This course focuses on the art-science and philosophy of stage direction. Students will read a brief history of its development and about major twentieth-century directors as well as plays by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov (1860-1904). Specific areas to be studied are script analysis of Chekhov's plays, composition, working with actors, and organizing a production. Students learn directing and acting terminology and how to apply it to scene work in rehearsals. In addition, students work with actors on their scenes, focusing and combining different skills, including the understanding of space, movement, and text. The class will present scenes from Chekhov's plays at the end of the semester. This course is one of the required foundational courses for Theater majors and minors.