Chapter 5 A Day in the Life of

Chapter 5 A Day in the Life of a Theatre

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

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

A Theatre Ensemble Flow Chart in Detail

Administrative Team l Producer l Artistic Director l Literary Manager l Publicity Personnel l Box Office l Fundraisers l Administrative Staff

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

Artistic 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 Center Stage in Baltimore

Creative Team • • • Playwright Director Actors Musical Director Choreographer Movement Coach Fight Director Vocal Coach Dramaturg

Creative Team (cont. ) • Designers: • Sets • Lights • Sound • Costumes • Makeup • Props

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

Production Crews l Stage Manager and assistants l House Manager (assistants and ushers) l Sound board operator l Light board operator l Running crews (stage, lighting, sound, costume, props)

Stage Manager (SM) Duties l l l l Attends pre-rehearsal meetings with director and designers Assists director at auditions Schedules rehearsals During rehearsal takes notes, records blocking and writes up rehearsal reports Creates the prompt book Calls the show Generates detailed performance reports

Managing 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 Trade • Flats • Props • Legs • Teasers • Scrims • Cyc

Lingo l. The House l. Prop Check l. The Call l. Curtain l. Greenroom l. Stage Door

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