Theatre Hierarchy
The Production Process
Producer
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Decides/approves what play will be done
Chooses production team
Responsible for the budget
Communicates vision to director
In school theatre programs, these
responsibilities typically belong to the district
and theatre teachers
Artistic Director
• In charge of the artistic vision
• Sometimes in charge of the play choices and
planning of production seasons
• Works over the director
House Manager
• In charge of box office/lobby and crews for
both
• Communicates with the stage manager before
the show and during intermission
• Oversees the box office manager
Box Office Manager
• In charge of ticket sales
• Handles pre-sold tickets and group sales, as
well as sales made the night of the show
Publicist
• Advertises the production
• Acts as a spokesperson for the production
Director
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Must be strong collaborator/communicator
Liaison between all of people working on a show
Has say on all elements of the creative concept
Communicates concept to all parties on
production team
Casts the show
Interprets text
Works to stay within budget
Communicates vision to designers
Assistant Director
• Serves the director to help rehearsals to run
efficiently
• Shares directorial duties whenever needed
• Offers creative input/perspective
• Sometimes leads warm-ups
Technical Director
• Oversees all technical crews/personnel
• Ensures that a budget is followed and that
everything is ready on time
• Oversees all designers and ensures that their
work meets the unified concept
• Oversees all technical crews during production
Audio/Sound Designer
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Creates all sound effects
Organizes sound effects into cues
Creates atmosphere through sound
Collaborates with directors and other
designers to support the concept
• Communicates with technical director
Costume Designer
• Designs the costumes for a production
• Communicates with other designers to ensure
a unified concept is maintained
• Creates costume plot
Lighting Designer
• Designs the lighting looks for a production
• Communicates with other designers to ensure
a unified concept is maintained
• Creates light plot
• Attends rehearsals
• Communicates with technical director
Make-Up Designer
• Designs the make-up looks for a production
• Communicates with other designers (particularly
costume) to ensure a unified concept is
maintained
• Creates makeup renderings
• Is responsible for developing specialty looks
when needed (example: blood/gore, old age, etc.)
• Communicates with technical director
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Scenic Designer
• Designs the set for a production
• Communicates with other designers to ensure
a unified concept is maintained
• Creates ground plan, elevation and
perspective drawings
• Attends rehearsals
• Communicates with technical director
Stage Manager
• Communicates with director, technical director
and assistant director
• Oversees all technical crews during performance
• “calls” the show
• Is responsible for the smooth running of the
show
• Is the liaison between the actors and the director
• Creates paperwork
Audio Sound Crew
• Interprets the sound cue documents
• Runs the cues during a performance
• Reports to the technical director
Costume Mistress
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Is in charge of costumes during a production
Keeps the costume plot
Oversees costume crew
Reports to technical director
Master Electrician
• Interprets and hangs the light plot
• Determines channels and dimmers and adds
them to light plot
• Reports to the technical director
• Oversees the electricians
Lead Carpenter
• Interprets and articulates the scenic
documents
• Builds the set and anything that appears
permanent to the audience with a set crew
• Oversees the set crew
• Reports to the technical director, who ensures
that the set is safe
Property Master
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In charge of property design
Pulls or builds the props
Makes and keeps props list
Communicates/delegates to prop crew
Reports to technical director
Attends rehearsals/provides rehearsal props
Audio/Sound Crew
• Assists with development of sound cues
• Communicates with technical director
Costume Crew
• Repair costumes
• Adjust costumes for fit
• Sometimes assist with wigs
Lighting Crew
• Assist master electrician with focus of light
plot
Makeup Crew
• Develop makeup looks
• Collaborate with costume crew
• Communicate with technical director to
ensure accuracy of makeup
Set Crew
• Builds the set
• Creates anything that appears permanent to
the audience
• Works under lead carpenter
Props Crew
• Maintains and organizes props
• Sets up a props table
• Assists the properties master in development
and location of props
Sound Engineer
• Runs the sound for a show
• Assisted by audio 2 engineer
• Both report to the stage manager
Dresser
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Assists actors getting in and out of costume
Assists actors with quick changes
Does quick repairs between shows
Reports to the stage manager
Lighting Technician
• Runs the light board during a performance
• Maintains lighting instruments during a run
• Reports to the stage manager
Scenic Crew
• Assists with the setting of set pieces for a
performance
• Maintains set pieces during a performance
• Reports to the stage manager
Property Master
• Assists with the setting of props for a
performance
• Maintains prop pieces during a performance
• Reports to the stage manager