I cannot imagine anything quite so challenging or creative or thoroughly exciting as having the opportunity to direct a musical (well, maybe being President). Assuming you have volunteered or have been asked or have discovered it's part of your job to direct a musical, you can do it. I did for over ten years and I loved every minute of it!
During my days as an educational theater director I had the pleasure of putting on stage such favorites as Man of La Mancha, West Side Story, Finian's Rainbow, 1776, Once Upon a Mattress, and many others. I went into my life as a musical (and a general theater) director with an extensive background in educational theatre, but throughout my long experience in the theater as both director and actor, I have met many directors who have had no official training and were still marvelous directors.
What do most musical directors do? Well, I have seen a great deal of variation regarding how directors (even good directors) approach directing a musical. However, I would say most all of them do the following: 1) become familiar with the musical, 2) plan how you will stage the musical , 3) hold auditions and cast the musical, 4) rehearse the musical in an organized fashion, 5) perform the musical.
Let's take each step in order. First, a director should immerse him or herself in the story and the sound of the musical. I would read the script while listening to the music and imagine each scene as I read it. Keep in mind, a musical takes place on stagenot in a movie. I don't think a director can know the musical too well. A good director should almost memorize all the lines; certainly, a good musical director has all the songs memorized. To this day, I can sing most all the lyrics of all the songs in all the musicals I directedeven though I produced them over 30 years ago. Another thing a good director does is look at photographs and videos of other productions of the musicaleither stage or screen. Doing this doesn't mean the director will necessarily copy that production; maybe it means the director doesn't like certain things about that production and will avoid them in his or her production.
Second, the director plans how to stage the musical. This includes a variety of things. The director must first develop an overall concept or vision for the musical that will pervade everything he or she does. Maybe the director envisions this version of the musical as a protest or maybe as a dream. However the director sees the musical, that image will affect every other decision he or she makes. The director will have to plan the scenerywhat will the stage look like? Given the script, what are the absolute requirements that must be met? Most good musical directors try to keep scenery fairly simple because most musicals require a lot of set changes. The director will also plan the staging, or how the actors will move around on stage. If there are lots of characters (and there usually are in musicals), this becomes one of the director's most difficult tasks. I have seen some directors who had little control of staging and allowed the actors to move wherever they wished. Some actors may like this, but, personally, I prefer to know exactly what to do, and I tend to be the type of director who gives precise stage direction to each actor. Directors also have to plan every other aspect of the production such as properties, costumes, lighting, make-up, sound effects, and in some community theater organizations, publicity and tickets too.
Third, the director must hold auditions to select the cast (and in some cases, the crew). This should be done efficiently and carefully. Try not to comment on actors as they audition because their egos are very delicate. Also, even if you don't cast them, you may want them to work on a backstage crew or cast them in another show. Have potential cast members read scenes from the script (select appropriate scenes in advance) on stage. Make sure you pick people who look the part, sound the part, and fit in well with the other actors you cast. Also, make sure you gather information about your potential actors' backgrounds and schedules. You don't want to cast a lead who will be out of town on opening night. Once you have decided your cast, announce it publicly or post a cast list and call your first rehearsal.
Fourth, rehearse the musical. Musicals usually take longer to rehearse and produce than regular plays. If you can rehearse at least five times a week for at least two hours a time, you should be able to produce a musical in six to eight weeks. Rehearsing a musical is more time-consuming than a play because a great deal of time must be spent working on the musical numbers (and in some instances the choreography). If you are musically experienced, you may be able to act as your own musical director. If not, you will need to have a choral director or voice coach for this position. Some musicals use a piano accompanist for rehearsals and that same individual alone for the actual performances. Other productions add a full-scale orchestra with a conductor. In most of my experiences, I worked with a choral director as the musical director, a piano accompanist, and an orchestra or band director. At times, I added a choreographer when needed (as in the case of West Side Story). Towards the last week of rehearsal, add costumes, make-up, lighting, sound, and all the scenery.
Finally, perform the musical. Advertise. Sell tickets. Publicize it. Get the local newspaper or television station to come out and interview the leads or have the main character sing the most famous song on a local morning radio show. Do whatever you have to do. One good thing about most musicals is that they have very large casts, so you will discover that every person in the chorus will sell dozens of tickets to every aunt and uncle they have and your auditorium will be packed. And one last thing, on opening night, your job as director is over, but your pride in your accomplishment will last a lifetime. Mine has.