A Director Prepares

One of my favorite books of all time. Whether you're a student or professional theatre practitioner, this one belongs on your shelf. Was the required text for one of my undergrad directing classes, but just picked up this copy for a friend/colleague of mine and he nearly cried when he opened it. I would recommend this book for any artist, as it has encouraging and inspiring insights on creating theatre which could translate to other art forms.

Anne Bogart is such an inspiring practitioner and I find her essays refreshing / they are great to go back to when you are in the middle of a creative process as they can help shine a different light on issues at hand / this is my third copy of the book as I keep giving it away to other artists

The title is misleading since the book is really about the process of making art--specifically making theater--and will be valuable to anyone involved in the collaborative process. Some have complained that this book does not tell one "how to direct." But Bogart's book is about how to find one's voice as an artist and how to wrestle with material--topics that are rarely treated with the sanity that this book does. Reading it will help you figure out how to direct(or act or design) in your own individual way.

Arguably the best book on directing theatre ever written (and possibly one of the best book on creativity). Anne Bogart is incisive and surgical in her use of language and she couples this with an insightful compassion and a red hot passion that makes for delightful reading. Should be required reading for any Directing or Theatre course.

A few other reviews commented that the writing is tangential- I agree, but I like this. I used the book for my graduate thesis research, so it has some qualifiable information and allowed me to associate my own ideas and thoughts and connection of other ideas.

I was locked in from the introduction. Anne Bogart is so poignant that I could see myself in every situation she describes. The points she makes about how to use your given circumstances is inspiring. This is a must read for any artist (but especially theatre artists and directors)!!!

Arrived quickly and in great condition.

Although Anne Bogart's A DIRECTOR PREPARES: SEVEN ESSAYS ON ART AND THEATRE is directly concerned with how a piece of theatre comes into being, it transcends that single category and becomes a meditation on the nature of creativity and how art is made. A fantastic book for writers, dancers, musicians, and visual artists. Highly recommended!

Too expensive

A must read for any practising or aspiring director. Anne’s approach really resonated with me. I’ve since bought this as gifts for other emerging directors.

This book typically costs a lot more, so I was very excited to find it for below 60 dollars! Every single essay has changed my life.

The Chapter headings look intriguing but are misleading - take the one on Violence. Is being decisive really 'violent'? "To be articulate in the face of limitations is where the violence sets in" - an odd definition of violence. Similarly chapter heads of Memory, Eroticism and Terror seem to be tangential to what is discussed within the chapter. The headings seem to have been chosen to titivate not illuminate. There are very good pieces too, especially on Stereotype and Resistance and the chapter on Embarrassment with its ten helpful notions, not must dos nor a list of actions with a guaranteed outcome, does offer points for thoughtful reflection.