BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS DIRECT:
THE CHALLENGES OF THE THEATRE DIRECTOR

Laura Wayth

DESCRIPTION: A great theatre director once said, “I long for the simplicity of theatre. I want lessons learned, comeuppances delivered, people sorted out, all before your bladder gets distractingly full. That’s what I want.” So true. And if only it were easily done... What exactly do theatre directors DO? What challenges do theatre directors face? What makes a good director? What makes a not-so-good one? In this one-time lecture, we’ll take an in-depth look at what it means to be a director in today’s theatre - we’ll look at some directors, some famous, and some not so famous and will discover that, it is one hard, but very rewarding job! Theatre appreciators of all levels are welcome to attend.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Laura Wayth is Assistant Professor of Acting at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). She has taught acting at the Universities of Miami and Wisconsin – Eau Claire. She has also worked internationally as a teacher and coach in Italy, Morocco, China, and at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. In 2002, she was a Fulbright Fellow in Moscow, where she taught Shakespearean text to the graduate actors of the Moscow Art Theatre American Studio. In 2011–12 she was a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Romania. She received her MFA from the American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University and the Moscow Art Theatre School Institute in Russia.