The role of director at TRP is different from other community theaters. In order to supportively hold a space where many participants can learn and grow and try new things, the director must have a depth and breadth of experience. TRP does not have an Artistic Director: each director essentially serves as the Artistic Director for their own production. Directors who are in our Directing Pool tend to have around 10 years of professional (paid) directing experience in a variety of venues. They have usually worked in a variety of styles and genres. Many of them have MFAs in directing, or other advanced degrees. We do not discourage anyone from submitting (we are so delighted to get to know you!) but we want to set appropriate expectations for the result of your submission.
If this doesn’t (yet!) match your experience, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Toni Solie and let her know that you are interested in learning more about volunteering as an assistant stage manager, or an assistant director, or one of the many other roles that are available for folks at all levels of experience. There are many paths into community relationship with TRP, and we are excited to invite you in!
Made up of 10+ various members of the TRP community, the Season Planning Committee reads and considers plays for production at TRP. Season Planning committee members have a variety of skills and experience, and together they choose the plays, the arc of the season, and the directors. Interested in joining Season Planning? Contact Larisa Netterlund, Executive Director. Please note: members of Season Planning are not eligible to direct in the seasons that they plan!
Rather than seeking individual directors for individual directing projects, TRP invites folks who are a good fit for the theater’s current and future needs to join the “Pool” of directors. This invitation is based on skill, experience, aligned values, and the overall “mix” of skills and lived experience in the current pool. Our Director’s Pipeline committee evaluates submissions, meets with potential directors, views the (elsewhere) produced work of potential directors, and recommends invitation into the Pool.
Once you are part of the POOL, you will annually receive an emailed invitation to respond to a “short list” of titles under consideration by our Season Planning Committee. You will be asked to rank the top 3 choices you would be interested in directing and write a brief concept proposal (think elevator pitch – not dissertation) for each of your choices. (You may also defer, if you aren’t available or interested in any of that year’s scripts. You will not lose your spot in the POOL by doing so.)
We have more directors in the POOL than shows in the season. Our Season Planning committee looks at all POOL directors who respond and makes final determinations of what TRP will produce in the season and who will be asked to direct each piece. They consider scope of each play (complexity of design, size of cast); the overall flow of the season experience for the audience; availability of specific directors to work on specific scripts in specific slots; rhythms of organizational capacity; etc. The Season Planning committee makes its final Season recommendation to the Board of Directors, who approve the season and authorize staff to initiate contracts with artists.
