THE DECISION

 

Selecting a play for your students to perform is one of the most important steps in the process of staging a school production. You need to make sure that it will appeal firstly to you as a director, then secondly to your students and then thirdly to your audience. Sometimes school theatre directors base their decisions on what an audience would enjoy. However it is essential that you as the director are captivated by the script, as if you are not, your students will guage your un-enthused approach and this will transpire onto the stage. Some pointers to help you achieve this:

 

  • Narrow down your choices. Select a specific genre of play, such as tragedy or comedy.
  • Check with your administration to determine whether you need their approval.
  • Research plays you may have an interest in producing by talking to others who have completed performances.
  • Check to ensure the vocabulary and subject matter is age appropriate.
  • Consider the rights of production to plays. Many of the newer plays are copyrighted and their authors may require a fee if you plan to produce them. While few playwrights will be concerned by an unlicensed school production, you should still make the effort to license a play correctly.
  • A trip to the drama section at your local library fun or checkout TYC links
  • Plays written before 1923 are in the public domain.