Different roles in a musical theatre

1. ElishiaSelby Different roles in a musical theatre Unit2
The Producer
 The theatrical produceroverlooksthe financial sideof the production.Theyhandlethe
businessandlegal side of employingstaff
 Theyare responsible forreceivingthe budgetforthe productionandfindingthe moneyin
orderto be able to put on the show as well asfinancial backing andmanagingthe financial
risks.
 Theyoftenrequire findingthe venue,settingticketprices,date andtimesof the
performance andhiringcreative personnelforthe creative positionse.g.
designers/choreographer/performers/composersetc.howeverthese generallyinvolve the
directorand playwright’sapproval.
 He or she will alsosource the performersandthe teamwhowill putonthe show.
Example of a producer
Matthew Churchill:BritishTheatrical producer
Years active:
Born: 28 August1966 Age:
Where hisiswork based:Three SixtyEntertainment
What has he beenthe producerof?
 PeterPan

2. ElishiaSelby Different roles in a musical theatre Unit2
The Director
 The director’smainresponsibilityistoview the overall practical andcreative interpretation
of the musical;design,pre-productionandfinal performance.
 If theywork fora producingtheatre ora productioncompanytheywill directproductions.
 Theywill workcloselywiththe producertodevelopsomethingthatwill potentiallysell and
be seen.
 Theyalsowork closelywiththeircreative aproductionteams;performers.
 Theytherefore requiregoodcommunicationskillsaswell asbeingable tocoordinate
effectivelyacrossa wide range of disciplines.
 Whenthe productionopens,the directorgives theirinstructionstothe deputy/stage
managerwhowill write ‘the book’(Fullscriptwithpromptsandcues,scene changes,last
minute changesandcuesfor soundandlighting).
Example of a director
Trevor Nunn: Englishtheatre,filmandtelevisiondirector
Years active:1960’s –present
In 1964 Trevorjoinedthe Royal Shakespeare Company
1968 he was selectedtobe the ArtisticDirectorof the Royal Shakespeare
Company,he heldthisuntil 1986.
He thenbecame the ArtisticDirectorof the Royal National Theatre in
September1997.
What has he directed?
 Oklahoma
 Les miserable
 Macbeth
 Twelfthnight
 Cats
Age:75 years (born14 January1940)
Ex-wives:ImogenStubbs,JanetSuzman,SharonLee-Hill
His firstwife, JanetSuzman,appearedin manyof hisproductions.
Children:5;Ellie,Jesse,Joshua,Laurie andAmy

3. ElishiaSelby Different roles in a musical theatre Unit2
Stage Management
 There isalwaysa team of stage managerswhodirectthe performancesof eachshow.
There are three differentrolesof stage management:
 Stage manager (SM)
 Deputystage manager (DSM)
 Assistantstage manager(ASM)
 The SM has overall responsibilityforthe stage inperformance.
 Excludingthe directorandchoreographertheyare the mostimportant.
 The DSM will be satin promptcorner,(usuallytoStage Left).
 From there theyare incharge of all aspectsof the show by following‘the book’,(sound,
lightingandall scene changes) by usingheadsets (coms).
 They make the ‘calls’to the actors fromthe dressingroomstothe stage usinga backstage
publicaddresssystem.
 The DSM can also call the audience intothe auditoriumatthe beginning of ashow and end
of the interval.
 The ASMs will usuallyrunthe ‘wings’backstage –settingprops, performingscene changes,
ensuringthe stage issafe etc.
Example of a Stage manager
Marybeth Abel: English, Production stage manager.
Years active: 30 years
Where does she work: Broadway theatre
What has she managed?
 Wicked
 Sly Fox
 Les Misérables
 Fosse
 Cyrano de Bergerac
The stage managerwithin Wicked workveryclose to manyof the departmentsinordertocheck
everythingisworking,tokeepthe showrunningsmoothlyaswell astalkingdailyaboutwhatthe
showneedsnote-wisetothenpassontootherdepartments of the show.Theyalsoensure that
everythingismaintainedtothe standardthat all the designershave created.Theyare oftenaskedto
call a lightcue to coordinate itwithscenery,propmovement,actormovement,score,conductoretc.

4. ElishiaSelby Different roles in a musical theatre Unit2
The orchestra
 The orchestra providesthe musicformusicals.
 Most special concertsandmusical productionswill bringtheirownorchestra.
Musical director
 The musical directorisin charge of the music
 Theyrepresentthe ArtisticDirectoronall musical decisionsof the production,including
runningvocal/orchestrarehearsals,selecting the songs, assistingthe directorwithcasting
decisions,andworkingwithtechnical crew onsound,microphones etc.
 Theyselectorchestramembersordelegatesthisresponsibilityto anorchestramanager.
Front of house
 The front of house are the publicface of a theatre,andwork accordingto itsperformance
times.
 Staff include theatre hostswhogreetthe audienceanddirectthemtotheirseatsquicklyand
safely,orto the toilets.
 Theyalsosell confectionary,programmes andrefreshments, whichis animportantsource of
income fora theatre.
 Theirdutiesalsoinclude assistinglessmobile membersof the audience.
 They are all trainedinsecurity,healthandsafety,includingthe safe andspeedyevacuation
of the theatre.
Box office staff
 Theysell tickets,eitheroverthe counter,phone orthe internet,working duringthe dayand
earlyevening.
Choreographer
 The choreographerrepresentsthe ArtisticDirectoronall choreographicdecisionsforthe
production,includingrunningrehearsals,selectingnumbersandassistingthe directorwith
castingdecisions.
 Theymay electAssistantChoreographersanddelegateanyportionof these responsibilities
as appropriate.

5. ElishiaSelby Different roles in a musical theatre Unit2
Set Designer:
 The set designerdesignsthe scenerywithinput fromthe artisticdirector.
 Theyestablishsetconstructionbudgetandsubmitsto the producerforconsent.
 Theycreate the setconstructionschedule thatwillno conflictwithrehearsalschedule andis
well-publicized.
 Theyorganize sceneryconstructionsessionsbypurchasingorrentingall necessaryset
constructionitems,arrange the deliveriestothe constructionlocation,andplanforeach
session'sactivities.
 Theyarrange forthe deliveryof the scenerytoandfrom the productiontheatre.
 As well asstorage of mainsetpiecesforreuse infuture productions.
Costume Designer
 A costume designeridentifiesnecessarycostume requirementsforproduction.
 Theypurchase/sews/rents necessarycostumesforproduction.
 Theyare incharge of cast memberstohelp findnecessarycostumes.
 Theyrepairexistingcostumes if necessary.
 As well asorganize the returnof cleanedcostumestostorage after the productions.
Publicity Director
 The Publicitydirectoradvertisesshowsandauditions.
 Andtheydevelopdetailedbudgetwithinthe budgettoplimitfromproducer.
Program Designer
 The program designerdesignsthe general program, howeverthe Producerisresponsiblefor
gettingthe biosandphotosfromthe cast to the Program Designer. (Itisthe Fundraising
Chairperson responsibility forprovidingall the soldprogramadvertisements).
 Theyarrange forthe programto be printed.
 Andcoordinate withtheatre house managertohave programsdistributedtoattendees.
Lighting Designer
 Lightingdesigners produce lightingthatisbothfunctional andappealing.
 Theycreate the lightingconceptfora production,anddesignhow the conceptcan be
applied.
 Theyconsiderthe needsof the individualswhowill use the space.

6. ElishiaSelby Different roles in a musical theatre Unit2
 In addition,lightingdesignerscreate designsthatconsiderthe costsandenergy-efficiencyof
runningandmaintainingthe lights.
Sound Designer
 SoundDesign focusonthe designandimplementationof asoundreinforcementsystem
that will fulfil the needsof the production.
 If a soundsystemisalreadyinstalledinthe performance venue,itisthe sound
designer'sjobtotune the systemforthe bestuse for a particularproduction.
 The soundreinforcementdesignerdeterminesthe use andplacementof microphones
for actors andmusiciansand ensuresthatthe performance canbe heardand
understoodbyeveryoneinthe audience.
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