Theater Roles
Producer
A person who oversees all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The producer is responsible for the overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raises or provides financial backing, and hires personnel for creative positions
Production manager
A production manager works with designers, the technical crew, and the management team to make sure the technical elements of a show are completed safely, on time, and on budget. Production managers are often full-time staff members at large theatres and work on every show during a season.
Stage/run crew
A stagehand is a person who works backstage or behind the scenes in theatres, film, television, or location performance. Their work include setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.
Technical Director
A technical director (TD) is usually a senior technical person within e.g. a software company, engineering firm, film studio, theatrical company or television studio. This person usually possesses the highest level of skill within a specific technical field.
Shop crew
Helps with building under supervision of the shop foreman
Scenic Artists
Scenic Artists paint backdrops, murals and many other elements on film sets. Working to briefs set by production designers, they are usually highly trained artists, with an art school background, or they may have trained as scenic artists for theater productions.
Stage manager
Stage management is a broad field that is generally defined as the practice of organization and coordination of an event or theatrical production. Stage management may encompass a variety of activities including the overseeing of the rehearsal process and coordinating communications among various production teams and personnel. Stage management requires a general understanding of all aspects of production and offers organisational support to ensure the process runs smoothly and efficiently.
Props crew
Make sure all of the props are where they are supposed to be before and after the show.
Costume Designer
A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film, stage production or television. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters' outfits/costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour, etc. The costume designer works alongside the director, scenic, lighting designer, sound designer, and other creative personnel. The costume designer may also collaborate with hair stylist, wig master, or makeup artist. In European theatre, the role is different, as the theatre designer usually designs both costume and scenic elements.
Board of Directors
Board members are the fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure the nonprofit has adequate resources to advance its mission.
Electricians
In theatre, an electrician is a person who works with the various aspects of lighting. Some of the positions among electricians include the lighting supervisor, master electrician, deck electrician, light board operator, moving light programmer, followspot operator, as well as simply electricians. This group is generally known as the "Electrics" Department or LX Department.
Production Assistant
The Production Assistant assists and supports all production and artistic operations functions. Conspirare's performances encompass a wide variety of venues ranging from large theaters to small churches. Performances utilize lighting, sound, and projection of images.
Artistic Director
The executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre or dance company, who handles the organization's artistic direction. They are generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization. The artistic director of a theatre company is the individual with the overarching artistic control of the theatre's production choices, directorial choices, and overall artistic vision. In smaller theatres, the artistic director may be the founder of the theatre and the primary director of its plays. In larger non-profit theatres, the artistic director may be appointed by the board of directors.
Wardrobe supervisor
The wardrobe supervisor is responsible for supervising all wardrobe related activities during the course of a theatrical run. The modern title "wardrobe supervisor" has evolved from the more traditional titles of "wardrobe mistress/master" or "mistress/master of the wardrobe". The wardrobe supervisor may be present at some production meetings and fittings, their primary responsibilities generally begin at the load-in stage of a production. At load-in physical custody and responsibility for the costumes shifts from the costume designer and shop staff to the wardrobe supervisor.
Video Designer
Video design or projection design is a creative field of stagecraft. It is concerned with the creation and integration of film, motion graphics and live camera feed into the fields of theatre, opera, dance, fashion shows, concerts and other live events.
Shop foreman
1. Provides a comprehensive learning experience for students enrolled in theatre practicum courses by instructing them in the technical aspects and safety procedures of theatre set construction, assigning tasks to student assistants and crews, supervising students in the operation of various power tools such as power saws, table saws, radial arm saws, and gas or electric welders, evaluating the students' work and providing an assessment to faculty. 2. Ensures the production of theatre scenery and sets on schedule by determining the kind and amount of materials required, the tools or equipment needed, the order and sequence involved in the fabrication of single items or complete units, and the time required to meet production deadlines. 3. Produces quality theatre scenery and sets that complement and support theatre presentations by assisting the technical director, scenic designer and artistic director in the development of desired product. 4. Directs the activities of the scenery shop by planning and organizing construction projects utilizing rough sketches, basic blueprints or verbal instructions. 5. Seeks the most artistically appropriate solution in the completion of the projects by utilizing industry-accepted practices and tolerances when working with such materials as wood, metal, plastics, and canvas.
Paint/scenic charge
A charge artist (or charge scenic artist and also head scenic artist) leads and oversees the painting of stage, film or television scenery. The charge artist's responsibilities include methods of reproduction of color, texture, preparation and aging of all surfaces. [1] The charge artist interprets the scenic designer's technical drawings and paint elevations, and with a crew of journeymen scenic artists, brings them to life on the actual scenery.
Director
A theatre director or stage director is an instructor in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production by unifying various endeavours and aspects of production. The director's function is to ensure the quality and completeness of theatre production and to lead the members of the creative team into realizing their artistic vision for it. The director therefore collaborates with a team of creative individuals and other staff, coordinating research, stagecraft, costume design, props, lighting design, acting, set design, stage combat, and sound design for the production. If the production he or she is mounting is a new piece of writing or a (new) translation of a play, the director may also work with the playwright or translator. In contemporary theatre, after the playwright, the director is generally the primary visionary, making decisions on the artistic concept and interpretation of the play and its staging. Different directors occupy different places of authority and responsibility, depending on the structure and philosophy of individual theatre companies. Directors use a wide variety of techniques, philosophies, and levels of collaboration.
Lighting Designer
A theatre lighting designer works with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create the lighting, atmosphere, and time of day for the production in response to the text, while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety, and cost. The LD also works closely with the stage manager or show control programming, if show control systems are used in that production. Outside stage lighting, the job of a Lighting Designer can be much more diverse and they can be found working on rock and pop tours, corporate launches, art installation and on massive celebration spectaculars, for example the Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies.
Master Electrician
In theatre, the master electrician is responsible for implementing the lighting design for a production drawn up by the lighting designer. This involves overseeing the preparation, hanging, connection and focusing of stage lighting fixtures.
Scenic Designer
Scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but in recent years, are mostly trained professionals, holding a B.F.A. or M.F.A. degrees in theater arts. Scenic designers design sets and scenery that aim to support the overall artistic goals of the production.
Run crew (list positions)
Running crew, run crew or stage crew, is a collective term used in theatre to describe the members of the technical crew who supervise and operate ("run") the various technical aspects of the production during a performance. While the "technical crew" includes all persons other than performers involved with the production, such as those who build and take down the sets and place the lighting, the term "running crew" is generally limited to those who work during an actual performance. Call boy, Production manager, Stage manager, Stagehand, Technical director, Theatrical technician, Carpenter, Fly crew, Electrician, Light board operator, Lighting technician, Spotlight operator, A2, Sound operator, Property master, Dresser, Wardrobe supervisor
Sound Designer
Sound design is the art and practice of creating sound tracks for a variety of needs. It involves specifying, acquiring or creating auditory elements using audio production techniques and tools. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including filmmaking, television production, video game development, theatre, sound recording and reproduction, live performance, sound art, post-production, radio and musical instrument development. Sound design commonly involves performing and editing of previously composed or recorded audio, such as sound effects and dialogue for the purposes of the medium. A sound designer is one who practices sound design.
Sound/audio engineer
Sound engineers set up microphones on performers and in various places in the theater. They are responsible for checking sound levels and equipment functionality, running sound checks, and other tasks using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) production equipment.
A1 and A2
Sound operator (A1): operates the sound board and/or audio control system specified by the sound designer, computerised or otherwise. Sometimes this is integrated with the show control system. There can be multiple sound board ops. Mic wrangler (A2): manages microphones and maintains headsets as a show runs. Usually there are several mic wranglers located backstage, in the wings, with the running crew.
Draper and Sticher
The primary responsibility of the Cutter/Draper (a full time, hourly position) is the creation of costumes; interpretation of original design work and custom patterning based on the design, and all facets of the construction process for the costumes as well as alterations, fittings, etc. Under general supervision from a designated supervisor, to create all accessory or special costume projects as designed. <anufactures and/or repairs, either by hand or machine, the costumes assigned. Makes patterns for facings and linings based on directions supplied and completes alterations from fittings while monitoring inventories costume shop supplies.
Props Master
The property master, often called the prop(s) master, is an artistic and organizational employee in a film, television or theatrical production who is responsible for purchasing, acquiring, manufacturing, properly placing, and/or overseeing any props needed for a production.