Director:
-a
person or thing that directs;
-responsible
for the interpretive aspects of a theatrical production;
-supervises the integration of all the elements (acting, lights, sound, staging, props, puppets) to realize the playwright’s conception;
-supervises the integration of all the elements (acting, lights, sound, staging, props, puppets) to realize the playwright’s conception;
Common phrases of a director include:
I promise, just one more time; I like it, keep it; make it bigger; STOP ACTING;
I don’t know, ask the stage manager; that thing you just did, do that again; I
need you to be way more sad. Like, can you even maybe cry a bit?; 20 seconds is
enough time to do a complete costume and hair change, right?; we’ll figure it
out in tech.
Meet the directing team of the Ensemble
Project! Assistant Director, Phay Gagnon, on the
left, and Director Shawna Lawson, on the right.
 |
Photograph by Kirstin Shale |
What makes a good director? Shawna
Lawson says:
“I personally think it comes down to a few key things: Flexibility, patience, thinking outside the box, communicating effectively with others, and it really helps if you’re insane.”Also sunglasses. and wicked sweet hair.
Shawna graduated last June with a double extended minor in English
and Theatre (with Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, might I add) and is back
to complete a full English major. No stranger to life in the hot seat,
(including writing and directing her one-act play, Driver’s Anonymous, in last years Director’s Festival here at UFV)
Shawna is grateful to have been voted by the class as director for this “crazy
and exciting project.” Not only is this an entire new project for the university,
for the faculty, and for the students, this is the first time she has directed
a show of this scale. And her biggest challenge is staying within the 10 hour weekly
limit.
 |
| Design Meetings |
What’s that, you ask? In order to attempt to keep students from becoming
too overwhelmed, the department placed a 10 hour restriction on time spent on
the project outside of class time.
And Shawna says she’s never gone over the 10 hour limit. Nope. Not
once. By much.
In short, Shawna says
“It’s exciting, crazy, wonderful, and challenging all at the same time!”
I’ll raise my coffee to that.
As assistant director, Phay is an extra pair of eyes, ears, and voice
in rehearsals and meetings, as she and Shawna work closely together to direct
this ensemble of people. New to directing, as she also works through THEA 450
and 451 (Our Directing courses), Phay is a fourth year English and Theatre
student, with her heart on the stage. Her main job, as with every student in the
class, is to learn, and Phay is learning to trust her instincts, the most
amazing thing a theatre student can do.
“With Shawna, I am able to bounce ideas off her, hear her own ideas, and make decisions that wouldn’t have been possible without being strong enough to voice them. It is always a challenge to be willing to try new things, and I am getting more confident with each day.”
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| Photographer, Kirstin Shale makes an appearance. |
And their wonderful words of wisdom,
Shawna
Whatever you choose to do in your life, make sure you enjoy it, and have fun! Theatre is a TON of work, and if it wasn’t fun it wouldn’t be worth the effort. So even when things get tough, even when you’re so busy you barely have time to breathe, even when it feels like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, take a moment, take a breath, and remember why you love what you’re doing.
Phay
Have ideas, fall in love with them, find the passion within yourself to see your ideas flourish. But if someone has a better idea for the situation or your idea doesn’t fit in with what you’re doing, you must be willing to let it go. To collaborate with others, be it your friends or strangers, always bring your ideas to the table with strength. Defend them, to a point. But when it’s time to let it go, let it go. Relax. Be open to process. Have fun.
-JI Milliken
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