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A Case for Joy: The Power of a Director Who Leads with Light
- Christopher Michaels
- May 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 3
Let's just call it like it is: making theatre should be joyful.
Now, I know what you're thinking… "Joyful? But my show is about generational trauma, nuclear war, and a talking raccoon who's a metaphor for capitalism." I hear you. But even the darkest, grittiest, most emotionally harrowing show can (and should!) be made with joy: in the process, in the people, in the puzzle-solving of it all. The power of a director who leads with light can energize an entire process. Joy is infectious! And it shows on stage.
As a director with a background not just in directing, but also producing and general management, I understand theatre from all sides. I know the pressure writers and producers are under. Time, money, personalities, stakes… It's a lot. And the wrong director? Well... they can take even the most beautiful script or score and turn the whole thing into a slow-moving existential crisis. I've seen it happen. You probably have too.
But the right director? Oh… The right director creates an ecosystem of connection, creation, and collaboration where your vision not only survives, it thrives! That's where I come in.
The Power Of A Director Who Leads with Light
I see the director's job as equal parts storyteller, translator, air-traffic controller, and morale officer. Whether I'm helming a new musical, a contemporary play, or a reimagining of a classic, my mission is to bring your story to life efficiently and effectively with passion, and integrity, without losing sight of the people making it all happen.
I lead with light, love, joy, and empathy not because it sounds good on a cover letter or a blog that you subscribe to (and subscribe, you should!), but because holding space for both the artistry and the humanity of the room yields better results. Guiding collaboration not with ego, but with curiosity and care: listening deeply, responding thoughtfully, and making room for every voice, from star performer to swing is key to productivity at every stage in the process.
In meetings, it's about clarity and calm; in rehearsals, it's about creating a space where risk-taking feels safe and supported. Even in high-stress moments (tech week, previews, last-minute changes),a director who leads with light ensures their team stays connected, grounded, and focused on the shared joy of storytelling. That energy radiates. It builds trust, sparks creativity, and ultimately shapes a show that resonates onstage and off.
Collaboration Is My Love Language
My favorite moments in the rehearsal room don't come from perfectly blocked scenes or genius notes (although those are great). They come when a playwright hears their line land exactly as they imagined it. When the choreographer and the music director spontaneously sync up and find something new. When an actor feels safe enough to try something wild. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens when a director fosters trust and mutual respect.
Collaboration is my love language, and few creative partnerships have embodied that truth more fully than my work with intimacy director Nicole Perry. In Island City Stage's production of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story, a dark and emotionally volatile piece, our collaboration was rooted in mutual respect, shared storytelling instincts, and a deep commitment to creating a safe, responsive environment for our actors and giving them the tools and vocabulary to navigate complex scenes with care and confidence. Her work was so seamless and deeply integrated into the emotional fabric of the show, you couldn't tell where my direction ended and hers began.
That, to me, is the gold standard of collaboration: the ability to connect, uplift, and guide a team through vulnerable work with joy, precision, and humanity. True collaboration is not just about shared goals, it's about shared values. And when those values center trust, safety, humor, and artistry? That's when the magic happens.
The Audience Feels the Room We Build
Here's the thing: when there's chaos behind the scenes or tension in the room, that energy leaks out under the stage lights, over the apron, and into the audience. I've seen time and again how the lack of connection among the creative team, cast, and crew translates to lack of connection with the audience.
But the reverse is true too! Audiences can tell when a production is humming with joy and cohesion. They may not know why, but they feel it.
In early 2024, I saw MCC Theatre's production of The Connector, a musical by Jason Robert Brown and Jonathan Marc Sherman that explores ambition, integrity, and the cost of success in the fast-paced world of magazine journalism. Set in the late '90s, it follows a young writer whose rise at a prestigious publication challenges the boundaries between truth and storytelling.
Daisy Prince's direction of The Connector absolutely radiated with the unmistakable energy of collaboration and discovery that made it clear this was a process where artists were empowered to play, explore, and connect. It was so palpable, in fact, that after numbers like "Success" and "The Western Wall", the audience leapt to their feet in seemingly never-ending thunderous ovation. I have never left a theatre so utterly speechless, an absolute mess in tears from what I had just experienced, desperate for the chance to create even a fraction of that joy within my own projects and productions. (Thank you, Daisy Prince!)
Let's Make Something Incredible!
Bottom line: the right director doesn't just get your show on its feet, they elevate it. They protect the process. They build the room where your best work can happen. That's what I do. That's what I love. And I'd love to do it with you.
So if you're a writer looking for someone who will honor your voice while guiding it to the stage... If you're a producer who needs a creative partner who understands budgets, schedules, and the need for a calm head in tech... If you're an artistic director who wants someone who can lead a room, solve problems, and still find time to laugh at 10 p.m. on a Tuesday… I'm your person.
Let's create something unforgettable together!
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