by Mark Morris

Created on: February 19, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Directing your script as a first time writer

By the time that I had actually cranked out my first stage worthy full length play I had already been paid to direct over thirty full length plays and musicals. That coupled with the fact that I have family and friends who are qualified professional actors helped me to survive. It comes down to this: Is this story eating you alive to be told in a way only you can tell it? If not give it to someone else and direct your second or third play.

If the answer is yes, by all means go to your nearest Sams club or Cosco and pick up the following in commercial sizes: tylenol advil or your choice of headache remedy, and a bottle of antacids.

Let me describe a little of what it took me to pull it off. I suppose the "first time" thing really does not apply to my experience since I began writing for an audience in my youth group at the age of about thirteen. While many of you may cry foul! That doesn't count! Can any of you really think of a tougher audience than a group of your peers between the ages of thirteen and twenty? I thought not. We wrote at least two sketches, mostly comedy, every week for a period of about five years. I highly recommend this type of experience if you can get it.

If you are like me with plenty of directing under your belt, then why are you reading this? Go have an audition and get this sucker on the road! For the first timers, do not have auditions quite yet!

First get a group together and have them read your play aloud. Record this if you can, even just a cassette recorder in the middle of the table. Also ask them to fill out a simple questionnaire detailing: did you like the play? Why or why not? What was your favorite scene, character,line of dialog. What was the play about? (ideas not plot outline) What one thing would you change to make the play better? And maybe a couple more.

Now armed with this info go back to your script and rewrite! You may need to do this more than once. Once your script sounds good enough to make a successful reading, then you are ready to have auditions.

I would caution you about working with beginning actors on a project like this. This is all new stuff, there will be bugs to work out and the stress might kill a newbie. Once you have a cast; work through each scene to block (choreograph) the action and make sure that everything makes sense making changes where needed. I highly recommend an extended rehearsal schedule with ample time for rewrites the first time. Work it through carefully, this is your play hopefully millions will see it on stages around the globe, don't skimp!

One you have a "rough edit", the actors are learning their lines and blocking makes sense, you are ready for a preview. If you can get someone you trust who has more experience as either a playwright or director to come, invite them. Make it a small audience but big enough to give your cast a good response. I suggest you make this a staged reading with suggested sets, props and stylized costumes (IE cowboy hats instead of baseball caps but maybe leave out the chaps and spurs)your actors may even carry scripts or cheat sheets, make sure to leave time for the audience to ask and answer questions afterward.

Go back and make your final rewrites. Work it to a shine, print your posters, sell your tickets and sit back and enjoy opening night! Now, once that is done, pay it forward and help somebody not to make the same mistakes you did when directing their first script!

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