Women Stage Directors Speak

Rebecca Daniels was one of the founding members of the Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Oregon. She is currently an associate professor in the department of Performance and Communication Arts at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.

“extensive and scholarly...recommended as an excellent and valuable addition to theater and women’s studies collections”—Library Journal; “the directors are well chosen for their ability to examine their experiences in the theater. Recommended for all academic and professional libraries”—Choice; “quite thorough...fascinating and informative”—Theatre Journal.

• Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS     PREFACE     The Study, Its Significance, and the Methods Used      PART ONE —INTRODUCTION      1: A Brief History of the Directorial Function, Theories, and Processes      Directing Theory      Qualities of a Good Director      Practical Elements of the Directing Process      Communication in Directing      A Director Plays Many Roles      2: The Women Interviewed and Their Perceptions of Gender Differences      A Brief Introduction to the Directors      Positions on Gender Differences      3: Gender Means Everything and Nothing     Resisting Definition as a Woman Director      Thinking About Gender When Working      Ignoring Gender      No Easy Answers      PART TWO—LEADERSHIP ISSUES FOR WOMEN DIRECTORS      4: Leadership Qualities in a Good Director      The Importance of Good Leadership      The Power of the Director      Reception of Women in Positions of Authority      5: Problems with Power      Resistance to Women in Authority      Issues of Behavior      Internal Resistance and Self-Doubt      PART THREE—COLLABORATION ISSUES FOR WOMEN DIRECTORS      6: Collaborative Qualities in a Good Director      The Importance of Successful Collaboration      Social Conditioning and Collaboration      A Different Approach to Collaboration      Possible Negatives in Collaboration      7: Women’s Ways of Collaborating      Sensitivity to Feelings and Emotions      Creating an Environment of Trust and Intimacy      Nurturance      Use of Instinct and Intuition      Finding a Balance      PART FOUR—PRACTICAL ELEMENTS OF THE DIRECTING PROCESS      8: Issues in Script Selection and Interpretation      Factors in the Script Selection Process      Themes Related to Women and Gender      An Awareness of Women’s Issues      Other Influences on Script Selection      Overcoming Perceived Limitations      9: Working with Actors      Casting Issues      Character Development Issues      10: Technical and Spatial Issues Influenced by Gender      Technical Considerations      Use of Space      11: Economic and Career Considerations      Family Demands      Career Development      CONCLUSION      APPENDIX A: SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE DIRECTORS' ARTISTIC IDENTITY AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT      APPENDIX B: THEATRICAL BIOGRAPHIES OF THE DIRECTORS      NOTES      BIBLIOGRAPHY      INDEX