East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 8-2017 Opal Clark on Directing Stop Kiss An Exploration of the Directorial Process Opal Clark East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Performance Studies Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Recommended Citation Clark, Opal, "Opal Clark on Directing Stop Kiss An Exploration of the Directorial Process" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3286. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3286 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Opal Clark on Directing Stop Kiss An Exploration of the Directorial Process A thesis presented to The faculty of the Department of Performance and Communication East Tennessee State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Professional Communication by Opal Clark August 2017 Mr. Robert Funk, Chair Dr. Wesley Buerkle Ms. Karen Brewster Keywords: Theatre, Directing, Communications, Rhetorical Analysis, Stop Kiss ABSTRACT Opal Clark on Directing Stop Kiss An Exploration of the Directorial Process by Opal Clark The intent of this thesis was to execute a successful run of the play, Stop Kiss by Diana Son while achieving the playwright’s intended message. Opal Clark directed this production of Stop Kiss at East Tennessee State University under arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. It was performed to sold out audiences in ETSU Theatre and Dance Studio 205 October 2-7, 2016. The play explores experiences and hostility toward same sex couples, their relationships with one another and how one individual discovers sexuality. The project was documented through a series of journal entries written by the director. A prompt book was created to document movement and motivation of each character throughout the blocking of the show as a requirement of the department. Additionally, a feminist criticism of the script further explores the portrayal of the plotline. The consequences and implications of dramatic choices within the context of the play are analyzed within this section. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 1. OPAL CLARK ON DIRECTING: RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ............................................................. 8 The Playwright ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 The Play ..................................................................................................................................................................11 Background Information ..................................................................................................................................11 Historical Context, Then and Now ................................................................................................................13 Directorial Analysis and Approach ..............................................................................................................15 Directorial Concept ............................................................................................................................................15 Rehearsal and Production Information ......................................................................................................16 Directorial Play Description and Analysis .................................................................................................19 Scene 1.....................................................................................................................................................................19 Scene 2.....................................................................................................................................................................20 Scene 3.....................................................................................................................................................................20 Scene 4.....................................................................................................................................................................21 Scene 5.....................................................................................................................................................................22 Scene 6.....................................................................................................................................................................22 Scene 7.....................................................................................................................................................................23 Scene 8.....................................................................................................................................................................24 Scene 9.....................................................................................................................................................................25 Scene 10 ..................................................................................................................................................................25 Scene 11 ..................................................................................................................................................................25 Scene 12 ..................................................................................................................................................................26 3 Scene 13 ..................................................................................................................................................................27 Scene 14 ..................................................................................................................................................................27 Scene 15 ..................................................................................................................................................................28 Scene 16 ..................................................................................................................................................................28 Scene 17 ..................................................................................................................................................................29 Scene 18 ..................................................................................................................................................................30 Scene 19 ..................................................................................................................................................................30 Scene 20 ..................................................................................................................................................................31 Scene 21 ..................................................................................................................................................................31 Scene 22 ..................................................................................................................................................................32 Scene 23 ..................................................................................................................................................................32 Directorial Character Description and Analysis......................................................................................32 Callie .........................................................................................................................................................................32 Sara ...........................................................................................................................................................................33 George......................................................................................................................................................................34 Detective Cole .......................................................................................................................................................34 Peter .........................................................................................................................................................................35 Mrs. Winsley ..........................................................................................................................................................35 The Nurse ...............................................................................................................................................................35 Directorial Approach .........................................................................................................................................36