DIRECTING
KCACTF STUDENT DIRECTING INITIATIVE
Attention Student Directors! The KCACTF Region II 2008 Festival provides two rich and unique opportunities for you to further your craft!
#1- Student Directing Institute (SDI ): Open to all undergraduate students who may not have the opportunity to study directing on their home campuses, and who are seeking an introduction to the art and craft of directing. Through a series of three intensive workshops with teams of directing faculty and SSDC directors from Region II, students will explore the essential skills of casting, staging, and the rehearsal process. Students are encouraged to register in advance, but may also sign up during festival registration.
# 2 - Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) Scholarship Competition/National Playwriting Program (NPP) Region II Concert Readings of Regionally Selected Ten-Minute Plays : For graduate and more experienced undergraduate students who have directed at least one fully mounted production on their home campus. Student directors must submit an application with supporting materials in advance. Students in this program will direct an original 10 Minute Play in collaboration with NPP and receive workshops and mentoring during the process as well as feedback on the final product from a team of professional directors and educators during the Festival. The regional winner will go to the national festival in April, 2008 to attend workshops and to directing an NPP play at the national festival. Students must submit an application with all required supporting materials, prior to November 1, in order to be considered for the competition.
Detailed guidelines below
KCACTF Region II Directing Initiative Task Force Janice Pope
******* Jeffrey Lentz
Dr. Gail Humphries Mardirosian
Becky Prophet
Professor of Theatre Alfred University Robin Reese
Amy Saltz
Steven J. Satta
Michael Swanson
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Students with questions or wishing to register in advance for the Student Directing Institute can contact the Directing Programs Coordinator/KCACTF Region II: Janice Pope at jpope@janicepope.com or 610-442-3040
Students may also sign up at the DIRECTING station on registration day, January 2, 2008 at The Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh.SOCIETY OF STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS (SSDC) SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION:
The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) is a national independent labor union representing members throughout the United States and abroad. SSDC has jurisdiction over the employment of directors and choreographers working in theatres representing the full spectrum of union and non-union, commercial and non-profit theatres and touring companies.
Each year, SSDC sponsors a scholarship competition through the Region II Festival that awards a graduate or undergraduate student director unique opportunities for launching a professional career in directing. Applicants should already have experience directing and must have directed at least one fully mounted production, i.e. a production in which designers and technicians collaborated to provide a full range of costumes, lights, sets, sound, etc. in a public performance of the piece.
The winner of the Region II SSDC Scholarship will represent the region at the National Festival in Washington D.C. All expenses for attendance at the National Festival will be paid for the winner. There the Region II winner will direct another short piece under the mentorship of a nationally recognized teacher of directing. The winner of the National Festival will receive a one-year membership in SSDC.
The SSDC Experience at the Region II Festival
Those chosen as SSDC Scholarship Candidates will:
| • | Direct a concert reading of a new 10 minute play chosen from among the finalists for the National Playwriting Program Ten-Minute Play Competition. The playwright will be in attendance and involved in the process. For the purpose of this competition a "concert reading" will be defined as having no sets, props or costumes; staging must be kept to entrances, exits and simple gestures. For example, an actor might raise his imaginary glass in a toast, two characters might embrace briefly but fight scenes will not be staged. |
| • | Cast their play from the talent pool of actors who choose to audition at the Festival, including one actor who will only read stage directions. |
| • | Will be given assigned rehearsal space and specified hours of rehearsal with their cast and a stage manager. |
| • | Will participate in workshops and/or "collaboration tanks" designed to offer new tools or techniques for working with actors and playwrights on new plays. |
| • | Will be mentored by the Coordinators of the SSDC Scholarship Competition |
Selection of SSDC Scholarship Region II Winner
The winner of the KCACTF Region II SSDC Scholarship competition will be decided by a panel of three professionals who have attended a preview readings of the plays. Each candidate will have an individual interview with the panel consisting of discussion of the ten minute play performance and rehearsal process, review of the candidate's submitted production book based on a fully mounted production they directed at their home school (as outlined in the application procedure below), and other questions to be posed by members of the panel.
SSDC Application Process
Selection from among the regional pool of applicants will be limited to six candidates chosen from among graduate and undergraduate applicants with sufficient training and experience to merit the opportunity. A regional selection committee of persons without professional or personal relationship to the applicants will make the selections. A complete application consists of:
1 - Letter of intent explaining why you want to be a director and how you think the KCACTF/SSDC Scholarship Competition experience will benefit you in your studies and your career
2 - Statement of intent to attend the entire Region II Festival held in Pittsburgh, PA at Carnegie Mellon University from January 2-6, 2008, attending the requisite meetings, auditions and workshops throughout the week.
3 ñ Letter of support detailing your accomplishments and potential as a director from a faculty member at your home institution and department. Letters from artistic directors or other theater professionals are welcome IN ADDITION to a letter from a faculty member. No more than three letters total, please.
4 - A resume that focuses on your training and experience in directing
5 - A few pages (2 or 3) of supporting materials from a fully mounted production, i.e. copies of photos, design sketches, program notes, etc. These cannot be returned to you so please send copies.6 - a completed application form
Please Note: Those chosen to compete must present a production book comprised of materials from a fully mounted production which the candidate directed. The book should include visual materials (design sketches, production photos) and critical materials (program notes, dramaturgical analysis, reviews etc.) from this production as well as your working script for the production with your notes, edits, etc. You will present your book as part of the final panel interview which will lead to selection of the regional winner (as described above). Failure to provide the required production book upon arrival at the Festival will result in disqualification from the competition.
7 - Application materials must be postmarked no later than NOVEMBER 1, 2007. Electronic submissions are preferred. However if your attachments don't open we cannot declare the submission received. Leave enough time to make sure email submissions are successfully received by the deadline. Don't wait until 11:58 pm on the deadline day!SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETE SSDC APPLICATION TO
Janice Pope
Directing Programs Coordinator/KCACTF Region II
Member SSDC
jpope@janicepope.com
Any questions about the application process may be directed to the email address listed above.
Important Reminder: Application materials must be submitted electronically or postmarked no later than NOVEMBER 1, 2007. Electronic submissions are preferred, and a confirmation of receipt of your application will be provided. Please do not assume your application has been received and accepted unless you receive electronic confirmation. Note that if your attachments do not open we cannot declare the submission received. Leave enough time to make sure email submissions are successfully received by the deadline.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE FESTIVAL!!