Directing Research Sheet

Use the following as a way to categorize and organize your research. Refer to the Director’s
Matrix explanation (Figure 4.2) in Chapter 4 if necessary. This worksheet is just a way to list
your research materials. You should have your actual research catalogued in their own files.
Use this sheet as a type of annotated bibliography that lists the source and a brief description of
how it was useful to you. Depending on your script, you may not use each section for each
category. Examples are provided where needed as a reference in italics.

The World of the Playwright

TOPIC SOURCE (location) USE

Era www.thisisonlyanexample.com This website provided a look inside

Playwright X’s world. It was great for
general knowledge.

Political Climate https://slate.com/news-and- Everyone hates Mark Foley and

politics/2006/12/the-five-best- George Bush is president.
political-moments-of-2006.html

Social Climate https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/re Minimum wage hits 5.15 an hour.

search-and- Eight states vote to ban gay
analysis/blogs/stateline/2006/09 marriage.
/14/2006-is-year-of-surpluses-
social-issues

Religious Climate https://www.pewforum.org/2006 Republicans appeal to non-

/12/01/religion-and-the-2006- Christians to fill the ‘God Gap’.
elections/
Cultural Climate http://www.thepeoplehistory.co Nintendo released the Wii console!
m/2006.html

Architectural Style https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5 House built in 1995. Similar to

13973376197730939/ popular home architecture modern
day.

Fashion https://www.whowhatwear.com/ Can you say ‘denim’?Also take an

top-fashion-items-2006 accessory that isn’t a leather jacket
and super-size it.

Miscellaneous Anything else you find relevant.

The World of the Play

TOPIC SOURCE (location) USE

Era https://www.history.com/news/1 Defined as “The Good Era” due to

990s-the-good-decade relative peacefulness. Must have
been nice.
Political Climate https://www.belfercenter.org/sit US tense political climate – fear of
es/default/files/legacy/files/Iran war and overseas conflicts.
%20Sanctions.pdf Otherwise, peaceful. Soviet Union
recently fell.

Social Climate https://www.britannica.com/eve 1995 African American man march

nt/Million-Man-March to promote African American unity
and family values.

Religious Climate

Cultural Climate https://www.vogue.com/article/p POGS WERE STARTED IN 1995?!

op-culture-1995

Architectural Style https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5 House built in 1995. Similar to

13973376197730939/ popular home architecture modern
 day.

Fashion https://www.businessinsider.co “Menswear hit an all time low in

m/100-years-of-american- 1995” sums it up pretty well.
mens-fashion-in-pictures-2015-
7#menswear-reached-an-all-
time-low-in-1995-poor-fitting-
denim-jeans-and-puka-shell-
necklaces-ran-rampant-9

Miscellaneous

Production History
DATE/LOCATION REVIEW/FEATURE/INTERVIEW USE

Peter Jay Sharp Theatre https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/ A good review of the

09/theater/reviews/09blue.html production and a useful critic
of the play.
 The Now
TOPIC SOURCE (location)
Era
Political Climate https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/2
7/politics/bernie-sanders-
sweatshirt-meme-fundraising-
total-trnd/index.html
Social Climate https://www.washingtonpost.co
m/magazine/2021/01/14/insurre
ction-warning-signs/?
arc404=true
USE
Everyone’s glad the Cheeto is gone,
even though we’re not too happy to
have Biden either. Bernie becomes
the star of the inauguration looking
like he just stopped by and being a
social distancing king, Things are
very tense between the two parties
following riots in D.C.
There isn’t one. Everyone is in
quarantine, so most social events
come to a standstill. Everyone is in
unrest after riot at the Capitol.
Religious Climate https://lifewayresearch.com/202
1/02/03/the-vanishing-bible-belt-
the-secrets-southern-churches-
must-learn-to-stay-healthy/
Cultural Climate https://www.rollingstone.com/cul
ture-council/panels/trends-
leaders-predict-culture-space-
2021-1087981/
Architectural Style https://newdecortrends.com/ne
w-architecture-trends-for-2020-
and-2021/
Fashion
The Bible Belt is the most religious
its ever been, but that is starting to
decline as more young adults
become ‘post-Christians’.
Everywhere else in the country is
becoming less religious overall,
startling evangelists.
We aren’t that far into 2021 yet, so
it’s hard to say what the upcoming
trends will be, but here are some
predictions.
Emphasis on minimalism, with a lot
of windows.
Miscellaneous https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/202 Strong racial tensions permeate
0%E2%80%932021_United_St society, rolling over from 2020.
ates_racial_unrest

My Production (if necessary)

ITEM RESEARCHED USE