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This section outlines a typical staffing structure for a play or musical. Please remember
that every theatre is different (and dance and opera companies may be very
different); some will have much less staff and have one person filling two or more jobs (with
or without the actual job titles), while others may categorize jobs differently than we have
below.
Theatre, dance, and music productions do not "just happen". It takes the combined
efforts of many people (or, as is often the case, a very few people doing many jobs).
Just as productions cannot be succesfully mounted without designers and technicians,
neither can they do so without people to sell tickets, market the event, and manage
the business end of the operation.
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Administrative:
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These are the people who provide the management functions which allow patrons to become
aware of the event, buy tickets, find their seats, etc. They are also the people who see that
the rest of the staff gets paid.
- Producer
- Clerical Staff
- Box Office Staff
- Marketing
- Group Ticket Sales
- Development Staff
- Grants Writers
- Individual Donor Coordinators
- Production Accountant, Human Resources, Payroll, etc. . . .
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Artistic:
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These are the people who are part of the creative process.
- Playwright
- Director
- Designers:
- Lighting
- Set
- Costume
- Sound
- Makeup
- Hair
- Choreographer
- Music Director
- Stage Manager (Some organizations place this position under "Production")
- Actors, dancers, musicians, et. al.
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Production:
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In general, the members of the "production" department are tasked with executing the designs
and/or intent of the corresponding members of the "artistic" department.
- Stage Manager (may be under "Artistic")
- Production Manager
- Technical Director
- Scenic Artist
- Construction Carpenters (although sets may be built by an outside studio)
- Stagehands & Wardrobe
- Carpenters & metal workers
- Electrics
- Master Electrician: Supervises the entire department
- Board Operator: Operates the console - runs most
of the cues. Occasionally, the Master Electrician
will be the board operator and it's quite common
in Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, and other small
professional theatres for the Stage Manager to
operate the lighting console. Large productions may hire
a specialist to program moving lights.
- Followspot Operators
- Deck Electricians: Perform color changes and other electrical
work backstage during performances.
- Other Electricians: Hang and focus the plot
- Props
- Sound
- Wardrobe
- Riggers
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Some companies may contract out some of these positions while others may do everything
"in-house". Some organizations may have positions not mentioned above. Specifically, in many
small companies, members of the Artistic department may also serve administrative and
production functions.
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