Working As a Director: an Interview with Aaron Posner

Abstract

Perhaps Aaron Posner was born to be a great stage director, or perhaps he achieved his considerable expertise in directing following his education in theatre at Northwestern University, or perhaps, after directing at least twenty-four plays over a span of fifteen years, his greatness was thrust upon him. Whatever the case, and however he got where he is today, Posner has proven himself worthy of the term “great”. His recent production of Twelfth Night (2003) at the Folger Theatre leaves little doubt that he is an accomplished director and that he understands the complexities of directing Shakespeare. In addition to Twelfth Night, he has directed several other Shakespeare plays, including two others at the Folger Theatre, As You Like It (2001) and Othello (2002). The inventory to date also includes three other productions of As You Like It (1989, 1990, 2000) plus Hamlet (1991), The Tempest (1993), The Taming of the Shrew (1995), Henry V (1996), Much Ado About Nothing (1997), and A Midsummer’s Night Dream (1998). The latter production, staged by the Arden Theatre Company, of which Posner is a co-founder as well as resident director, received the Barrymore Award for both Outstanding Director and Outstanding Production of the 1997 – 1998 season. Posner took some time to speak to me about his approach to directing, and, in particular, his experience directing Shakespeare and Twelfth Night.