Includes bibliographical references and index.

Why the director? -- What is a play? Analysis and improvisation -- The foundation and façade of the playscript: given circumstances and dialogue -- The core of the playscript: dramatic action and characters -- Idea and rhythm-mood beats -- The director's preparation -- Directing is working with actors: 1 -- Learning to see: the games of visual perception -- Helping actors communicate through groundplans -- Composition: helping actors discover and project basic relationships -- Helping each actor intensify: gesture and improvisation with properties -- Picturization: helping a group intensify -- The dynamic tool of movement -- Coordinating the blocking tools in director-actor communication -- Helping actors "speak" a play -- Directing is working with actors: 2 -- The director's responsibility for working effectively with design -- The director and the stage machine: symbolization and synthesis -- Director's options: choice of the stage -- Director's options: scenery, properties, and lighting -- Director's options: costume, makeup, and sound -- Responsibility to audiences -- Style is individual expression -- Style in playwriting and playwrights -- The director's analysis of style in a playscript -- Style in production: making decisions -- Style in production: modern plays -- Style in production: new plays -- Style in production: plays of past ages -- Preparing to be a collaborator in the design process -- Directing is working with designers.

Play Directing describes the various roles a director plays, from selection and analysis of the play, to working with actors and designers to bring the production to life.