OCTOBER 24, 1980
Student Director Puts Up With More Than Just Production Difficulties, Glory
One of the finest honors a theatre student can attain is the title of Student Director of the Variety Show. Along with the honor, the director must face an anguish that accompanies the position.
The auditorium is the first test of the director's dedication. The director is constantly being bribed by old friends, people who would now like to be his friend, and former friends who suddenly want to rekindle the old friendship. He also finds that people have a great desire to do favors for him. There are advantages to this type of gimmick, but the director must not let these acts of good will affect casting decisions.
Most directors are friends with the majority of auditioners so the fun starts when you have to tell your best friend that he didn't make the show because so and
The actual directing portion of the job is easy. All you have to do is tell people that have been rehearsing for several hours to "take it again from the top," or tell a close friend what he has to do and how to do it, without him telling you where to go. In other words the student director has to be in charge, but also be a part of the group.
In all seriousness, the one thing that makes it all worth while is that you can bring about dreams. There is no feeling that can compare to the feeling of making a person's dream come true. The director holds the power to grant the wish of someone who has always wanted to be in a big production such as a variety show. The anguish fades into joy as a person has his dream come true through you.