Directorial Experience

The Trojan Women, Assistant Director

I Assistant Directed the 2025 production of The Trojan Women. I started before auditions, researching the show, the history behind it, the style it is written in, and talking to the director and adapting playwright about their goals and ideas for the production. I sat in on the audition process with the adapting playwright and director, learning more about where to be looking and what to look for in a monologue delivery, movement call, and callbacks. 

I was on several different crews as a crew member, but also helping my fellow designers, including helping edit dramaturgical work extensively, collaborating notes with stage management, working for the costume designer wherever needed, and helping set and props crews - as well as my own designs. 

During the rehearsal process I sat with the adapting playwright and the director to learn how rehearsals were to be run, what was expected for each scene, and later pulled small groups to run rehearsals and helped actors with choreography and intention. I was worked with the Chorus a lot on their repetition and synchronized delivery, as most of their lines were delivered in unison. 

I learned how to take notes on the fly while observing everything in front of me, take feedback while giving feedback, how to give feedback, and when and where individual things were necessary, especially when working with young actors and trying not to overwhelm them. I took independent notes and was tested on my own ideas as well as taking notes for the director.

This was my second time Assistant Directing, and I had directed earlier that year, but when I applied I believed so strongly that I had more still to learn, and I was right. I wanted to absorb all the knowledge available to me when I applied and I am beyond grateful I did.

Something Rotten!, Assistant Director

I Assistant Directed the 2024 production of Something Rotten! at Lake Braddock Secondary School. I started before just auditions, learning what it meant to be an Assistant Director, what early show production looks like, how musicals run from the directors chair, and the staff I with whom I would be working. I learned to work with a Music Director and a Choreographer and help her wherever needed as well. This was where I learned foundations for directing and working with large casts, as well as leading small groups independently. 

During rehearsals I sat with the Director and Music Director and ran the music tracks, as well as taking pages of notes per rehearsal dictated by the staff members. I was in charge of helping small groups and specific scenes with running dialogue, helping any technical crews with whatever might be needed, repairing fog machines, and taking in the large scope that is directing - especially a musical with all of its complexities.