Is the United Stage some sort of commune designed to return the production of Theatre to the people who pay for plays?
Hardly.
The United Stage's purpose is to force playwrights into taking responsibility for the entire vision of their plays by demanding they direct what they write in the initial production of their work.
Good Playwrights see the play in their minds already... they set the lights... colors... sets... sounds and actors all within the pages of their scripts.
The difficult part of that process is that it only begins once the play is written.
To completely realize the play, the Playwright must take the written page and translate that vision into being on a live stage. It's a great challenge and a great joy to bring the written word to life!
Who directed Shakespeare's plays?
Shakespeare directed Shakespeare!
Who directed Molière's plays?
Molière directed Molière!
Playwrights started directing (and acting) in their own plays because they had to... there were no directors around to employ.
"Directors" are an invention in the last 100 years and they've become an unfortunate crutch that many untrained Playwrights are forced to lean upon.
Playwrights must toss down the crutch that is the modern day director, and walk on their own.
After all, it's their name on the Playbill, and if the production isn't successful, it's always the Playwright's fault no matter how good the script happens to be.
In order to take full credit (and blame!) for a play, Playwrights must also form the live production and revise their scripts accordingly to reflect the realities of the stage.
This effort can only make for better Playwrights, stronger plays, and give the life of the play back where it belongs: in the Playwright's cradled and calloused hands.
One Number Connects
the Entire Boles Constellation
All roads lead to the same switchboard