Directing


Region IV Directing Initiatives
The KCACTF Region IV Directing Initiatives is an award program designed to recognize and celebrate the work of student directors in the Southeast. The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) is sponsoring one student director from each region to participate in the National Festival. An out of region SSDC directing respondent will see all student directing work at the regional festival and determine which student director will advance to the national festival from Region IV.

Brief Overview:  The KCACTF Region IV Directing Initiative is an award program designed to recognize and celebrate the work of student directors in the Southeast. The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) is sponsoring one student director from each region to participate in the KCACTF National Festival as part of the SSDC Student Director Fellowship program.

Directing Fellowship Participation: There are four ways students may participate on the regional level as a director and be eligible for consideration to represent Region IV at the national festival as an SSDC Student Directing Fellow:

1- The Directors Project selects up to six student directors to bring a scene (chosen from a limited list of plays) that has been cast and rehearsed at the student's home school.

2- The Ten Minute Play Festival selects up to six students to direct the student-written plays selected for the Region IV festival. These student directors will hold auditions at the festival and work with the student playwright and actors to produce a staged reading of the new script.

3- The John Cauble Short Play Festival selects up to six students to direct the student-written plays selected for the Region IV festival. These student directors will hold auditions at the festival and work with the student playwright and actors to produce a staged reading of the new script.

4. Student directors of any invited production or scene at the Region IV festival will be eligible for consideration for the National Festival Student Director Fellowship pending submission of all required application materials (see below). For directors of invited productions or scenes only, application materials should be postmarked or emailed no later than January 19, 2007.

Other Festival Directing Opportunities: There is an additional educational opportunities for directors at the regional festival. Participation in this event does NOT qualify a student for selection to the national fellowship program.

Design Storm selects up to six student directors to work with designers on one of two play scripts announced prior to the festival. Students should prepare research morgues prior to the festival and, upon arrival, production teams are created to explore the creative process of translating script into image. Guided workshops culminate in presentation and a display in the theatre lobby during weekend performances. Design Storm participation does NOT qualify a student for selection to the national fellowship program.

Detailed descriptions of the above projects are provided below.

Eligibility:

Application: There is one application process for all Region IV Directing Initiatives. Faculty nomination of students is strongly encouraged. If you are nominating a student director to participate and to be considered for the Region IV fellowship, please send the following materials:

Award Selection: An out of region directing respondent will see all student directing work at the regional festival. In addition, all student nominees will meet with the respondent for an informal interview during the festival. The respondent determines which student director will advance to the national festival.

Brief Overview: The Directors Project is part of the KCACTF Region IV Directing Initiatives, a regional award program designed to recognize and celebrate the work of student directors in the Southeast. Directing participants in this project are eligible for consideration as the Region IV Nominee for the SSDC National Directing Award.

Up to six student directors will be selected from the region to bring a scene (chosen from a predetermined list) that has been cast and rehearsed at the student's home school (the student director may cast students from their home institution or any neighboring college or university). Two regional directing teachers will then mentor the student directors during three festival work sessions, and a showcase of all six scenes will be presented on the final day of our festival.

Acceptance: Applicants will be notified if they are invited to participate in the Directors Project after Monday, December 4 (following the Regional Selection Meeting).

Details for Participants:

Scene Selection: Upon acceptance, participants should submit their choice of scene no later than January 18, 2008. Scenes must be chosen from the "Green Light" list of plays (http://www.kcactf.org/green_light.htm). Scenes must be chosen to fit within the ten minute time limit. You may not go over this time allotment. There is a minimum time of eight minutes. Scenes must have 2 to 10 characters. Do not exceed this limit. Please note that scenes are first-come, first-served. Once a play has been chosen from the list, another student will not be allowed to direct the same material. It is to your advantage to select material early.

Guidelines: The only furniture items permitted and provided will be two chairs and one table. You may not have other furniture items. Any hand props required for the scene must be provided by the director. The regional host and coordinators will not be able to provide props for the directing scenes. The scenes should be blocked and rehearsed prior to the regional festival. There will be three work sessions during the festival with the furniture. Costumes may be used (but are not required). The host school will not be able to provide costume pieces for these scenes. Please note that there is no technical support in the way of lighting and sound. You may provide your own sound with your own equipment - no speakers or amps are provided. Each scene will have an initial general light cue up at the top of the scene, and down at the end. The festival will provide a stage manager from the regional competition to call these two cues. This stage management student will call all shows. Directors should come prepared with a script for the regional stage manager. There will be a five minute break between scenes with a fifteen minute break after the third scene. After the final scene, the regional respondent will then give the student directors feedback in an open critique session.

Documentation: Directors are encouraged to bring to the festival evidence of their preparation as a director. There is no required format. These research notes and other materials will serve simply as a communication tool and as evidence of your method of work as a director for the regional respondent.

Application/Eligibility: Please see eligibility requirements and application procedures above for all KCACTF Region IV Directing Initiatives.

Brief Overview: Directors may participate in the Ten Minute Play Festival as part of the KCACTF Region IV Directing Initiatives, a regional award program designed to recognize and celebrate the work of student directors in the Southeast. Directing participants in this project are eligible for consideration as the Region IV Nominee for the SSDC National Directing Award. Up to six student directors will be selected from the region to direct the student-written plays selected for the Region IV festival. These student directors will hold auditions at the festival and work with the playwright and actors to produce a staged reading of the new script.

Acceptance: Applicants will be notified if they are invited to participate after Monday, December 4 (following the Regional Selection Meeting).

Details for Participants: Once accepted, directors will be given the names and contact information for selected playwrights. Directors and playwrights will communicate to exchange script and ideas in advance of the festival. At the festival, directors will participate in an open audition session (Wednesday morning) along with other Ten Minute Play directors. During the week, directors are assigned a stage manager who will assist in the coordination of the rehearsal and production process. In general, each play will be assigned two rehearsal periods per day in preparation for the staged reading on Saturday morning. The focus should be on the development of the new work rather than on the technical elements and elaborate staging. Minimal furniture props will be available, including a table and 4 chairs.

Documentation: Directors are encouraged to bring to the festival evidence of their preparation as a director. There is no required format. These research notes and other materials will serve simply as a communication tool and as evidence of your method of work as a director for the regional respondent.

Application/Eligibility: Please see eligibility requirements and application procedures above for all KCACTF Region IV Directing Initiatives.

Brief Overview: Directing participants in this project are eligible for consideration as the Region IV Nominee for the SSDC National Directing Award. Up to six student directors will be selected from the region to direct the student-written plays selected for the Region IV festival. These student directors will hold auditions at the festival and work with the playwright and actors to produce a staged reading of the new script.

Acceptance: Applicants will be notified if they are invited to participate after Monday, December 4 (following the Regional Selection Meeting).

Details for Participants: Once accepted, directors will be given the names and contact information for selected playwrights. Directors and playwrights will communicate to exchange script and ideas in advance of the festival. At the festival, directors will participate in an open audition session (Wednesday morning) along with other Short Play directors. During the week, directors are assigned a stage manager who will assist in the coordination of the rehearsal and production process. In general, each play will have minimal rehearsal periods in preparation for the staged readings which occur throughout the festival. The focus should be on the development of the new work rather than on the technical elements and elaborate staging. Minimal furniture props will be available, including a table and 4 chairs.

Documentation: Directors are encouraged to bring to the festival evidence of their preparation as a director. There is no required format. These research notes and other materials will serve simply as a communication tool and as evidence of your method of work as a director for the regional respondent.

Application/Eligibility: Please see eligibility requirements and application procedures above for all KCACTF Region IV Directing Initiatives.

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