Planning to Direct Your First Full-Length Play

If you have only ever directed one-acts or scenes, you may not be aware of how much more planning and preparation it takes to stage a longer script. Here is some information that will help you prepare as you get ready to direct your first full-length play.

Choose the right show.

When choosing a show you always need to consider the Big 4 logistical factors of producing a show: budget, space, time, and theme.

• Budget
  Many of these scripts come at a higher cost. Can you afford the rights? Can you afford to build, buy, or borrow the required elements and materials? Are you hoping to make money from this production? If so, will this show/title bring in enough of an audience for you to turn a profit? These are the questions you need to ask before you choose a full-length show.

• Space
  Equally important is the question of your physical theatre space. Is your space large enough or modern enough to support the technical elements of the show? Does this show require a huge off-stage space for storing scenic elements? Is your lighting, sound, and other technical equipment up to the task? If your space cannot handle the basic requirements of a script, take a pass and look for a better fit.

• Time
  Will you have enough time to properly rehearse and mount this show? Full-length shows take a lot more time to plan and rehearse, and that timing can be thrown off by things like snow days and pep rallies. Take a good, hard look at your calendar and make sure you have the time to give this show all the attention it will need.

• Theme
  Is this show appropriate for your school community? If you’re looking at a show that has challenging themes or mature language, you may need to get pre-approval from your administration BEFORE you purchase the rights and announce the title. The worst thing you can do is put all the time and effort into staging a show, only to have it cancelled before you ever make it to opening night.

Make sure you have the actors.

Similarly, when you’re planning to direct your first full-length play, make sure you have an appropriate talent pool: Do you have performers who have the talent and experience to tackle this show? Do you have enough interested students to fill all the roles? Make sure you have a large enough talent pool to choose from before you commit to a script, and that includes your tech support and crews.

Create the calendar.

Staging a full-length play will take more time to plan, rehearse, and produce. The typical rule of rehearsal is that for each minute of performance on stage, you will need one hour of rehearsal time, so plan on much more rehearsal for a full-length play. Create a calendar that realistically reflects the work it will take to bring the show to the stage. When creating your calendar, work backwards from opening night and don’t forget to include blocking, working, and technical rehearsals in your calendar. Also include an ‘off-book’ date for each act so your actors have a target for memorization.

Get all the production pieces in place.

If you have never directed a full-length play before, you will need to pay attention to the technical elements of the show. If the design requirements are more complex than you’re used to, you may want to look for help from experienced designers for sets, lights, and costumes. These designers need to be included early in the production process so they are part of the decision-making team. If help is not available, and you have to manage all of the design elements yourself, assign a handful of responsible students to assist you. Designing a full-length show is a lot of work, and without help you could quickly become overwhelmed and burnt out. You will also need to assemble a crew to run the technical elements, and as you get closer to opening night you will need to field a front-of-house crew as well. Remember that all of these crews will need time to learn their roles before opening night.

Pace yourself.

As you can see, directing a full-length play is much more complicated than directing a scene or a short one-act. Ultimately, staging a full-length play is a marathon and there will be highs and lows as the production process grinds on. It will take more time, effort, and planning to successfully get the show to the stage, so carefully organize the process and pace yourself. Keep in mind that ‘pacing yourself’ should include taking breaks and practicing self-care. With proper organization and a realistic pace you can make it all the way to the finish line… and enjoy the show!