Directing students make a scene (or nine)

Any student involved with theater is used to having a director to orchestrate all of the elements of theater into the best show possible. But what students are not accustomed to is when the director is one of their peers. Dr. Amy Pinney is the professor of the class and has been working with students to teach them basic directing techniques.

“If performance is an epistemology – a way of knowing – then directing is an ontology, a way of being,” Pinney said.

Directing students’ pick a scene from a play or movie around 10 minutes long. However choosing a scene that fits a director’s personality and capability can be an agonizing choice for directors.

“I just fell upon ‘Jerry Finnegan’s Sister.’ I read it and fell in love with it,” junior theater major Stacey Silverman said. “I just kind of knew it was the scene for me.”

Directing students have been at work all semester long learning how to tell a story through actors. Pinney instructs student directors in the class techniques. Those directors in turn take what they have learned and pass it on to the cast.

“I use class as more of a way to try things out, almost like a practice for directing rather than taking material and applying it like you would a math class. I also feed off of what other people say and try to use some of their ideas as things I could do or try with my scene,” Silverman said.

Each director is looking to take hints and suggestions while trying to develop their own style. Once a scene is cast the director must schedule rehearsal outside of classes to perfect the scene. In rehearsals the student directors work hard to create a productive environment.

“I try to give as much positive feedback as I can. I want to make rehearsal a fun experience so that my actors want to come and do the best they can,” Silverman said.

Student directors often request the cast to perform the scene multiple times in a row as the director changes element of the scene to better fit the idea that they have conceived. However, there is also good communication between the directors and actors.

“I have learned from both of my directors that it is quite alright to voice your opinions about any sort of acting choice,” senior mass communication major Zane Wind said.

One might expect that there may be a small authority difference between the director and the actor as they are all undergraduates.

“I am directing people who are my age and have taken directing classes before, but my actors and I respect the boundaries that are drawn at rehearsals and how they differ from our day-to-day interactions,” senior theater major Caleigh Allen said.

The scenes will be performed Dec. 4 in Max Noah Recital Hall. There are nine students who have prepared nine short scenes covering a wide array of genres.

“It’s almost like flipping the channels on the TV. You watch a scene on a random show and then you switch the channel and you want another totally different scene,” Wind said.

Students are anxiously awaiting the performances to show off what they have accomplished.

“I’m incredibly proud of the creative and sophisticated work the Directing I students are doing this semester,” Pinney said. “I hope they are as pleased with their scenes as I am.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Dec 4 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry