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Theatre is a wonderful thing and can be both entertaining for an audience and educational and fulfilling for the cast and crew. Working on a theatrical production is the hardest fun and work you can do. So what can you do to make it a better experience for everyone involved?
Make Them Feel Worthwhile
Whether your cast is paid or volunteer, its important that they think each feel they are important to the production. Let them know that they make the production run smoother, that they matter as an individual, whether their part is big or small.
Feedback
Give feedback. Everyone wants to improve, and your actors will perform better if you let them know what they can improve on. Also give positive feedback and compliments to those actors who are performing well. Oftentimes, directors take the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” approach, which means that actors doing a good job never get any feedback and can feel confused or isolated. Let them know they are doing well.
The Buck Stops Here
Directors can delegate, that’s what assistant directors, stage managers, and crew are for. Directors are usually beholden to producers, but regardless, a director needs to have to the outlook that the buck stops with them; they are responsible for all aspects of a show and cannot pass blame off. Accordingly, don’t be afraid to make things get done your way: You’re in charge and you have to take full responsibility, so you get the final say in everything.
