The Playwright's Production Team

THE PLAYWRITING SEMINARS > BUSINESS > PRODUCTION >

'. . . I would like to write a piece about the influence, its dangers and its values, of a powerful and highly imaginative director upon the development of a play, before and during production. It does have dangers, but it has them only if the playwright is excessively malleable or submissive, or the director is excessively insistent on ideas or interpretations . . ..'

-- Tennessee Williams

But use some common sense.

The play you've put on paper may only be a shadow of the one in your head.

The folks you'll be involved with usually know this business from years of experience, so their suggestions may be worth trying. And they do have the ultimate brick to bang on your head: if you're overly stubborn, they can just decide not to do your play.

In addition to the performers, here's the crowd you'll be living with . . .

• Designers

• Director

• Literary Manager

• Stage Manager
  Handles all the production logistics and represents the Director once the show opens. May read the stage directions in your first Readings. Your life is in this person's hands -- if you've got to be a grump, do it with somebody else.