Directing in Musical Theatre: An Essential Guide

This comprehensive guide, from the author of Acting in Musical Theatre, will equip aspiring directors with all of the skills that they will need in order to guide a production from beginning to end. From the very first conception and collaborations with crew and cast, through rehearsals and technical production all the way to the final performance, Joe Deer covers the full range.

Deer’s accessible and compellingly practical approach uses proven, repeatable methods for addressing all aspects of a production. The focus at every stage is on working with others, using insights from experienced, successful directors to tackle common problems and devise solutions. Each section uses the same structure, to stimulate creative thinking:

• Timetables: detailed instructions on what to do and when, to provide a flexible organization template
• Prompts and Investigations: addressing conceptual questions about style, characterization and design
• Skills Workshops: Exercises and ‘how-to’ guides to essential skills
• Essential Forms and Formats: Including staging notation, script annotation and rehearsal checklists
• Case Studies: Well-known productions show how to apply each chapter’s ideas

Directing in Musical Theatre not only provides all of the essential skills, but explains when and how to put them to use; how to think like a director.

Joe Deer is Distinguished Professor of Musical Theatre and Director of The Musical Theatre Initiative at Wright State University. He has directed off-Broadway, in top regional theatres across the US and at many of the finest educational institutions in the world. His first book, Acting in Musical Theatre: a comprehensive course (co-author, Rocco Dal Vera) is also available from Routledge.