<p>A friend of mine has been acting in community theater over the last few years and enjoying it --going from bit parts to some more major, emotionally demanding ones, such as the leads in Doubt and All My Sons. He has attracted enough attention that they have asked him to direct their next play, a few months from now. I should note that he has no drama or theater background -just highly literate and a longstanding arts patron in general. Any advice for him? Any of you do this on the side?</p>
<p>It might help if he could find an Assistant Director (AD) with experience staging shows, especially with the same community theater. There are a lot of technical things to know about working with the stagecraft (props, lighting, set, costume) so the whole production has a cohesive feeling. If he has the personality to take good advice from the people who handle the stagecraft, that would also help.</p>
<p>He probably has plenty of thoughts about how to handle the actors.</p>
<p>If no AD, then he might ask the company to ensure him a good Stage Manager.</p>
<p>If he’s literate, as you describe, he might see if a nearby university theater department has a Production Dramaturg to advise him on continuity, authenticity, historic elements and more. That person might sit at some rehearsals and offer him quiet counsel, so he has someone to ask (aside from the cast themselves).</p>
<p>My D did community theater, and quite a few adults we know got pulled into directing plays. They all loved it … but it was a great group, and everyone pitched in to make things work. I think the key is whether or not this is a group that will be helpful.</p>