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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PEOPLE: Actors who direct....
« on: Jun 01, 2015, 03:30 am »
I am resurrecting this decade-old thread (!!!) because I am encountering this as a major issue for the first time. We are in the fairly early rehearsal stages of my current project and the director wants the format to be a bit fluid, allowing the actors to explore before solidifying blocking. Sometimes (in my experience) this works, but this cast seems to crave structure and the director is loathed to make any concrete decisions. So in the absence of leadership, the cast is taking it upon themselves. There are some big personalities, and a few divas, but I really believe they would bow to the director's decisions if he would make any. I suppose the root of my question is as follows: do I allow this director to do his director thing in his own style even if it means chaos in the rehearsal room? I can't force him to direct but if I tell the actors to cool it nothing will get done at all. It seems to be partially an issue vision (or lack thereof) and partially an issue of personality--he's just a nice guy who doesn't want to step on toes. I am also that way...but my rehearsal room is a figurative mess! How far can I go before I cross the line of authority?