ANIMATEUR ARMOURY ASM ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Usually shortened to ASM, the assistant stage manager is the most junior member of the Stage Management team, and is often in charge of sourcing and running Properties during the run of a show. She or he is also a member of the stage 'crew'. The ASM is reponsible for setting props used during the show, as well as carrying out a pre-show check list to ensure all props are in the correct place and that all furniture used on stage is correctly placed for the start of the show. An ASM may also have a small acting role in some performances (they are then known as an Acting ASM). See also STAGE MANAGER and DSM. BAGGAGE MASTER BOOK COVER BOX OFFICE MANAGER BUSINESS MANAGER Also known as General Manager or Chief Financial Officer. Member of the management team of a theatre company who is responsible for the financial control. The Business Manager manages the budget, including cost-effective purchasing, payroll for employees and reduction of costs where possible. CASUALS CHIEF ELECTRICIAN The senior member of the theatre's stage lighting team, although not necessarily the lighting designer. Known in the US as MASTER ELECTRICIAN. In common with many theatre jobs, the actual duties of the Chief Electrician vary from theatre to theatre. Some chiefs are responsible for electrical maintenance of the building, some design the lighting for nearly every in-house production, some design no lighting at all, some have a team of eight staff under them, some have two. Many theatres employ casual staff to assist on lighting rigging sessions. Some theatres have a separate sound department, smaller venues have the lighting team also running sound for shows (and doing sound design for some). Abbreviated to CLX in some UK venues. CHOREOGRAPHER COMPANY MANAGER In a touring theatre company, the Company Manager is responsible for the well-being of the cast and crew of the show; ensuring their arrival at the venue, dealing with their payments, dealing with any disputes, and generally ensuring all is well and happy. The CM is also the representative of the producers in that he/she is responsible for collecting payments from the venue management. In a building-based theatre company, the role is more administrative, dealing with payroll and other matters connected with the cast and crew of the current production(s). COMPANY STAGE MANAGER Shortened to CSM. The Company Stage Manager acts as a liaison between the production company and the actors / performers, particularly with regard to contracts, logistics, accommodation & transport. See also Production Stage Manager. CONDUCTOR COSTUME DESIGNER COSTUME MAKER COSTUMER CRITIC CUTTER DANCE CAPTAIN DANCER DAYMAN DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER (DSM) Usually shortened to DSM, this is a member of the Stage Management team. In the UK, the DSM is often "on the book" - that is, they are in charge of calling all of the technical and actor cues during the show, usually using a headset communications system and/or a system of cue lights. The DSM is often also in rehearsal working with the director to prepare the prompt book. Known in some places as a Stage Director. See also PROMPT BOOK, STAGE MANAGER. German: Inspizient DESIGNER DIALECT COACH DIRECTOR There are many types of director. Broadly, the role involves being responsible for the overall artistic vision of a production. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - Normally in charge of the programming of a venue. May also direct shows. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Manager in charge of the administration of a venue. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - In charge of the technical requirements of a production. (The term LIGHTING DIRECTOR is used in the UK for a TV Lighting Designer). DIT DOP DRAMA DRAMA TEACHER DRAMATIST DRAMATURG DRESSER EDUCATION DIRECTOR The Education Director is a member of the theatre staff and is responsible for fulfilling the outreach and educational programme of the theatre or company. This may involve organising activities and workshops, meeting with school teachers about organising trips and workshops, managing staff, preparing and delivering an Education Plan, conceiving and directing youth performances as the outcome of workshops etc. They may also develop resources on current productions. In some organisations they may also be known as the Education Manager, Outreach Co-Ordinator etc. *If you need more information about Education Director, please email with specific details of what you are looking for* FIGHT DIRECTOR FINANCIAL BACKER FLYMAN FOH MANAGER FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER GRIP HAND HOUSE MANAGER Duty member of theatre staff who is responsible for the Front of House staff and organisation for a particular performance. She/he is also responsible for the health and safety of the audience while they are in the theatre. See FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER. LIGHTING DESIGNER LIGHTING DIRECTOR LIGHTING OPERATOR LITERARY MANAGER A theatre company or producing venue may employ a literary manager to work on reading plays that are submitted to evaluate them and decide if any are suitable to be put into production. They may also be responsible for suggesting existing plays / texts to the theatre management and artistic team. LX Short for Electrics ('Elecs'). The department in the theatre responsible for stage lighting and sometimes sound and maintenance of the building's electrical equipment. Lighting cues in the prompt book are referred to as LX cues (abbreviated to LXQ). (In the USA, LX cues are known as Light Cues, and may use LQ instead of LXQ). LYRICIST Author of the text of a musical / the words of a song. See also DRAMATIST. MASTER 1) An overall control fader or lever on a lighting or sound control board. The Grand Master takes precedence over all other controls and allows the operator to fade out the entire output of the lighting desk.On a lighting desk the PRESET MASTER allows the control of a section of the desk independently from the rest. See also SUBMASTER. 2) An original (e.g. Master tape, master plan) which should be used only to make a copy from which to work. 3) A Department Head (e.g. Master Carpenter, Master Electrician). MASTER ELECTRICIAN MD 1) See MUSICAL DIRECTOR.2) Mini Disc. See DIGITAL RECORDING. MILLINER MUSICAL DIRECTOR MUSICIAN PM PRODUCER That person or body responsible for the financial and contractual side of a production. This can include the raising of money to stage the production, hiring the facilities, employing the technical crew, front of house and publicity staff, director and cast. The producer usually works closely with the director before embarking on a production. A person who provides the finance directly is known as an ANGEL. Submitted by Alan Williamson PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION SOUND ENGINEER PROMPTER PROPERTIES MANAGER The Props Manager / Properties Manager is in charge of the stock of props at a theatre. In the UK, the ASM (Assistant Stage Manager) is often responsible for propping a show (finding/buying props and organising the making of additional ones). Larger organisations might have a Prop Manager who is responsible for sourcing the props required for a show (or a series of shows). PROPERTY DESIGNER Also known as a Prop Designer. Specialist member of the design team, often working alongside the set designer, who is given the responsibility for designing specific props for a theatre, film or TV project. In theatre, many props are found, either from stock in a prop store, or in charity shops, or bought from local shops or online. The task here is matching props to the requirements of the script and/or the vision of the director & designer. Propping (sourcing props) isn't seen as a design task, until the prop has to be built from scratch, or where an existing object is enhanced with additional designed elements to disguise it, or to add functionality to it. PUBLICITY RF CO-ORDINATOR ROAD MANAGER (ROADIE) SCENIC CARPENTER SCENOGRAPHER SEAMSTRESS SET BUILDER SET DESIGNER Member of the artistic team for a show who works with the director to create the scenic 'look' for the stage throughout the show and any accompanying props. She/he sometimes also designs the costumes. The set designer works with the production manager to ensure the design stays within the budget. Many theatres have a stock of scenery which means that items can be reused by recovering or repainting in a different production In Europe, the set design is sometimes called 'D?cor'. See also MODEL, SCENOGRAPHER. Scenic Design at Theatrecrafts.com SET DRESSER SOUND DESIGNER Member of the production team who has the responsibility for planning and executing the layout of all sound playback and reinforcement equipment for the show. This role also includes the sourcing of music and sound effects for the production. See also SOUND OPERATOR. SOUND ENGINEER Member of the Sound Department / Audio Department, also known as Audio 1, who is responsible for operating the sound mixer to ensure that microphones and other audio sources are mixed to carry out the sound designers' vision for the show. Although many operations can be automated, to ensure that groups of microphones are unmuted at the right time, to ensure maximum quality and volume in the sound mix, faders must be continuously monitored and adjusted - only microphones that are needed at each precise moment should be 'live' so that no unwanted sounds are audible through the PA system. The sound engineer on a musical will usually have an assistant working backstage, who ensures that radio microphones are working, and are fully charged, and allocated to the correct performers. Any faults during the show should be remedied (by changing batteries, adjusting aerials or replacing microphone heads) and communicated to the sound engineer immediately to adjust the mix accordingly. SOUND OPERATOR Also known as Sound Op. The Sound Operator is responsible for operating the sound playback and mixing equipment for a show. He or she is sometimes a member of the Electrics department of the theatre and works with the sound designer for the production, or they may be employed just for the show. The main operator is called Sound No.1 (or Audio 1) A standby / second operator is Sound No.2 and so on. STAGE CREW STAGE DOOR KEEPER STAGE ELECTRICIAN STAGE HAND STAGE MANAGER The Head of the Stage Management team comprising the deputy stage manager (DSM) and assistant stage manager (ASM). The DSM is normally "on the book" calling the cues from the prompt corner. The ASM supervises props. Depending on the needs of the production, there may be a team of stagehands, usually casual employees. French: régisseur. German: Inspizient (also Theatermeister or Bühnenmeister) STITCHER SUPPORTING ARTIST (SA) TD TECH 1) Short for Technical Rehearsal. (e.g. 'The Tech took 14 hours') 2) A member of (amateur) crew ('I'm the lighting tech for this show') TECHIE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Often shortened to 'TD' the exact role of the Technical Director changes according to the size of the theatre company, and also according to your location in the world. In the US, the TD co-ordinates all technical aspects of the production, from organising crew calls to ensuring equipment is ordered, to liaising with the designers and sometimes adapting a design to fit the venue. In the UK, this person is usually called the PRODUCTION MANAGER. The TD role sometimes overlaps with that of the UK Stage Manager also. THEATRE CRITIC TOUR MANAGER UNDERSTUDY Also known as a COVER. A member of the cast of a musical or play who understudies one (sometimes more) of the principal roles and is also in the chorus. [For his or her role in the chorus, an understudy might have a character name, or might not.] Some understudies have gone on to become stars by outshining the actors they replaced. A Cover Call (or Understudy Call) is a rehearsal for the understudies, to keep them up to speed with their alternate roles. See also ALTERNATE, STANDBY, SWING. Submitted by Pierce Peter Brandt USHERS Members of Front-of-House staff who guide audience members to their seats, and often sit in the auditorium during the show in case of emergency. Sometimes also known as STEWARDS. Managed by the Front of House Manager (or FOH Manager). VENUE MANAGER VOCAL COACH WHITE GLOVE WIGS |