Ever wanted to try your hand at directing a play?
The 2022 8x10 play festival is a great place to learn the directing ropes. Yes, I'm looking at you.
Why this is such a great opportunity to direct?
Basics: The 8x10s have 8, 10-minute scripts, 8 casts, and 8 directors.
Light rehearsal process 1x for 3 weeks. 2 nights of tech, 3 performances
Provided rehearsal location: Faith Lutheran Church, Brookfield map
There is a metra stop within few blocks; an 8 minute walk.
Directing:
Directing one 10-minute play is a great way to try your hand at directing. It is a light time commitment. There's a slew of people to answer questions and support you. It provides a soft entry to directing full-length plays.
The schedule below is normal but you can have additional rehearsals via zoom or other. Whatever helps you and your cast be successful.
Typical rehearsal schedule:
Week 1 - You and your actors do a read-through of the script and then block the full script.
You should come prepared with the blocking. We will provide the logistics of the stage layout.
You and your cast will take care of costumes but we are here to support and will cover any special costs. (within reason)
You will provide set needs like chairs, tables, etc. (via email)
1.5 hours time commitment
Week 2 - Run through the script and blocking several times, make adjustments for things that don't work. Work on character and acting.
Actors should have the script somewhat memorized. You watch or hear from actors what doesn't work.
1.5 hours
Week 3 - Run the play 5 times. Actor will have the script memorized, you can make little tweaks, but it's really about nailing down the ten minutes of telling your script's story based on the work you've done previously.
1.5 hours.
Week 4 - Tech and performances
We will do 2 nights of running the show. On night 1, If you need to stop your actors and back-up or restart, we will have time for that. We have 3 hours to run a 1.5 hour show. This is an opportunity to smooth things out. One tech night 2 we will run with no stops, actors will have to figure things out of there are issues...but, to be honest, since it's only 10-minutes, there typically are limited issues.
Performances - happen during week 4. A performance on Friday night, and an afternoon and evening performance on Saturday.
Light rehearsal process 1x for 3 weeks. 2 nights of tech, 3 performances
Provided rehearsal location: Faith Lutheran Church, Brookfield map
There is a metra stop within few blocks; an 8 minute walk.
Directing:
Directing one 10-minute play is a great way to try your hand at directing. It is a light time commitment. There's a slew of people to answer questions and support you. It provides a soft entry to directing full-length plays.
The schedule below is normal but you can have additional rehearsals via zoom or other. Whatever helps you and your cast be successful.
Typical rehearsal schedule:
Week 1 - You and your actors do a read-through of the script and then block the full script.
You should come prepared with the blocking. We will provide the logistics of the stage layout.
You and your cast will take care of costumes but we are here to support and will cover any special costs. (within reason)
You will provide set needs like chairs, tables, etc. (via email)
1.5 hours time commitment
Week 2 - Run through the script and blocking several times, make adjustments for things that don't work. Work on character and acting.
Actors should have the script somewhat memorized. You watch or hear from actors what doesn't work.
1.5 hours
Week 3 - Run the play 5 times. Actor will have the script memorized, you can make little tweaks, but it's really about nailing down the ten minutes of telling your script's story based on the work you've done previously.
1.5 hours.
Week 4 - Tech and performances
We will do 2 nights of running the show. On night 1, If you need to stop your actors and back-up or restart, we will have time for that. We have 3 hours to run a 1.5 hour show. This is an opportunity to smooth things out. One tech night 2 we will run with no stops, actors will have to figure things out of there are issues...but, to be honest, since it's only 10-minutes, there typically are limited issues.
Performances - happen during week 4. A performance on Friday night, and an afternoon and evening performance on Saturday.
