What I liked
The hands-on rehearsal portion was the most helpful, as we could watch Matt work and try out our own approaches. Overall, the best part of the workshop was Matt himself. He told us to enter the theater with a positive, collaborative energy and our cast would pick up on the vibe. That’s exactly what he brought to class.
What I didn't like
I could have spent double the time with Matt, but the three hours were enough to get a good sense. I would also have liked to have some actors on-hand, but my fellow students proved more than up to the task.
My overall impression
A thorough and thoroughly helpful crash course on directing. Matt Ritchey brought a wealth of experience and a conversational tone to the workshop, making it informative without ever bogging down in detail. The introduction and Q&A portions were great, but the second half, where we co-directed our scenes with Matt, was exactly what I needed. Matt gave us the technical language to direct on stage, coached us on techniques to keep a positive cast/crew, and showed us how to creatively approach blocking. All in all, I would recommend this class to anyone who needs a introduction, or a refresher, to directing theater.
