16 Things I Learned About Being a Director From Charlie Brown

In the classic Christmas show A Charlie Brown Christmas, our pre-maturely bald protagonist is tasked with leading a group of his peers through their annual Christmas Play. Very rarely are theatrical directors shown in media, especially for children, so I am quite happy with a representation of my work shown to millions of kids every year. I feel like maybe a young version of myself related to Charlie Brown and this actually was the driving force behind my eventual career choice. Who knows? So here are some of the lessons that I learned about directing from Charlie Brown

1. It’s good to get involvement

As a director, you’re on the outside of many different social circles. You don’t have the technical knowledge to hang with designers and aren’t hot enough to hang with actors. So whenever you get the opportunity to work on a show, be excited, that means someone knows what you do

2. First rehearsal speeches are important

The first rehearsal speech is where you set your expectations for the process, how you conduct yourself lets the actors know what the rehearsals are going to be like. So have a speech prepared and don’t be afraid to read from a script. You probably shouldn’t end yours with a call-and-response, the actors already have enough words to memorize. 

3. Simple directions are best

Keeping things simple is the best way to get your idea across, I know, I know, you’re smart and got a BFA and everything but you don’t need to have a 3-minute metaphor so the actor emphasizes the right word. Pantomiming off-stage can feel right, but you aren’t Bernstein so keep the conducting to a minimum. 

4. Sometimes your actors need to let loose

Breaks are essential, it lets the actors know you’re a human being who needs to piss as much as everyone else does. Sometimes going on tangents is also good, that way you can pretend that you have friends to talk about movies or whatever instead of captives who are contractually obligated to be at a 4-hour rehearsal. I’d limit my full-on dance parties to 1 a week though.

5. Rely on your assistants

Assistants are one of the greatest gifts that god gave to directors. (DID YOU HEAR THAT RACHEL CHAVKIN, PLEASE PLEASE HIRE ME) If you want to end with a good relationship you probably shouldn’t follow Charlie Brown’s lead. It is a pretty bad idea to call them “script girl”. It’s a very easy way to lose the respect of a room. 

6. Dogs in rehearsal are hit-or-miss

Most everyone loves dogs. They’re great. However, if they are poorly behaved, they can throw off a rehearsal. Barking, pooping, interrupting the scene, mocking your assistant behind her back, and then jumping on her head and then licking her, dancing on a piano, playing the bass, etc. can disrupt all the momentum you’ve worked so hard to build.

7. Always find creative solutions to actor disagreements

When Frieda hates being paired up with Pig Pen because he is disgusting (which I don’t blame her for, yeah she’s vain and all that but this kid produces clouds of dust, literal billowing clouds of dust, every time he moves or breathes), Charlie Brown uses the powers of imagination to solve the problem by imagining they are treading through dust that Solomon walked on. World-building is fun for actors, it makes them feel more immersed (most of them won’t admit it but they are just DnD nerds with egos). 

8. Don’t encourage showmances

Charlie pairs his younger sister Sally with his best friend Linus for the Christmas Play. One of Sally’s main personality traits is having a crush on Linus, so Charlie really should’ve known better. Showmances are messy messy affairs that often start gross for the other cast and crew, and end fiery and dramatic and ruin the experience for everyone else. As a director do the most to prevent showmances wherever possible. 

9. Don’t call your actresses beautiful

This one Charlie actually gets right! Lucy asks Charlie if he thinks she is beautiful, which is a tough spot to be put in. There is no good answer to this question: if you say no, then your actress feels bad and you’ve hurt her self-esteem, if you say yes, then you run the risk of sending the wrong signals and making everyone uncomfortable (see number 8 showmances). The best thing to do is sit silently staring at them with wide unblinking eyes until they have made up an answer for themselves. 

10. It’s ok to not know

Charlie Brown admits to everyone that he doesn’t know the next steps that should be taken in the show. And I think that that is perfectly fine to do. So many directors claim to know what is or isn’t happening and then when it comes down to it they look foolish by dropping the ball at the finish line. It is ok to admit your lack of knowledge or what the next step should be, you just have to be willing to figure out a new plan on the spot. 

11. The right prop can make a show

Charlie Brown gives a large break to the cast as he and Linus go in search of a Christmas tree prop for the show. (Side note: I thought that the hard aluminum Christmas trees were a real thing until like 3-4 years ago). Finding a prop or set piece that exemplifies the show can activate the actors and immerse the audience in a production. Not to toot my own horn too much but I made sure that my actors could cook s’mores live on stage for a show and it made the whole thing so much better. I also liked smelling them cook the s’mores during the show.

12. Find good musicians

If only I were lucky enough to know a musician as talented as Schroeder. He can make his toy piano sound like a jazz trio, a grand piano, and an organ. Good musicians can make a good show a great one. Live music is one of the greatest gifts we can give to each other. Get good ones, pay them well, and don’t pretend to know more than them (cough cough Lucy).

13. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

It takes Charlie Brown nearly a whole rehearsal before he asks a good question. At his lowest, he asks “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Linus like the dork he is quotes the Bible. But in doing so comes closest to finding what the true meaning of Christmas is, embracing love and something about some kid being born somewhere. All of this came because Charlie wasn’t afraid to ask questions. A director should come from a place of curiosity and asking questions is the most important thing a director can do. 

14. Keep a positive attitude

Even when your friends say you’re a blockhead and that you ruin everything, it is important to maintain a positive attitude. If you are visibly upset then it makes everyone on the team super uncomfortable and makes them upset and then you’re all like “What’s wrong with these actors?” and that makes you more upset, and then they get upset cuz you’re upset, which makes you more upset and that makes… I think you get the picture. 

15. With a team of people, so much more is possible

Collaboration is the key to a director’s job. (Unless you’re mounting a one-person show and the only lights needed are the house lights). Otherwise, you need to learn to work with other people. With a team, you can take a beat-up single-stem Christmas tree and turn it into a full tree covered in ornament and popcorn.

16. It’s ok to let go

I have been told many times to “hold on tightly, let go lightly”. Sometimes your ideas aren’t all they’re chalked up to be and you need to let go. It isn’t easy but it is one of the most important things I’ve learned in my years of directing. Charlie Brown learns that Christmas isn’t all about commercialism or doing a Christmas play, but it’s about spending time with those around you and enjoying the community of others. He gives up on the show but gets so much more instead. So go out and direct a play if you want, or just go spend some time with someone who matters.