The Risks and Rewards of NuWurks
“Here is the inside scoop on what it’s like being a director in 2019’s Nu Wurks IV.”
Nu Wurks IV is an exclusive opportunity for seniors who’ve been devoted theatre kids to direct a one-act play. It’s held every other year, and the plays used are penned by JCHS alumni. Here is the inside scoop on what it's like being a director in 2019’s Nu Wurks IV, straight from the mouths of our fellow students.
Directing a show is different and much more complex than acting in one. “As a director, it's been incredibly hard keeping every piece of the show together,” says senior Ben Robinow. He adds that one such piece that can be troubling is making sure his actors follow stage directions and remember their lines. “Something that has been particularly hard as a student director has been directing my peers,” he goes on to say, “But the mutual respect shared by every member of the company makes the whole process possible.” From an actor’s point of view, “Having personal friends as directors has been a really interesting experience. It has been cool to see them take on these leadership roles and put so much effort into this production” according to Sophomore, Levi Eig. For our directors, taking control of a show is a new experience and a change in perspective from acting. Senior Marty Cohen said that he “loved directing and really appreciated the opportunity and would definitely want to direct again at some point.”
Even though directing and acting can fall under the same realm, they are both very different and require different things. Robinow feels that for him, ”Directing requires something different from acting, acting is definitely something I love, but getting to have a vision for this play and watching that vision come to life has been really special. I wouldn't trade it for anything”. For Cohen, the experience was about learning how to step up to the job of being in control. He found that “one of the most difficult, and yet most rewarding, aspects of directing was trying to direct my peers,” adding that he developed a sense of “knowing when to step up and be the leader.”
Sophomore actress Simona Lewis cited the level of trust that is created in working with peers: “even though the directors are superior, we’re all students, which creates a really fun dynamic.” Being a director has also given seniors a newfound appreciation for and understanding of all the hard work that goes into planning and directing a show, as well as the accomplishments of their actors. Cohen says, “In all, I've loved being a director and watching my actors grow over these past few months and I'm so immensely proud of them.”
For anyone considering directing a show in the future, our current student directors offer a few tips and insights. One of Ben’s biggest tips is “to take risks as a director. Don't be afraid to make big decisions and go far with your vision.” Of course, taking risks will not always be successful. Ben continues, “Occasionally, something fails, and you have to take a few steps back—but you always end up learning.” New directors should also be aware of the power of good communication and good organization. Marty recommends communicating with everyone as frequently as you can, “including your actors, stage manager, tech and all the adults involved in the production.”
Ultimately, the idea behind Nu Wurks IV is the value of taking on new challenges. Sure, there may be risks, forgotten lines, and miscommunication, but the reward is often worth it. We can relate this directing experience to our everyday lives: whenever a chance is offered to step up or take on a new position, we should jump at the opportunity—and give it our all.
