendance: Student attendance is mandatory. Points will be deducted and the final grade lowered for missed class time. Requirements are the official NAU requirements as set out on page 55 of the NAU Undergraduate Catalog 1997.

Production Concept:

Play selection affects the quality of your production. The student director is at liberty to choose any good play, however selected plays must be approved by the professor. The director will research the play (e.g., its history and critical commentary) and develop a Production Concept. A paper (4-8 pages include footnotes and bibliography) will be submitted and the director will make an oral presentation (five minutes) to the class. Turn in Production Concept paper on October 31st

First Directing Scene:

The director will choose a contemporary 2 or 3 person scene. Two actors will be cast and the student will rehearse this scene at least 4 hours.

Director's Journal/Production Book

In preparation for the One-Act the director will prepare a Journal/notebook that will be turned in by November 9th. It will include:

1. Copy of play
2. All blocking notes
3. Production concept
4. Rehearsal schedule
5. Journal entries

    1. Motivational Unit Analysis
Final One Act Project

During the final weeks of the term formal class meetings will cease and directors will begin rehearsing. The final project is the direction of a One-Act Play. This play should be at least twenty minutes long and no longer that forty minutes. These One Acts will be rehearsed a minimum of 25 hours and a rehearsal schedule will be submitted to the instructor. The instructor will attend at least one rehearsal (his discretion) and discuss progress with the director. The Final One Act will be presented open to the department, invited guests and the public in the evening hours during "reading week."

CLASS SCHEDULE

8/27 Introduction
The Five Fundamentals of Play Directing

8/29 Composition
9/1 Composition
9/3 Labor Day – No Class
9/5 Picturization (Quiz on Composition)
9/7 Picturization - Quiz on Picturization
9/10 Movement
9/12 Movement – Quiz on Picturization
9/14 Rhythm
9/17 Rhythm – Quiz on Picturization
9/19 Pantomimic Dramatization
9/21 Pantomimic Dramatization
9/24 Quiz on Pantomimic Dramatization
9/26 Playing Comedy
9/28 Playing Comedy
10/1 How to Handle Auditions
10/3 How to Handle Auditions
10/5 Building the Rehearsal Schedule
10/8 Building the Rehearsal Schedule
10/10 Production Meetings – Who’s in Charge?
Directors Responsibilities

10/12 Five Minute Scenes – Performance in Class
10/15 Five Minute Scene – Performance in Class
10/17 Five Minute Scenes – Performance in Class
10/19 Five Minute Scenes – Performance in Class
10/22 Evaluating the Five Minute Scenes

Turn In Your One Act Selection

Turn in Evaluations of Five Minute Scenes

10/24 Directing the Motivational Unit/Analyzing the Play
10/26 Directing the Motivational Unit/Analyzing the Play
10/29 Directing the Motivational Unit/Analyzing the Play
10/31 Production Concepts – Presentations – Turn in

Production Concept paper

11/2 Production Concepts - Presentations
11/5 Production Concepts - Presentations
11/7 Production Concepts - Presentation
11/9 Director’s Notebooks Due
11/12 Veterans Day – No Class
11/14 Rehearsal
11/16 Rehearsal
11/19 Rehearsal
11/21 Rehearsal
11/23 Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class
11/26 Tech Dress Directing II - Rehearsal
11/28 Tech Dress Directing II - Rehearsal
11/30 Tech Dress Directing II - Rehearsal
12/3 Performance @ 8:00 p.m. in Studio Theatre
12/4 Performance @ 8:00 p.m. in Studio Theatre
12/5 Performance @ 8:00 p.m. in Studio Theatre
12/6 Performance @ 8:00 p.m. in Studio Theatre
12/7 Performance @ 8:00 p.m. in Studio Theatre
12/12 Final Exam