Chapter 5Chapter 5

A Day in the Life of a A Day in the Life of a TheatreTheatre

Theatre EnsembleTheatre EnsembleA creative collection that includes A creative collection that includes playwrights, actors, directors, playwrights, actors, directors, designers, painters, carpenters, designers, painters, carpenters, drapers, stagehands and electricians…drapers, stagehands and electricians…

Theatre Ensemble (cont.)Theatre Ensemble (cont.)……who join together to create a who join together to create a performance as if it were the product of performance as if it were the product of a single creative mind.a single creative mind.

A Theatre Ensemble Flow A Theatre Ensemble Flow ChartChart

in Detailin Detail

Administrative TeamAdministrative Team

ProducerProducerArtistic DirectorArtistic DirectorLiterary ManagerLiterary ManagerPublicity PersonnelPublicity PersonnelBox OfficeBox OfficeFundraisersFundraisersAdministrative StaffAdministrative Staff

ProducerProducer

Because money is involved, the producer or producing organization is one of the most powerful positions in the theatre.

Artistic DirectorArtistic Director

What prepared me for the artistic director job? Everything and nothing . . . One of the biggest problems I face is when to be pragmatic in solving a problem and when to just insist on the art.

Irene Lewis,Artistic director of the CenterStage in Baltimore

Creative TeamCreative Team

• PlaywrightPlaywright• DirectorDirector• ActorsActors • Musical DirectorMusical Director• ChoreographerChoreographer• Movement CoachMovement Coach• Fight DirectorFight Director• Vocal CoachVocal Coach• DramaturgDramaturg

Creative Team (cont.)Creative Team (cont.)

•Designers:•Sets•Lights•Sound•Costumes•Makeup•Props

Construction CrewsConstruction Crews

The Technical Director (TD) supervises the construction crews:•Painters•Carpenters•Electricians•Stitchers•Wigmakers

Production CrewsProduction Crews

Stage Manager and assistantsStage Manager and assistantsHouse Manager (assistants and House Manager (assistants and

ushers)ushers)Sound board operatorSound board operatorLight board operatorLight board operatorRunning crews (stage, lighting, Running crews (stage, lighting,

sound, costume, props)sound, costume, props)

Stage Manager (SM) DutiesStage Manager (SM) Duties

Attends pre-rehearsal meetings with Attends pre-rehearsal meetings with director and designersdirector and designers

Assists director at auditionsAssists director at auditions Schedules rehearsalsSchedules rehearsals During rehearsal takes notes, records During rehearsal takes notes, records

blocking and writes up rehearsal reportsblocking and writes up rehearsal reports Creates the prompt bookCreates the prompt book Calls the showCalls the show Generates detailed performance reportsGenerates detailed performance reports

Managing the StageManaging the Stage

At the end of the show, when the audience applauds—yes, of course they’re applauding the actors, but they’re also applauding everyone backstage who made the production possible.

Alan Hall,Stage manager of the Tony Awards

Tools of the TradeTools of the Trade

•Flats•Props•Legs•Teasers•Scrims•Cyc

LingoLingo

The HouseThe HouseProp CheckProp CheckThe CallThe CallCurtainCurtainGreenroomGreenroomStage DoorStage Door

Curtain CallCurtain Call

When theatre When theatre succeeds, it does so succeeds, it does so because every because every member of the member of the ensemble understands ensemble understands his or her duties, yet his or her duties, yet is also allowed to is also allowed to solve problems, solve problems, express opinions, use express opinions, use the techniques of his the techniques of his or her trade, and be or her trade, and be creative. creative.