Director’s Workshop Series

How to direct actors for stage and screen

What separates directors like Quentin Tarantino, Stephen Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, The Coen Brothers, and Paul Thomas Anderson from others?  For one thing, they understand how to work with actors and get a great performance out of them.  Most working directors today are glorified traffic managers who may know how to frame a nice-looking shot, but don't know anything about collaborating with a performer to get their best possible work.

If you want to be the next Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick, you need to learn more than just the basics.  In order to stand out and get noticed for your work, you'll need to develop that same insight that the greats have when working with their actors.

In this exciting series of workshops, you'll not only learn the fundamentals of directing and working with actors, but you'll also get to put your newfound skills to the test when you direct a full production of your choice, right here in our studio.

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Part 1 - Fundamentals of Directing

This unique 10 week intensive program will focus on teaching you the essential tools that every director must know, including:

  • Getting the best performance out of your actors

  • Collaborating with your cast to flesh out the characters

  • How to create stage pictures and how they affect the scene

  • Communicating your ideas to your cast and crew to bring your vision to life

  • Understanding the important role that lighting and sound play in your show

  • How to fix performance problems and knowing which ones to focus on

  • How to cast an entire ensemble, rather than just one character at a time

Each week, you will get to work with volunteer students from our acting workshops to help you develop your directing skill set.

Part 2 - Mounting a Production

Here you will learn first-hand, the entire process of putting on your own production from the first audition to the closing night performance.  In this program you will get to choose a one-act play to direct, and have mounted on our stage for a 4-week run.  With the personal guidance of the CAS artistic director, Edward Fogell, you will bring your theatrical vision to life!

This program will cover:

  • Picking the right play to mount.  What script do you feel you identify with?

  • The audition and casting process.

  • Assembling a production crew (Stage manager, assistant director, light & sound tech, etc.) and understanding what each crew member does.

  • Pre-production: rehearsal, set design, choosing music & sound effects, etc.

  • Tech & dress rehearsals, and finishing touches before the show begins

  • The full run of your show, from opening to closing night, including pick-up rehearsals when needed.

On the closing night, we throw a party for the cast and crew of all the shows, with music, dancing, karaoke, free food & drinks.  Plus, special awards will be given out for best show, best director, best actor & actress.

In order to take Part 2 of this program, you MUST complete Part 1, or get direct approval from artistic director Edward Dennis Fogell.

Taught by Artistic Director Ed Fogell

Director’s Workshop Series Schedule

Part one:

Sundays from 4:00pm to 6:00pm

February 18th - April 21st

Part two:

Part 2 of this series will be the process of mounting a production from start to finish.  The first day will be a production meeting on Sunday, April 28th at 4:00pm.  After this, we will no longer regularly meet on Sundays, and instead, auditions, production meetings, rehearsals and performances will now be considered part of the workshop series.

Pricing:

Part 1: $395.00

Part 2: $295.00

Part 1 & 2 Together: $690.00 $595.00 ($95.00 Discount)