Table Of ContentDirecting in Musical Theatre
This comprehensive guide, from the author of Acting in Musical Theatre, will
equip aspiring directors with all of the skills that they will need in order to guide
a production from beginning to end. From the very first conception and col-
laborations with crew and cast, through rehearsals and technical production, all
the way to the final performance, Joe Deer covers the full range.
Deer’s accessible and compellingly practical approach uses proven, repeatable
methods for addressing all aspects of a production. The focus at every stage is
on working with others, using insights from experienced, successful directors to
tackle common problems and devise solutions. Each section uses the same
structure, to stimulate creative thinking:
• Timetables: detailed instructions on what to do and when, to provide a
flexible organization template
• Prompts and investigations: addressing conceptual questions about style,
characterization and design
• Skills workshops: exercises and “how-to” guides to essential skills
• Essential forms and formats: Including staging notation, script annotation and
rehearsal checklists
• Case studies: well-known productions show how to apply each chapter’s ideas
Directing in Musical Theatre not only provides all of the essential skills, but
explains when and how to put them to use – how to think like a director.
Joe Deer is Distinguished Professor of Musical Theatre and Director of The
Musical Theatre Initiative at Wright State University. He is also an experienced
director, choreographer, actor, dancer, stage manager and artistic director. He is
the award-winning director or choreographer of productions from Off-Broadway
to America’s finest regional, summer stock and university stages. Joe has been
amusical theatre educator for almost thirty years, teaching in New York City at
Steps Studio, Dance Theatre of Harlem, The American Dance Machine and many
regional studios. He is a frequent contributor to theatre publications including
Teaching Theatre Journaland The Voice and Speech Review.
Endorsements for Directing in Musical Theatre:
“This will be an essential handbook for anyone faced with the challenge of
directing a musical. Deer writes from a wealth of experience in directing, and a
thorough knowledge of the musical theatre repertoire.”
Dominic Symonds,University of Portsmouth, UK
“Finally! A step-by-step handbook on how to direct musicals. Joe Deer’s Directing
in Musical Theatre is the perfect book for aspiring and experienced directors
alike. The craft of directing can be quite mysterious, but as Joe masterfully tells
it, with thoughtful insight, extraordinary detail and great passion, the director’s
role becomes vividly clear. This book is sure to become a valuable resource for
anyone working in the theatre.”
Marcia Milgrom Dodge,Tony Award-nominated
director and choreographer, Ragtime
“A terrificanalysis of how to mount a musical. From reading the script, right up
to opening night, Joe Deer’s insights are practical and inspiring.”
Walter Bobbie,Tony Award-winning director, Chicago
“Joe Deer’s book is an eloquent and accurate analysis of what a director in the
musical theatre actually does. He understands the many components of a musical
and how to coordinate and integrate them. I highly recommend it to anyone
contemplating directing a musical.”
Jerry Zaks,Tony Award-winning director,
Guys and Dollsand Smokey Joe’s Café
“Directing in Musical Theatreis a splendid text for anyone wishing to explore
directing for the musical stage. It deals with every essential aspect of this
daunting task, and explains each with singular clarity and intelligence. The work
is well organized, thorough, and completely accessible. Finally, here is a book that
gets to the heart of this art.”
Gregory Lehane,Professor – Former Head of Directing,
Drama and Music, Carnegie Mellon University
“Joe Deer’s Directing in Musical Theatreis a well-informed exploration of the
musical theatre directing process that is filled with heart, intellect and spirit. If
every director was required to read the chapter on staging alone, we would be
blessed with productions more truthful, entertaining, and ultimately satisfying.
This book, which equally balances craft with artistry, will be helpful to beginner
and seasoned veteran alike.”
Cary Libkin,Professor, Head of Musical Theatre
Degree Programs, Penn State University
“Directing is a somewhat ‘ethereal’ job – those who do not do it have a hard time
articulating what it is we exactly do as directors. I think this book is both practical
and asks the right questions so that directors do not merely ‘replicate’ another
show.”
David Gram,musical theatre teacher, USA
Directing in Musical
Theatre
An Essential Guide
Joe Deer
Foreword by Eric Schaeffer
First published 2014
by Routledge
2Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
©2014 Joe Deer
The right of Joe Deer to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice:Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Acatalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Deer, Joe.
Directing in musical theatre : an essential guide / Joe Deer.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Musical theater--Production and direction. 2. Musical theater--Instruction
and study. I. Title.
MT955.D34 2013
792.602'33—dc23 2013002731
ISBN: 978-0-415-62489-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-62490-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-10385-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Univers
by Keystroke, Station Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton
For Caitlin, who makes it all possible
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of illustrations xiii
Foreword by Eric Schaeffer xv
Online content for Directing in Musical Theatre xvii
Special thanks and acknowledgments xix
Permissions xxiii
Introduction 1
Adirector’s job in a musical 1
What is a musical? 3
Conventions of the musical theatre 4
How to use this book 6
PHASE 1 CONCEPTION 9
Charting a detailed course for your production journey 9
Timetable 1: preparation 10
CHAPTER 1 Preparing for collaboration 13
Unit 1.1 Reading and listening to the musical 13
1.1.1 Gathering impressions 14
Questionnaire: first impressions 14
Unit 1.2 Creating a research portfolio 16
Unit 1.3 History and society viewed selectively 17
VIII CONTENTS
Unit 1.4 Tradition 18
Unit 1.5 Dissecting the script and score 19
1.5.1 Units of action 19
Questionnaire: unit analysis 20
Unit 1.6 Character analysis 22
1.6.1 Facts 23
Questionnaire: a character’s given circumstances 23
1.6.2 Character journey 25
1.6.3 Charting change 26
1.6.4 Attitudes 26
Questionnaire: character attitudes 27
1.6.5 Ambitions 28
Questionnaire: character ambitions 28
Unit 1.7 Directing and style 29
1.7.1 What is style? 29
1.7.2 Establishing style in your production 30
1.7.3 Unity of style 32
1.7.4 History and genre 33
1.7.5 Worldview 34
Questionnaire: defining worldview 34
1.7.6 Articulating style 36
Questionnaire: elements of style 36
Unit 1.8 Visiting the theatre 37
Unit 1.9 Getting it down on paper: creating a concept statement 38
1.9.1 This is the story of... 38
1.9.2 Themes and ideas 39
1.9.3 Images and visual style 39
1.9.4 State your passion 41
CHAPTER 2 Imagining the chorus 43
Unit 2.1 What is a chorus? 43
Unit 2.2 Populating the world of your musical 44
Unit 2.3 The power of the group 45
Unit 2.4 Applying pressure 45
Unit 2.5 Chorus as storyteller 46
Unit 2.6 Chorus as spectacle 47
Unit 2.7 Chorus as characters 48
Unit 2.8 Engaging chorus actors 49
CONTENTS IX
PHASE 2 COLLABORATION 53
Timetable 2: setting your production in motion 54
CHAPTER 3 Collaborative partners 57
Unit 3.1 The passionate center 57
Unit 3.2 What is a choreographer? 59
Unit 3.3 Theatre dance vs. concert dance 59
Unit 3.4 Musical collaboration 61
CHAPTER 4 Directing the design 65
Unit 4.1 Design process: scenery 65
4.1.1 Scenic design preparation 66
Questionnaire: scenic design 66
4.1.2 What to expect in the scenic design process 68
Scenic design process:Big River 71
Unit 4.2 Design process: costumes 76
4.2.1 Character analysis for costume design 77
4.2.2 Practical requirements 79
4.2.3 Cast-by-scene breakdown 80
4.2.4 What to expect in the costume design process 80
Gregg Barnes’ costume design process:The Drowsy
Chaperone 83
Unit 4.3 Design process: lighting 86
4.3.1 What to expect in the lighting design process 86
Lighting design process:Follies 90
Unit 4.4 Budgets and creative limits 92
Checklist: effective design 93
PHASE 3 REHEARSAL 95
Timetable 3: auditions to final studio run-through 96
CHAPTER 5 Auditions 103
Unit 5.1 Casting breakdowns 104
Unit 5.2 Principal role auditions 106
5.2.1 Principal role callbacks 107
Unit 5.3 Chorus calls 108
Unit 5.4 Addressing multiple casting needs 111
