From its inception, the direction of The Fantasticks has been a fascinating and wonderful educational experience. When I first submitted my proposal to do the show, I had not intended for it to be my problem in lieu of a thesis, but rather a beginning directing project. I had no idea that the submission would meet with such opposition. I figured this was a lesson in "real life," for it is a widely recognized fact that getting a show produced requires much salesmanship and determination. When informed that I would be able to use this production for my master's thesis project, I was both delighted and frightened. After all, I had never directed a show before; and I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into. In addition, I would be going about this project backwards. Usually, when such a project is contemplated, the thesis research is done first; and the direction of the show done after the completion of the written work. Although I did do my homework before directing The Fantasticks; because of time constraints, I was unable to delve as deeply into the subject as I would have liked. I have often stated that this, in some ways, was probably a blessing in disguise. If I had really known what I was about to embark upon, I might have been too intimidated to tackle it. I learned how important it is to surround yourself with a staff of good, trustworthy people. I learned how important organizational skills are; and, most importantly, I learned to respect the hard work and dedication it takes to be a director - as well as all of the other creative and administrative positions involved in the theatre. Heretofore, I had only looked at the process through the eyes of a performer.
