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Handbook Appendices Forms Theatre Scholarships For Theatre Majors, Minors, and Intendeds University Theatre Handbook Table of Contents Theatre Home

• Appendix E •

SPU Theatre

Production Team Job Descriptions

The various job descriptions listed below, though not exhaustive, will give you a basic idea of the people needed on a production team for all plays produced at SPU.

 

Producing Director: (Don Yanik) The Producing Director coordinates all production activities throughout the production season, and is responsible for the production opening on time and within budget. The PD sets the budget of the show and makes sure all builders, designers and electricians stay within that budget; works with the Technical Director to establish the technical staff, running crew, and board operators; ensures build, hang, focus and other technical schedules are set and adhered to by the various personnel; schedules and leads production meetings to maintain communication between the director, designers, technical director and production team members.

Director: (George Scranton, Andrew Ryder, Guest Director, Student One Act Directors)

The Director is usually the person who wants to direct a particular show. The Director interprets the production and stages the play; determines the style of production and the nature of the rehearsal process; casts and rehearses the show; meets with the designers to come up with a unified artistic vision for the show and is charged with approval of all major aesthetic decisions; collaborates with all designers and production team members; and attends all production meetings.

Technical Director: (Jerry Collum) The Technical Director is responsible for turning the set design and technical drawings into a completed set, while ensuring a safe acting/working space for actors onstage. The TD plans the build schedule; obtains the construction materials; supervises the student labor during the preparation and build time; assigns individual and group tasks; coordinates with lighting designers and crew; coordinates with scenic designer and paint crew; determines the means by which scenic and lighting elements of a production are executed; creates working drawings from designer plans when required; supervises the operation of the scenic shop and all technical equipment; and attends all production meetings. The TD is the efficiency expert on all of the technical elements of running a production and is responsible for the maintenance of the set and lighting during the run of the show. Oversees SM’s, Box office, Electrical, and Sound crews.

Assistant to the Technical Director: The Assistant to the Technical Director assists the TD in all duties including research; budget tracking; procurement of materials; schedules; and data base entries.

Stage Manager/Assistant to the Director: The role of Stage Manager is a serious commitment which takes a lot of time and dedication and brings with it a lot of responsibility. The SM is a liaison among the director and all departments of a production. Once the show opens, the SM has the ultimate responsibility to run the show and maintain the artistic integrity of the performances. The SM works with the director to establish and maintain the rehearsal schedule; assures that actors are at rehearsals; attends all rehearsals; writes down line and blocking notes given by the director; is available for line cueing; and calls the show during its run; prepares the rehearsal space setting up rehearsal props, furniture and costumes and returns rehearsal materials following each rehearsal; prepares the Master Prompt Script with written blocking and cues; and attends all production meetings. As Assistant to the Director, the AD assists the director with the tasks of scheduling, research, rehearsals, casting etc.

Assistant Stage Manager: The Assistant Stage Manager assists the SM in all of the above duties and is often directly responsible for preparing the stage for performance. The ASM is stationed backstage to facilitate communication between the SM in the booth and actors often helps with complex set changes quick changes offstage; responsible for props; and supervises the backstage running crews.

Scenic Designer: The set designer works with the Director to create the physical space of the play. The SD draws up the ground plans and elevations to be executed by the TD and build crew; creates a white or color scale model of the set; creates color elevations for the paint crew; responsible for the creation or locating of furniture, props and set decorations; collaborates with the costume, lighting, props and sound designers; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls and production meetings.

Assistant to the Designer: The Assistant to the Designer assists the Scenic or Costume Designer with research, planning and acquisition of all scenic or costume elements; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls and production meetings.

Costume Designer: The costume designer works with the director to determine costume needs and requirements and is then responsible for actualizing them by purchasing the materials for construction, assembling, building, renting, pulling, or borrowing them so they are ready for the first technical rehearsal. The CD also schedules measurements, fittings and alterations sessions; collaborates with the scenic, lighting and props designers; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Costume Shop Manager: The Costume Shop Manager directly assists the Costume Designer in actualizing the costumes for the show. The CSM assists the CD with shopping, purchasing, pulling, assembling, and building; assists with measurements and fittings; drafting of patterns; transporting costumes to the dressing rooms; oversees mending, repairs, laundry, dry cleaning, steaming and pressing; training costume shop crew; assists with creating work schedules and run schedules; assists the CD at rehearsals; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Wardrobe Manager: The Wardrobe Manager assists the CD and CSM with the above tasks and is responsible for the retrieval and replacement of costumes from stock. The WM is responsible for the maintenance of the costume storage rooms and items; responsible for the replacing all costumes to designated storage areas; assists the CD and CSM at rehearsals; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Costume Shop Crew: Crew members assist with pulling, sewing, altering clothing and accessories for the actors; assists with quick changes; show laundry, pressing or steaming; mending repairs; baby sit performances; and retrieval and restocking of costumes from storage areas.

Lighting Designer: The lighting Designer, in cooperation with the Director, decides on exactly how a production should be lit, using natural or artificial light sources. The LD is responsible for figuring out the specifications of the particular theatre; working within the physical space and inventory; drawing up the light plot and dimmer plot; supervising the focus; writing the light cues;. collaborates with the scenic, costume and props designers; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Master Electrician: The Master Electrician is responsible for taking the light plot and making sure all lighting instruments on the plot are hung in the correct locations and actually are in working condition. The ME coordinates the number of instruments and circuits and allocating cabling, gels and other accessories required in the plot; assists with organizing the lighting crew to complete the hang and focus on time; works with the LD to fix notes and make changes during the tech rehearsals; runs the dimmer checks and effects repairs after the opening; collaborates with the scenic, costume and props designers; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Light Board Operator: The Light Board Operator operates the light board during the performances and runs cues in the board when signaled by the SM. The LBO assists with the light check and adjustments of all lights before the show; sets up and strikes specialized equipment each night.

Sound Designer: The Sound Designer works with the Director to establish a soundscape for the production. The SD works with the TD to create, find, and modify all of the sound effects and music; records the shows on the appropriate media; prepares the cues for the sound operator; work with a composer or sound technician to mix or create particular effects or songs; implements any mic’ing or reinforcement for the show; collaborates with the scenic, costume, lighting and props designers; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Sound Board Operator: The Sound Board Operator operates the sound board during the performances. The SBO adjusts levels and play back based on cues from the SM; sets up and strikes mics, headsets, and other sound related equipment each night.

Property Master: The PM works with the Scenic Designer, Stage Manager, and Producing Director on shopping, finding, borrowing, pulling, altering, and creating all props used in the play; prepares the props table and storage; maintains or repairs props during run of show; works with ASM to set props prior to performance; collaborates with the scenic, costume and props designers; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Master Carpenter: The Master Carpenter is assists the TD in the building all scenic elements; assists with daily task assignments; assists with backstage clean-up and replacement of tools and materials; assists with the maintenance of scenic elements.

Shop Carpenter: The Shop carpenter is in charge of the shop and tool areas; assists building of all scenic elements under the direction of the TD.

Paint Charge: The Paint Charge works directly with the Scenic Designer/Scenic Artist to order materials; prepare materials and surfaces for paint; prepares color samples; assists with the painting and finishing of scenic all elements, furniture, and props.

House Manager: The House Manager is responsible for the smooth operation of the audience areas for all performances; responsible for the comfort and safety of the audience; Distributes programs to ushers and or patrons; coordinates performance timing with the production stage manager; responsible for getting and training of ushers for audience; prepares coffee and tea refreshment counter during intermission; oversees cleanup of lobby and theatre; secures doors to lobby and theatre following performances.

Box Office Manager: The Box Office Manager is responsible for the efficient operation of ticket and reservations sales for theatre productions; maintains accurate records of daily sales; balances daily cash, credit card and check accounts; prepares nightly deposits; schedules box office staff; distributes will-call and reserved tickets; coordinates all box office operations with the TD.

Box Office Staff: The Box Office Staff assists the Box Office Manager with the daily operations of the box office.

Promotion Director: (Kim Gilnett) The Promotion Director is in charge of disseminating information to the university community and general public concerning upcoming and ongoing productions and events representing the Arts at SPU.

Promotion and Publicity Assistants: The Promotion and Publicity Assistants work directly with the Promotion Director in disseminating information, mailings, posters etc. concerning productions and arts events held at SPU.

Production Assistants: Production Assistants are the students who volunteer or receive practicum credits associated with course work to bring a production to life; carpenters, welders, painters; dressers, ushers, props, box office, grips, deck hands, deck electricians, follow sport operators, fly persons, etc.

Choreographer: Choreographers design the dance an/or movement in productions, either working with the director; attends selected rehearsals; attends all technical rehearsals, and production meetings.

Music Director: The Music Director is the coordinator of all musical elements of a production; involved in the development and rehearsal of the orchestra or music ensemble; attends selected rehearsals; attends all technical rehearsals, and production meetings.

Vocal Coach: The Vocal Coach teaches performers songs and/or offers vocal training for the performer; dialects etc.; attends selected rehearsals; attends all technical rehearsals, and production meetings.

Projections Assistant: The Projections Assistant works with the Director, Scenic Designer and Technical Director to find, modify and create all of the images and other projections used in the production; responsible for the preparation the final projection materials, installing and adjusting projection equipment; attends selected rehearsals; attends all technical rehearsals, work calls, and production meetings.

Dramaturg: The Dramaturg researches all productions for information useful in the rehearsal process and development of the program notes; works directly with the director or designer; presents research and background information at plenary sessions; attends selected rehearsals and all production meetings.

Students who wish to fulfill a technical production assignment or management responsibility should speak to Don Yanik, Theatre Chair, or Jerry Collum, TD.

See Application in the Forms section of this handbook.

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