4-Day Directing Practical Workshop
Learn:
• how to analyze a script
• how to talk to actors
• how to stage movement
• how to run rehearsals
• how to choose a play
Goal: By the end, each participant directs a short scene and understands how to choose a first play and run rehearsals.
Topics:
- how to prepare your first production
- working with designers
- creating rehearsal schedules
- avoiding first-time director mistakes
Each participant creates a simple directing plan:
- a play they might direct
- their rehearsal approach
- production challenges
Requirements:
Each participant is required to secure two to three actors to participate in the scene of their choice.
Jim’s Bio
Jim Phetterplace Jr. has a bachelor’s in Acting & Directing for the Stage. In Frankfurt, he has directed Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good (2016), Joe Orton’s Loot (2018), Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (2024) and Will Eno’s The Realistic Joneses (2025) for FEST, Aristophanes’ Lysistrata (a musical adaptation, 2025) for Shakespeare Frankfurt, and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (2020) for the ECB Theatre Ensemble.
Logistics:
July 18, Saturday, 10:00-17:00 at Saalbau Gallus (Raum Rebstock)
July 25, Saturday, 10:00-17:00 at Saalbau Gallus (Raum Hellerhof)
August 1, Saturday, 10:00-17:00 at Saalbau Gallus (Raum Hellerhof)
August 8, Saturday, 10:00-17:00 at Kulturhaus (Pfingstweidstr. 2, 60316 Frankfurt )
Cost:
€240 for FEST members (on sale now)
€295 for non-members (sale opens on June 8, 2026)
We require a minimum of six (6) participants and can accommodate a maximum of eight (8). Secure your place by transferring the course fee to:
Frankfurt English Speaking Theatre e.V.
IBAN: DE66 5005 0201 0200 3264 57
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Learn:• how to analyze a script• how to talk to actors• how to stage movement• how to run rehearsals• how to choose a play Goal: By the end, each participant directs a short scene and understands how to choose a first play and run rehearsals. Topics: Each participant creates a simple directing plan: Requirements: Each […]READ MOREAudition Dates: May 16, 9:30-12:30 at Saalbau Gallus, Raum Hellerhof May 19, 6:30-9:30 at a Frankfurt West End office, details will be provided once you sign up We may have Callbacks on May 21 from 6:30 at Saalbau Gallus, Wilhelm Derlam-Raum. Performance Dates: 18-20, 25-27 September at Kulturhaus Frankfurt. About the play: Meet Nora and […]READ MOREActing Workshop Series: 7 Steps to Heaven (from Dr. Jerry Crawford’s book “Acting in Person and in Style” This is a mid-level/advanced course. designed to be a set of tools in an actor’s toolbox. The 7 steps will take you from the VERY BEGINNING, when the actors see the script for the first time, all […]READ MOREDirector: Jeff Book About the play: Lost in the fog, a stranger seeks refuge in a nearby house only to find a man shot dead and his wife standing over him with a smoking gun. But the woman’s dazed confession is anything but convincing and the unexpected guest decides to help. Remarkably, the police clues […]READ MOREJoin us this September for our Evening of One-Acts, chillingly titled People Like Us Don’t Kill — an unforgettable night of drama, wit, and just a touch of menace. The line-up:☎ SORRY, WRONG NUMBERDirected by Jeff BookAssisted by Jayashiree Elango Listen in as the plot of this gripping thriller unravels entirely over the phone. By […]READ MOREFrankfurt English Speaking Theatre e.V. invites you to audition for our upcoming November production, with performances scheduled on the 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd. We are currently considering: Arthur Miller’s gripping classic A View From The Bridge, a powerful drama of passion and betrayal. Audition information:When: Wednesday July 30 and Thursday July 31 from […]READ MOREWe are happy to announce the line-up for our Evening of One Acts, set to take place on 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 September. Get ready for an evening of suspense and psychological tension as FEST brings four distinct one-act plays to the stage this September. Each piece brings something unique — and now, […]READ MOREFollowing a sold-out, much raved about workshop last year, Matthew Corozine is returning to FEST Academy in July with part two of his Masterclass. In this second workshop, Matthew will build on the foundation of the first session by guiding particpants into more nuanced emotional expression and self-development. With his uncanny insight and inspiring self-experience, […]READ MOREAfter much deliberation, FEST is proud to announce the cast of our May production: We would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who came out to audition for The Realistic Joneses! We saw a lot of great talents and electric chemistry, and hope that you will audition again for our next productions […]READ MOREThis May, FEST will present the multiple award-winning poignant comedy by Will Eno: The Realistic Joneses, to be directed by Jim Phetterplace Jr. Two suburban couples, both named Jones, struggle to connect, to protect and to answer existential questions in the face of a life-threatening diagnosis. The play gives us an “inside look at the […]READ MOREDeveloping the physical qualities and attributes of a character for stage or film performance is a fundamental skill actors need to master. When an actor takes on a role, there is a responsibility to create a character which is credible in several dimensions – psychologically, socially and physically. The “Building Character Physicality” workshop will help […]