Silently, the actors wait for their notes. Seniors Mason Jacob and Cheyenne Wang open their notes document and prepare to give their feedback. As assistant directors (ADs), their thoughts and suggestions are an integral part of the show’s development process. While not every theatre program has assistant directors, they’re essential to the Westwood Theatre productions.
ADs function as the backbone of every show, ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. They act as another authority figure that actors and technicians can go to when they have questions, and help the director with any miscellaneous tasks they might need.
“When we’re first starting off the show, we help with casting, [which is] deciding who’s on the show and [in] which roles,” Jacob said. “Then we help with staging the show [and] deciding where actors go, and then later on in the process we focus on just logistics and motion, just like really nitpicking what the actors and tech do.”
Directing offers those interested a way to be very involved in each show while staying offstage. Both Wang and Jacob were independently offered the opportunity to direct, and stayed with the path.
“Over COVID, I found that I had a passion for film and cinema and movie-making,” Wang said, “In my junior year I thought it would sort of expand my horizons to try out being an assistant director on a show.”
While directing is a passion, it isn’t always easy. Because the job isn’t well defined, ADs run the risk of sometimes overstepping their boundaries, or being unsure of where they can be the most useful, leading to confusion.
“Ultimately what we’re there for is to assist the directors in everything that they need and everything that they want to do to carry out their vision,” Wang said. “It can get hard at times, but we have each other to talk to and we can compromise.”
Though being an assistant director can be difficult, it’s also incredibly rewarding in ways that extend beyond the production aspects of the show. ADs are able to be someone the actors and technicians can come to, and help foster a friendly and welcoming theatre community.
“I enjoy being there as somebody that the actors and the crew can come to, whether that be for actual help of just like to be a friend.” Wang said. “But I also think, like what Mason said, seeing our notes come to life on the stage, and then also knowing that we took part in such a production [is] always really rewarding to see.”
In addition to being active in the theatre department, Wang and Jacob’s directorial passions also extend to film. Both are currently making the most out of their experience in the Audio/Visual (A/V) class at Westwood, and plan to pursue film in the future.
“We’re both going on to study film in college. I’m pretty clear on my path that I want to be a film director,” Wang said.
As Wang and Jacob prepare for their futures beyond Westwood, both will leave a lasting impression and an impressive legacy on Westwood Theatre.
“I think that’s one thing that we as a school specifically excel at, [is] giving people opportunities and letting people into the community,” Jacob said. “I think that’s the most important thing. I don’t know if that exists in other places, so that’s what I’ll miss.”
