A Sense of Direction with Richard Corley
Everything you need to know to Direct for Theatre

• Are you an emerging director? 
• Do you long to take the step forward to a leadership role in the theatre? 
• Are you curious about how to make a play come to life boldly and truly, with your unique talent and sensibility?  
• Are you looking for a practical way to approach a text, and do you wonder if there are differences in approach from play to play, or if there is a uniform “method” to directing a play?
• Are you looking for the tools you need to successfully communicate your ideas to designers, actors, and playwrights?
  

A Sense of Direction will provide a practical approach to creating a play, from first reading to “concept.”  Directors will be required to fully prepare concepts to three texts, and will be allowed to choose between Ibsen’s The Master Builder or A Doll House, Williams’ Cat On a Hot Tin or Roof or Orpheus Descending. The final play will be a new play by a living playwright, chosen by Corley. 

Focus at all times will be on practical application.  Required texts will include William Ball’s A SENSE OF DIRECTION, David Kaplan’s FIVE APPROACHES TO ACTING, and Michael Shurtleff’s AUDITION.  Unique features of the class will include a meeting with a working designer, and a “director’s audition” interview with the playwright of the new play. 

Admission to the class is through interview with Richard Corley.  A Sense of Direction will consist of a four hour session each week for eight weeks, and is limited to a total of eight students.  Commitment to work outside the class is a must.   Successful completion of this class qualifies the student for admission to New Directions: Further and Deeper Choices for the Theatre Director, an intermediate directing class to be taught in the fall of 2010.

Award-winning Director Richard Corley has created theatre across America and internationally, including many world premieres.  He has served as Associate Producing Director of New York’s The Acting Company, and most recently as Artistic Director of Madison Repertory Theatre in Wisconsin, and has taught at major training programs including ACT in San Francisco, Brandeis University, NYU, Juilliard, SUNY Purchase, and many others.  He recently moved to Chicago and continues as an Associate Artist of Berkshire Theatre Festival in Massachusetts while directing nationally. 

Limited to 8 Students

Prerequisite: Permission/Interview with the Instruction

8 WEEKS - $495