JBTHEATRICALS
CURRENT CLASSES
Self-Producing for Directors
Summer 2026
Take Control of your directing career by learning how to create your own opportunities
Directing is arguably the most gatekept profession in the theatre industry. Open opportunities are few and far between, and even then, they offer little pay, if any at all. Talented and passionate directors often find their careers stalled or struggle to break into the profession despite demonstrated ability and training (aka the old 'you need experience to get experience' routine). This class is designed to help you overcome those challenges by teaching you the fundamentals of producing your own work.
This is not a class on how to start a theatre company or how to produce under the nonprofit model. It's an interactive lab where you will learn the tools and knowledge you need to leave class ready to start producing/directing small-level independent productions.
Each week will offer a comprehensive look at key areas of self-producing, including budgets, fundraising, fiscal sponsorship, incorporation/legal entities, casting and hiring, vendor relations, and other topics tailored to the cohort's specific interests. Most importantly, we will discuss many of the challenges and obstacles you will encounter, including how to balance your producing duties with your directorial responsibilities.
As a final project, directors will create a pitch presentation for a play of their choosing. The goal is for each student to develop a ready-to-go idea and a polished pitch deck for fundraising, interviews, and other professional purposes. Students should anticipate roughly 2 hours per week for outside preparation, plus time needed to prepare their final presentations.
Tuition Includes:
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Full access to all six course meetings and materials
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A copy of the Production Toolkit, including over 20 templates you can use to produce your own projects
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20 minutes of one-on-one time outside for help on your pitch presentation.
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Personalized, actionable feedback on your final presentation, which can be used to take it from page to stage.
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A 15% discount on all future classes and consultations.
Great for...
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Emerging directors seeking concrete steps on how to create their own directing opportunities
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Mid-career directors looking to gain more autonomy over their work
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Recent MFA graduates wanting to bolster their professional credits through self-produced productions
Questions? Email us
CLASS DETAILS
When: Mondays, 6:30 PM -9:30 PM EST (six sessions via Zoom)
Dates: July 13, 2026 - August 17, 2026
Cohort Size: Capped at 10 Directors
Materials: Tuition includes access to all class materials, including articles, case studies, selected readings, and the Production Toolkit, a curated dossier of templates for budgets, contracts, and other templates to help get a show on its feet.
TUITION & PRICING
STANDARD TUITION - $400
EARLY BIRD TUITION - $350 (must be registered and paid in full by 12:00 PM EST on Monday, June 15, 2026)
PAYMENT PLAN - Half of tuition is due at registration and Half is due by the first class meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026
Tuition can be paid via Zelle (free & preferred) or PayPal (5% fee assessed)
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
30-Minute Executive Strategy Session - $85 (15% discount applied)
This service is specifically for directors who have a show/project in mind and are ready to make it happen. The session includes a budget review/audit, creation of a personalized fundraising roadmap, brainstorming your pitch, and a review of contract and licensing needs. A great option for directors who would like to use their final projects as a roadmap for a realized production.
Project Consulting - $127.50 (15% discount applied)
This one-hour deep dive is designed for directors seeking comprehensive review and feedback on a current or planned production. Each session is tailored to your specific needs and includes a personalized project review covering concept, scope, finances, fundraising, timeline, anticipated challenges, and other topics of your choice. This service is recommended for directors with an active project, those in the midst of launching one, or who have completed the Self-Producing course and need advice beyond what's offered in the Executive Strategy Session.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Josh Bradley is a director and producer with experience across nearly all areas of live entertainment. NYC: UNSEX'D (JB Theatricals); Regional: Waiting for Godot, Corpus Christi, Tick, Tick, Boom (Relevant Theatrics); What is Written, Land of the Dead (Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Assistant directing: Ten Chimneys, Next to Normal, In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play (Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Short Films: Her Interior & Such Sweet Sorrow (writer/director).
He is the founder and Artistic Producer of JB Theatricals, and previously the founder and Artistic Director of Relevant Theatrics in Orlando. A former AEA Stage Manager, his credits span from Chicago to regional houses, and from Disney World to The Guggenheim.
Josh holds an MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University and a BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Central Florida. He is also an alum of the Milwaukee Rep's Emerging Artist Residency Program. This fall, Josh will begin working toward an MFA in Directing at Brooklyn College. For more, please visit joshbbradley.com
THE FINE PRINT
Please click here to read the full Class Policies & Procedures. Tuition payments, including initial payment plan installments, are due at the time of registration. Instructions for submitting payments will be available on the registration confirmation page. If you choose to pay in installments, your final payment is due by the first class meeting. Tuition refunds are only issued in accordance with the Class Refund Policy. Tuition is fully refundable within 24 hours of initial registration. For refund requests after the initial 24 hours, but before the seven (7) calendar days preceding the first class meeting, a 50% refund will be issued. No refunds will be issued after July 6, 2026 except for new registrations, which are eligible for a refund under the 24-hour policy.