Chapter 6- The Director

Which of the following are important traits for a successful director?

A strong literary imagination Ability to analyze and research plays Knowledge of the history of theatre

Which of the following must be important considerations during the casting process?

An actor's personality and work habits An actor's training and ability An actor's past credits, fame, and marketability

The company directed by George II, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, was renowned for which of the following innovations?

An ensemble-oriented style of playing

The "teacher-director" reached a pinnacle of influence during the late Enlightenment and Victorian eras (18th and 19th centuries) because of which of the following?

An increased emphasis on productions of classical plays An increased emphasis on rationality and research both in culture and the theatre

Today's directors are likely to begin the production process with which of the following attitudes towards the material?

An openness towards choosing between and even combining theatrical styles from the past and present

Why has the director become such a prominent figure in the modern theatre?

Because the expansive possibilities of modern theatre call for a guiding artistic vision.

What is the basic structure of staging called?

Blocking

The truth behind the saying "casting is 90 percent of directing" can be best expressed how?

Casting has an outsize influence on the success or failure of a production.

Which of the following can be virtues of a "high-concept" production?

Commenting on current social and political issues Shedding new light on a classic script

What are the two types of directorial concepts?

Core concept and high concept

In adapting classic plays, today's directors may take which of the following steps?

Cutting lines to reduce performance time, Radically transforming aspects of the original dramaturgy, Modernizing archaic words to improve audience comprehension

Who is known as the first modern director?

Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

In determining the staging of a play, a director's main tasks include which of the following?

Ensuring an effective interaction between performers and technical elements Sculpting a theatrical experience for the audience Expressing an artistic vision through the use of space and time

What are some of the tasks of the director during the implementation period?

Facilitate communication Maintain the schedule Inspire the team

In addition to managing a production's finances, the producer may also be in charge of which of the following?

Hiring and firing the director Acquire a theatre space

When did the independent "director" come to prominence?

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Which of the following describes the directing process?

Long and involved

If done on stage by a character, which of the following are examples of theatrical business?

Mixing a cocktail Answering the phone Putting on a hat

In addition to coordinating the various aspects of the production (acting, design, etc.), the director is responsible for which of the following?

Providing an artistic vision for the production

Although they both worked in various styles, Andre Antoine and Konstantin Stanislavski are both typically associated with what kind of theatre?

Realism

A dramaturg may contribute to a production in which of the following ways?

Researching the play's historical context Explaining the play's literary structure

The playwrights and leading actors who, before the nineteenth century, helped to stage performances can be referred to by which of the following terms?

Teacher-directors

During what stage of the theatrical process do actors use their costumes for the first time?

Technical rehearsals

The idea of the director as an artistic guide is associated with which of the following?

The West

An "antirealist" director is most likely to be committed to which of the following principles?

The creation of original, unexpected theatrical experiences

In criticizing the pace of a production, a theatre reviewer is probably criticizing who?

The director

The Japanese noh master Zeami was most similar to which figure in Western theatre?

The director

Which of the following can be true of the casting process?

The director coaches the actors during auditions Actors return for multiple auditions Actors read from the play being produced Actors read a prepared monologue

In today's theatre, what is typically the director's role on and after opening night?

The director has no set role after opening night; most try to occasionally check in on the production.

In the theatrical process, what does the term "business" mean?

The small-scale movements the character performs

What is the director's relationship to their actors?

They act as guides and coaches.

What is the main goal of blocking?

To focus the audience's attention on significant aspects

What is the director's role in production design?

To meet with the designers, sometimes one-on-one To discuss their concepts with the designers

Actors reading from prepared monologues is a step in the

casting process.

Today's directors are likely to adapt a script when it is not protected by ________ laws.

copyright

A director's ______ concept is the image, idea, style, or emotion that focuses the production by bringing out some aspect of the original play.

core

Which type of directorial concept is required of every production?

core concept

In today's theatre, working with the design team is an important part of the director's job because

design is a step towards realizing the director's artistic vision. designs have a practical impact on the safety and visibility of performers.

The __________ is responsible for rehearsing the actors and coordinating the work of other theatre artists including designers and stage managers.

director

Today's theatre is often referred to as a "_________" because of that figure's prominence in every aspect of theatrical production.

director's theatre

While some directors are very passive in their coaching, others can be

domineering overbearing.

In addition to working on individual productions, a __________ may help to discover and develop new plays from unknown authors.

dramaturg

During the previews, the director should

evaluate the production for audience response.

A ______-concept production radically changes the terms of the original script as, for example, when the play is reset in a time period or style unanticipated by the original script.

high

The director's role in the design process can be best described as

indirect and suggestive.

In trying to develop a core concept for a production, a director might do which of the following?

Try to prioritize one image or idea from the original script Try to imagine how the play might be publicized, either as a poster or a tagline

Once the "implementation" phase of production has begun, what important tasks must a director undertake?

Working with the actors Collaborating with the artistic team

Unlike realist directors, directors of antirealism are more focused on

abstract goals of originality.

During the rehearsal period, the director

acts as spokesperson for the production. focuses the cast and staff. coaches the actors.

During the implementation period, the director must

assemble the artistic team.

A play's "______ pattern" is its overall framework of movement, including entrances, exits, crosses, and other physical actions; it may be planned by the director ahead of time or may emerge through improvisation and rehearsal.

blocking staging

Unlike the director, who is charged with organizing the onstage performance, the ________ is tasked with managing many of the offstage aspects of production, including finances and publicity.

producer

As a director, Konstantin Stanislavski was known for

realistic ensemble acting.

The rehearsal period is where the director interacts with and coaches

the actors. the designers.

A play's "timing" refers to

the overall effect of the individual paces the director has determined.

The process of directing a play is long and can be split into two periods:

the preparation period and the implementation period.

In the theatrical process, the term unity refers to

the visionary wholeness.