Description of Crew Positions
Theatre 200 Production Laboratory

THEA200 Production Laboratory. Each student involved in a significant role on regular theatre productions is a participant in the Festival Playhouse Company and shall thereby earn 1/4 unit of credit per production. Credit is limited to one unit over four productions (Theatre Arts majors only may accumulate up to a maximum of two full units. THEA200 may not be counted as “third course” to complete a full-time academic load in any given term. Theatre Arts majors must distribute each 1/4 unit in a different area of production (acting, stage management, costuming, lighting, scenery, sound, publicity, etc.) Please fill out a Production Application ( on page 60 of the handbook, on the web, or get one from the Theatre Arts Office) and turn it into the Theatre Arts Office. They are due 9th Week Friday of the preceeding quarter.

Stage Manager

Ultimately, the stage manager is in charge of ALL aspects of production once it begins technical rehearsals and continuing through the run. Typically, the stage manager will delegate certain aspects of the physical production. Areas of production that the stage manager usually assumes direct responsibility include:

• Safety
• Security (personals, building, props, and equipment)
• Actor well-being
• Efficiency of the technical staff in executing their duties, including shifts, efx, calls, and extra rehearsals as needed
• Timeliness and efficiency of the entire company
• Professionalism (sets the tone and "polices" the standard)
• Communication (responsible for ALL aspects of communication)
• Direct control of the "tech" of a show (tech)
• Blocking, cues, and directing/ rehearsing scenes (rehearsals)

Assistant Stage Managers

Usually it is important for the ASM's to assume responsibility for everything until told NOT to do so by the stage manager. In this manner, typically something will NOT get overlooked. Frequently the ASM works for the entire company as much as s/he will work directly with the stage manager. The ASM is called upon to assist the SM when needed, but also to assist in any way the physical demands of the production. What follows is a list of responsibilities that ASM's may "typically" do:

• Cleaning (safety)
• Communication (photocopy, e-mail, telephone, "runner", etc.)
• Line notes, fill ins, prompter, scene rehearsals, etc. (rehearsal)
• Deck change, rail change, props change, shift change, etc.  (tech and run)
• All aspects of the physical stage, etc.

Assistant Directors

Every director uses assistant directors very differently. So the nature of this depends almost completely on the particular production and director. Usually, students will have taken Directing class before serving in this position. Duties may include:

• Taking notes for the director
• Running at least some of the rehearsal warm-ups
• Attending frequent conferences with the director (in addition to production meetings)
• Assuming responsibilities for one or more aspects of the show (e.g., slides, a combat or some other "special" type of scene or music.)

Dramaturg

The dramaturg is the literary assistant to the director. Usually, this position is either responsible for or assists with all literary and research aspects of a particular text. The dramaturg works closely with the director before the play goes into rehearsal, often the academic term before the production of the play. Duties may include:

• Creating research packets for the cast
• Writing a program essay
• Creating lobby display

Master Electrician

Responsible for the creation, completion, and maintenance of all of the lighting and electrics for a production. Works for the production and with the lighting designer.

• Hangs lights
• Schedules crew
• Communicates calls to the electrics crew
• Prepares stage area for tech and run conditions (running lights, etc.)

Light Board Operator

Responsible to the Lighting Designer, Master Electrician, and Stage Manager.

• Responsible for dimmer check
• Responsible for running of all electrics for tech and run (includes clip lights, work light safety during black-outs, etc.)
• Dimmer check (tech and run)
• Knows what to do in case of emergency

Sound Designer

Responsible to the director for the creation of the aural ambiance and physical cues of a production. Works with the stage manager and technical director to prepare the theatre for the physical production.

• Creates all sound for the production
• Communicates to the board operator how equipment works, maintenance of equipment, and what to do in case of emergency
• Communicates to the board op how to run a sound check
• Communicates to the board op the proper procedures for notating cues
• Establishes all running communications for the physical production (headsets, etc.)
• Maintain a budget

Sound Board Operator

• Responsible for the execution of all sound during the run of a production.
• Understands completely how to notate sound cues for a production
• Has prepared sound cue sheets or made sure that they are available for the production.
• Runs sound check
• Maintains all communications equipment during tech and run (monitors, headsets, etc.)
• Knows what to do in case of an emergency

Properties Master

Responsible for creating, finding, and maintaining all of the properties for a production. Work directly with the scenic designer and director of the production, as well as the costume designer, stage manager, actors, and the technical director.

• Create a properties list
• Acquire or create all props
• Create a props running list for the production (in conjunction with the stage manager, director, and performers)
• Assist stage manager in providing rehearsal props, as needed
• Communicate to the scenic designer and technical director as soon as possible
• Maintain a budget

Properties Manager

Responsible to the director, scenic designer, and properties master for executing the original intent of the production with regards to properties for the tech and run of the production.

• Communicate to actors and technicians procedures for handling and securing props
• Responsible for security of all properties
• Responsible for creating, along with the director, stage manager, and properties master, a properties running plot for the production.
• Responsible for establishing properties tables, clearly marked, for the tech and run of the production
• Responsible for communicating to the properties master or stage manager the need to purchase additional consumable for the run (and may be responsible for supplying consumables for the run) Responsible for properties checks
• Maintain all props in a clean and safe condition
• Create a props call (along with permission and coordination of the stage manager) for working out difficult properties effects or moments with the crew
• Responsible at ALL times for the absolute safety of the actors and audience
• Creating (or communicating well in advance) special needs for clip lights or storage areas for the tech and run of the production

Wardrobe Chair

Responsible to the costume designer and the production for maintaining all wardrobe items in a manner consistent with the costume designers original intent.

• Communicates to actors (and assistants) how to care for costumes (clean, hang, wear, etc.)
• Maintains costumes (repairs, washes, irons, distresses, etc.)
• May assist make-up designer with special effects in some cases
• May need to provide make-up designer with towels for make-up aprons
• Coordinates quick change calls and executing of all quick changes as necessary
• Creates, with costume designer and stage manager, a running plot of all costumes for the production
• Creates a safe hanging, changing areas, for the run of the show (including communicating to the technical director well in advance of special wardrobe needs, changing screens, clip lights, etc.)
• May assist the costumer or costume designer in taking notes
• Makes sure actors are good stewards of costume areas

Wardrobe Assistant/ Dresser

Responsible to the wardrobe chair (or in some cases the ASM, stage manager or costumer) for responding to the wardrobe needs of the show. Duties may include the following:

• Assists with laundering of costumes
• Assist with set-up and preparation of costumes or certain hand props

Make-up Designer/ Assistant

Responsible to execute the design of the make-up for each character in the production.

• Understands basic tenets of make-up construction and build
• Prepares make-up area for actors
• Takes inventory and determined which supplies are available
• Makes a face chart on each character for each actor and communicates the intent of the design to the actor (includes communicating principals of applying make-up as well)
• Assists actors in application of make-up (ultimately should train actors for creating each of their own characters)
• May be required to work the run to assist with prosthetics or special efx
• Communicates to actors how to care for skin and clean the products safely

Box Office

Responsible to the Theatre Administrator, the Box Office Manager, duties include:

• Knowing about the play and keeping phone message current
• Accuracy of tickets
• Employing and training box office workers
• Correctness of all reservations and special needs of patrons
• Balancing of ticket subs.
• Compiling complimentary tickets list, may use the Stage Manager's help
• Security of Box Office, money and tickets

House Manager

Responsible to the Theatre Administrator, and primary responsibility is to coordinate all activities in the house on performance nights.

• Employ and train ushers to take tickets, hand out programs and seat patrons
• Assign someone to be LAC monitor
• Sees to the cleanliness of house, lobby and general areas, including outside walkways
• Coordinate start of show and after intermission with Stage Manger
• Be ready to handle disturbances through out show
• Seat latecomers and those who leave their seats during the performance