2.1: Introduction to Professionals in the Theatre- Who Does What?

Who works in the Theatre Business?

Here’s the breakdown of everyone involved in a theatrical production. In the following chapters we will further investigate the theatre business to introduce you to the artists and professionals and to inform you of the dynamics of the theatrical material.

Creatives

Those who create the aesthetic of the show.

• The playwright – the author of the script
• The actor – the person giving a voice and a body to the character
• The director – the person in charge of the staging and of the creative concept behind the show
• The producer – the person/people/organization financially supporting the show
• The set designer – the person in charge of creating the visual world of the show
• The costume designer – the person in charge of giving the characters their look
• The light designer – the person in charge of lighting the show
• The prop designer – the person in charge of the design (and sometimes execution) of the properties in the show
• The sound designer – the person in charge of the sound cues in the show, and of the amplification of the production
• The choreographer – the person in charge of the aesthetic of the dance in the show
• The fight choreographer – the person in charge of staging violence safely in the show
• The intimacy choreographer – the person in charge of staging intimacy scenes safely in the show
• The music director – the person in charge of the musical aspect of the production
• The dialect coach – the person in charge of helping the actors with accents
• The dramaturg – the person in charge of supporting the production with related research
• The casting director – the person or the agency that intervenes when there is the need of pre-selecting a group of actors for the director

There could be many other creative artists involved in a production, depending on the type of production, and they could include a make-up artist, a wig artist, a projection designer, a special effect designer, a stunt choreographer, etc.

Crew

Those that make the show happen.

• The stage manager – the person in charge of running rehearsals, and upon opening, running the show. The stage manager usually has at least two assistants.
• The technical director – the person in charge of building the set and of the safety of the production
• The costume shop manager – the person in charge of building and managing the costumes for the show
• The master electrician – the person in charge of hanging the lights
• The master carpenter – the person in charge operating the set safely
• The light board operator – the person in charge of executing the light cues for the show
• The sound board operator – the person in charge of executing the sound cues for the show
• The run crew – the people who stay backstage and help with scene and costume changes. The scene and costume shops employ carpenters, stitchers, drapers.

Front of the House

Those who organize, manage and interface with the audience.

• The public relation office – the people who promote the show in the media
• The marketing office – the people who strategize the advertisement for the show
• The literary department- it includes the people in charge of sorting script submissions
• The box office manager – the person in charge of ticket sales
• The house manager – the person in charge of managing the house when it is open for a production and who deals with issues regarding the audience
• The ushers – the person who is in charge of seating the audience

Depending on the size or tastes of the individual theatre, personnel may include people working in the cloak room, in concessions, and in merchandising.