Monday, September 10, 2018

Tongue Twisters - Part 1

have a service call out about an electrical problem in my home, I'm going to have to take a break from the Jobs in the Theatre series again and just post a quick fun post. So, here are some tongue twisters.



Tongue twisters are a great way to warm up vocals and facial muscles before theatre. Say them slowly over and over to practice annunication and to make sure that you are talking clearly. In your off time, have fun trying to say them faster and faster. Then have fun laughing with others when you inevitably mess up and say something strange. Here are some common tongue twisters as well as others. This will be a series that breaks into other series as there are many tongue twisters that exist and can constantly be created.

  • I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch.
  • Red leather, yellow leather.
  • We watch whales near Rwanda.
  • Ducks sitting on the city docks.
  • One smart fellow, he felt smart.
  • She sells sea shells by the seashore
  • She sees Swiss cheese.
  • Irrelevant elephant.
  • Willy's really weary.
  • Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks.


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Development Manager - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 19

The Development Manager is the person who is in charge of fund-raising, development, and communications with donors. He or she will work closely with the artistic director, general manager, and the producer to come up with fund-raising ideas and make sure that the theatre has enough funds to operate successfully.



The development manager engages with funders in order to dialogue about funding the theatre. He or she may have meetings one on one with individuals in order to get monetary contributions for the theatre. He or she will also research and implement new ways of raising money and come up with innovative fund-raisers for the theatre. The development manager will work closely with teams for raising funds and will also work with them in order to figure out ways of crowd-funding.

The development manager is in charge of all communication when it comes to fund-raising and monetary contributions unless this role is designated to another person at the time. The development manager will contribute to all key company communications that involve marketing and will oversee all donor communications. He or she will also manage the portfolios for people, businesses, and foundations that fund the theatre. The he or she will be the person that writes excellent quality reports that are evidence-based in order to show financial reports and that the finances are being used properly.

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Saturday, September 8, 2018

Scene Shop Supervisor - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 18

The Scene Shop Supervisor is the person that is responsible for seeing that the scene shop is run efficiently every day. He or she may be the supervisor over everything that is in a scene shop, or a scene shop may be broken down into parts such as a scene shop, a properties shop, an electrics shop, and a paint shop. If this is the case, the scene shop supervisor may have to oversee all parts of the scene shop or he or she may only be assigned overseeing the operations in the scene shop and other shops may have their own supervisors.



The scene shop supervisor also manages construction of theatre scenery. The very first thing that is done to accomplish this task is meeting with the artistic director, the technical director, the scenic designer, and sometimes the director of the play in order to find out what the vision is for the scenery. More meetings with these people may be necessary to make sure that the vision is being created successfully.

The scene shop supervisor will also teach the crews what they need to do. If the position is in a college, it is like the scene shop supervisor will need to teach students everything from the safety plan to how to construct sets. This may include teaching students about tools and their uses and then how to use them.

The scene shop supervisor will also come up with a schedule to make sure that the scenery is being completed on time. He or she will give help to others in the construction, placement, and rigging of scenery when needed. He or she will also make sure that the scene shop is constantly organized and will also conduct routine maintenance and upkeep of all scene shop tools.

When a production is over, the scene shop supervisor will help with strike in order to properly remove all scenery. It is then his or her job to decide what scenery can be kept to be used again (often repurposed and repainted), and what needs to be thrown out as it does not seem like it can be used again.

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Friday, September 7, 2018

Costume Shop Manager - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 17

The Costume Shop Manager's job is to supervise everything that goes on in the costume shop. Sometimes this position is called the Costume Shop Supervisor. The Costume Shop Manager will make sure that everything in the costume shop is organized and ready for whenever a production starts needing costumes to be made.



When pre-production of a show starts, the costume shop manager and the costume designer meet. They will review sketches and make a plan to help achieve the vision of the director and the costume artist. Then, a budget based on the discussed visions is made.

After this, staff is hired if there is not already a set staff. The budget is followed in order to buy the needed materials or costumes. The costume shop manager will supervise the staff when making costumes if there is a staff. Sometimes the costume shop manager is the person that makes the costumes. The costume shop manager will also talk to either the director or the stage manager (if the director has assigned the stage manager this duty) to schedule costume fittings for the cast members.

The costume shop manager will make sure that actors properly store their costumes - the full costume and any costume pieces or personal props that go with costumes - in the correct way. If costumes are not stored correctly, the costume shop manager will put them away after the actors have left the dressing room. When a production is finished, the costume shop manager will make sure to store all costumes properly if the theatre wants to keep them. If the theatre does not want to keep the costumes, it is likely that the costume shop manager will ask actors if they want their costumes and then find out if any other area theatres would like the costumes that were not taken by the actors.

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Thursday, September 6, 2018

Actor - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 16

An actor (or actress) is a person who performs in plays and other live productions. These can be cabaret shows, dinner theatre, revues, and skits among others. Sometimes these shows go on tour and the actors may be in the touring shows. Actors are responsible for making an audience feel like the characters they are portraying are real people and not just characters.



In order to make sure that the characters are perceived as real, an actor must constantly learn different techniques. An actor must be able to use his voice in different ways. Not all actors can manipulate their voices in a wide range or do accents, but it is good when an actor can do those things. An actor must also be able to adopt different physical attributions and gestures.

An actor in live theatre will also be able to use his facial expressions and gestures in order to show reactions. This can be extremely important as there are times that reactions must be shown to the audience, especially when a play breaks the fourth wall. The duties of an actor are to be at rehearsals, be at performances, learn lines, learn blocking, follow the instructions of the director, and help in ways that they are asked to help. An actor should never try to direct other actors. It is different to ask the director for input or even to simply discuss things with other actors when not in rehearsal. If an actor has "free time" during rehearsal, work such as running lines with other actors should be done.

It is important that an actor realizes he is not at the top of the theatre hierarchy. He is one of the lowest people when it comes to theatre hierarchy. Depending on the theatre, he may be the lowest or there may be some other crew members that are actually below actors. While a higher education is not needed to become an actor, much can be learned about acting if a higher education in acting or general theatre is earned. Sometimes live theatre actors go on to act in television and movies or to play characters in theme parks.

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Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Scenic Charge - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 15

The Scenic Charge may also be known as the Charge Scenic Artist, the Scenic Charge Artist, or the Scenic Artist. The scenic charge works closely with the technical director in order to accomplish the vision of the designers and the directors. This often means replicating the real world unless there is a different vision.



The scenic charge is essentially a painter. He or she will first meet with the designers in order to interpret the models for the colors and textures wanted for backdrops and set pieces. An important question often asked is,"Do I have to interpret your models literally?" In some theatres, it matters that models are interpreted exactly. In other theatres, the scenic charge has more creative control over set design.

Once these things are known, the scenic charge will create numerous samples for each element that needs painting and texture. Once this is done, a detailed operating procedure, often known as a recipe, is written so other designers can follow the exact steps to get the same effect for the set. The scenic charge also supervises the crew of scenic artists.

It is likely that the scenic charge will also be the one that must devise a budget related to painting the set including the materials and labor needed. Because of this, the scenic charge may also be the person responsible for buying paints and other materials for color and texture. It is the responsibility of whoever shops for these items to find the ones that have the best quality for the cheapest price.

The scenic charge is also responsible for creating a touch-up kit in case the set needs to be fixed. After painting is done, the scenic charge is responsible for making sure the entire paint area is cleaned properly. This may be done by supervising crew or as a single person.

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Box Office Manager - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 14

The box office manager (sometimes called the treasurer) is the person who is responsible for the sales of tickets, accounting of the money from ticket sales, customer service, and the supervision of the box office staff. If the position is in a professional theatre, the box office manager may be in charge of hiring box office staff and then conducting performance evaluations of the box office employees.



Whether there is a staff or only volunteers, the box office manager is the person that is in charge in training all box office staff in the proper procedures. He or she will make sure that all people who work in the box office are properly trained in how to use the ticket system, be it manual or automated. He or she will also make sure they know the proper procedure and policies for refunds and exchanges. These policies are establish by the box office manager with approval from any managers in the theatre that are above the box office manager.

The box office manager is the person who is ultimately responsible for all ticket sales. He or she will ensure the security of money being exchanged when tickets are bought or, if allowed by theatre policy, returned. When a show is touring or being held at a venue that is not a constant home, the box office manager coordinates with the venue owner and production staff to determine prices for tickets.

The box office manager will also determine box office hours and establish schedules for the workers in the box office. Then, after each performance, the box office manager reports the house count (the number of tickets sold) to the house manager (or whoever is specified to receive this report). This helps to make sure that none of the performances have been oversold.

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Monday, September 3, 2018

Technical Director - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 13

The technical director is the person that supervises all of the technicians and craftspersons that are involved with a show. This person has an extremely important job during rehearsals, during the show, and after the show.



During the rehearsal period, the technical director will evaluate and the drawings and models of the designer. If he or she feels that the technical and design crews can manage this design, both of them consult with the director. Once a final decision is made, the technical director makes the necessary purchases in order to carry out the design.

The technical director also draws up drafts and may be in charge of selecting the tech and lighting crews. He or she will come up with the schedules for set building and be certain to supervise all set building and clean up done after set building. He or she also runs technical rehearsal if the director is okay with that. However, all aesthetic decisions are given to the correct designer. The technical director carries out the wishes of the designers (who ultimately carry out the wishes of the director).

During the performance, the technical director gives the stage manager the "go" signal for when all technical and lighting crew are ready to start the show. He or she is also responsible for all of the backstage crew and will be present at performance in case anything goes wrong with the design or if there is an emergency.

After the performance, the technical director will supervise all dismantling of the set. He or she will make sure that the strike of the set goes safely. Then, he or she will also make sure that the area where the strike happened in thoroughly cleaned. The technical director will also be certain to be present at the post mortem (post show evaluation) in order to give input about how the set building went and if it stayed stable during the performances.

Update: The information I have provided in this blog post comes from current job position descriptions in theatres and college theatres. However, there are some people that say that the technical director is not in charge of supervising others. However, he or she is still in charge of drafting and building the set.

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Sunday, September 2, 2018

Broadway Bricks!

Today, I am having to take a break from the Jobs in the Theatre series because I got caught in some bad weather while traveling. I thought I would be back home, but that did not happen, so instead, I am in hotel without any of my information. Due to that, I am going to share some of my favorites from the Broadway Bricks series on Twitter.

I know that simply setting up Legos in a row is easy. However, these Legos are also painted like the characters in the show would look. Painting these figures takes dedication!

Waitress (on tour)


Moulin Rouge


Legally Blonde: The Musical


Spongebob: The Musical


Hamilton


View more great designs at Broadway Brick on Twitter.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Stage Manager - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 12

The stage manager is the person who assists the director and supervises rehearsals. Assisting the director is done by making sure to have a stage manager's kit in order to help the actors if there are any injuries or emergencies. The kit may also hold helpful items for rehearsals such as books to understand the language of the play if necessary.



The stage manager may have to make a special copy of a script in order to make a prompt book or one might be ordered for the stage manager. The prompt book will definitely contain all the stage directions for the actors and it will also contain the calls for lighting and sound cues. The stage manager is in charge of keeping the prompt book and bringing it to rehearsal in order to remind actors of where they are supposed to be and even to remind the director of the stage directions that he or she gave the actors. The stage manager must be ready to change the stage directions if the director decides that he or she likes different movement, especially if the performance space has changed from the rehearsal space.

It is also likely that the prompt book will contain a diagram of the stage and the set. There may be copies of this on the back of each page and movements may by each character might be marked in a different color for each character. Not all stage managers do this, but some do and it helps to keep everything organized for the production. There may also be charts of what characters are in what scenes so both the stage manager and director know who needs to be at rehearsal. It is the stage manager's responsibility to contact every member that needs to be at rehearsal if they are not there by around 15 minutes before call time, or earlier if specified by the director. Thus, it is important to create a contact sheet that has names and phone numbers in order to contact all people in the production.

The stage manager's kit will include band aids of all sizes, neosporin, perhaps another type of ointment, and if the play is being performed outside, it may even contain bug repellent and sunscreen. It is also likely that the stage manager's kit will contain aspirin, Advil, Pepto Bismol, and Immodium. Then, while it can be embarrassing, it is also likely that the stage manager's kit will include feminine sanitary pads and tampons. It is important that the stage manager be ready for any emergency that might arise with any of the actors.

Once rehearsals are going well and the stage manager has recorded all the blocking and other stage directions that he or she will rehearse replacement casts or understudies. Once rehearsals are completely over and the production begins, the production is completely in the hands of the stage manager. It is no longer the director's responsibility to ensure things go smoothly.

Being that the stage manager creates the script with all of the blocking and stage directions, once a production is over a stage manager may work with a publishing company. The reason for this is to come up with a version of the performance script that others can buy. This is especially true when it comes to new Broadway shows.

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Friday, August 31, 2018

Choreographer - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 11

A choreographer is the person responsible for creating and teaching dance and other stylized movement to actors on the stage. It is important that a choreographer be able to teach and communicate well because actors have to learn from this person.



The choreographer will also read and understand the play. That way movements and dances will match with the story. Then, it is important that the choreographer works closely with all of the design teams including lighting, costumes, and set because the movements for actors have to work with what they are wearing and what they are near. Then, there are times that lighting may need to match certain sound or musical cues.

The choreographer will also work extremely closely with the director. It is important that the choreographer understand the director's vision for the play. If the performance is purely dance or stylized movement, the director may give the duty of directing to the choreographer. It is also important that the choreographer know how to create new dances by being familiar with different types of dance styles and dance moves. This is because dances from Broadway are copyrighted and if other productions want to claim a copyright on dance moves, they can.

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

Music Director - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 10

The music director is the person that oversees all aspects of a theatrical production that involve music. This music can be live or recorded. It may be a combination of both things as well. The music director may be in charge of all live music or he or she may be in charge of overseeing others such as conductors and directors hired to be in charge of music.



The music director will read a play and understand how the music in it helps to serve the show. He or she will understand how it brings out emotions, helps the characters, and enhances the story telling. The musial director will make sure to be present, unless otherwise stated, or the casting and possible hiring of singers, orchestra members, and other musicians.

Once members are cast or hired as actors and musicians, the musial director may be in charge of teaching music to everybody. At the least, the musical director will make sure that all people are being taught music by the appropriate people delegated to that task. If teaching the music, it is like that the musical director will lead warm ups. The musical director, if not directly teaching and leading rehearsals, should be sure to attend at least a few of the musical rehearsals.

Once the play is coming together as a whole, the musical director will work closely with the sound designers in order to figure out where recorded sounds and music happen in the show if they are there. The sound designer may not be needed if live music is the only thing used. However, a sound designer will be an important part of the music director's team any time even the slightest recorded sound is used in a production. This can be even the pre-show and intermission music.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Dramaturg - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 9

People often think that a dramaturg is only responsible for historical research and bringing that into the theatre. However, the dramaturg does much more than only historical research. The dramaturg usually talks mainly to the director, but will work closely with every person or team in the theatre.



Some people call the dramaturg the glue that holds everything together. It is like all of the other people - the director, the designers, the actors, and others who work on the production are pieces of paper that need to be held together and the dramaturg is the glue that holds them all together. Others prefer to compare the dramaturg and the rest of the team to weaving terms. All the other people are the warp, so the strands go vertically up and down. They can't be held together without the weft. The weft is the yarn or material that goes left and right to weave the material together. Of course, ultimately, it depends on what the director wants the dramaturg to do.

Check out posts from the earlier series: Examples of What Dramaturgs Do:



So, the dramaturg does do historical research. However, other research such as looking into possible lighting ideas to give to the director and lighting designer are a possible thing she may do. She may write a study guide for the play being produced. She may write publicity to send to schools and community members. She may work on organizing talkbacks.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Marketing Director - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 8

The marketing director is in charge of finding out the particular wants and needs of patrons and possible future patrons of the theatre. This is done in a variety of ways through market research. It is important to figure out what a theatre can do to win patrons over the competition.



Competitions for theatre include sports, video games, television, movies, and can even include other theatre companies if the companies in a city do not work together in order to support each other. Once these are figured out, they can go into the marketing plan, which is also a responsibility of the marketing director.

The marketing director is also usually in charge of media relations. He or she will work closely with the graphic designer to approve designs for advertising in local media. He or she will also work closely with the graphic designer in order to make in-house media such as theatre newsletters, season brochures, and programs.

While some of the advertising, media relations, and publicity may be delegated to others, it is usually the marketing director that is in charge over these people. The marketing director will work closely with whoever is over each small part to ensure that the theatre's marketing goals are accomplished.

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Monday, August 27, 2018

Business Manager - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 7

The business manager in a theatre is the person who is in charge of all the financial aspects. In a large theatre, the business manager will oversee that the proper actions are being completed by each person to which they are delegated. In a smaller theatre, the business manager may be the only person who takes care of financial matters.



The business manager will know the most up-to-date status of the theatre's financial health. He or she is an extremely important person in the theatre because of this. It allows the theatre to know what can be spent in different ways.

The business manager pays bills, executes payrolls, makes financial deposits, and keeps financial records. He or she is also responsible for the money that comes through the box office and concessions. He or she also deals with accounting, taxes, financial reporting, and dealing with auditors.

The business manager may also help with budgeting, concessions, contracts for both producing plays and hiring employees, licensing rights for plays, union negotiations, endowments, investments, and personnel policies. He or she is also the primary liaison with the business community. While the business manager may also be given the title "director of finance," it is important to realize that he or she is a principal executive of the theatre and not just a bookkeeper.

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Sunday, August 26, 2018

Company Manager - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 6

A company manager is in charge of many things for a theatrical company. Just like it sounds, this position should be filled when a company of actors exists, and not just a theatre where students and/or community members act. When a company tours, the company manager is the top representative for the theatre company.



The company manager is responsible for booking all travel and housing accomodations for the company. He or she is also responsible for being intimately knowledgable of contracts in order to specify what is required for each show according to the producer. The company manager also responsible for letting theatres know about the cast's needs and problems.

The company manager should also keep in constant contact with the other managers of the theatre. Sometimes there is a general manager over all the other managers and other times there is not. However, daily e-mails and phone calls should be made to the specified manager. Weekly correspondence concerning programs, petty cash reconciliations, box office statments finanacial settlements, check registers, and media reviews should be e-mailed to the specified manager of the theatre.

When a company is not on tour, the company manager is responsible for payroll, ticket requests, payment of bills, royalties, and other various management issues. Payroll can be difficult because it is never the same each time it is issued due to the possibility of differest cast and crew. There are companies that can help with this aspect of the job. When there is not a company manager, these duties are assigned to other managers or the producer.

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Saturday, August 25, 2018

The Mountaintop in Lake Charles for Seven More Performances

Camae, the newly hired maid of the the Lorraine Motel stands on the bed while wearing the jacket and shoes of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She gives a passionate speech while Rev. King watches from the other bed in the room. When she finishes, Rev. King asks her if that is really what she would have him say.



The first act of the play then ends with Rev. King refelcting on how he is now 39 and that Malcolm X was 39 when he was killed. The second act of the play reveals more about this mysterious maid who seemed to produce cigarettes out of thin air and know more about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King than he let most people know.

The play is The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. It is a re-imagining of the night before Rev. King was assassinated. It is currently playing at The Lake Charles Little Theater. Dr. Mary Guidry-Ringo, a veteran of the stage, gives a wonderful and thought-provoking performance of Camae. Minister Darol King, Sr. gives a heart-wrenching performance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The only truly confusing part of the play was that there were times some type of a hissing sound seemed to be employed. However, that did not take away from the play. The play is directed by Dan Sadler and assistant directed by Joseph Comeaux. Costumes are by Heather Partin and Hari and Make-Up is by Kevin Driscol.

There are seven more chances to see this wonderful and extremely emotional play. You can buy tickets online from The Lake Charles Little Theatre or in person at the box office before the show. The show runs on Fridays through Sundays from Sunday, August 26, 2018 to Sunday, September 9, 2018. On Fridays and Saturdays, the show starts at 7:30pm and on Sundays, it starts at 3pm. The Lake Charles Little Theatre is located at 813 Enterprise Blvd in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

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Friday, August 24, 2018

Zoo Story in Lake Charles for One More Performance

Two men are on a bench and one starts tickling the other. The one being tickled can't control his laughter and states that the parakeets are making dinnner and the cats are setting the table. While this is extremely funny, it is only part of Edward Albee's Zoo Story.



Jonathon Richards and William Lormand as Jerry and Peter give an excellent performance. You can tell that both of them are extremely talented and easily show the emotions that go with the play's dialogue. The play is intense and you easily feel the unease that is given by Jonathon while playing Jerry.

The play is set in a park, so a bench in an empty space in a coffee shop works perfectly for this play. There are a row of lights that work for the daylight sun and then the end of the play when the lights go down. The settign is also extremely intimate. While little work was needed for the set, you can tell the work that the actors put into knowing their lines and providing the emotion needed.

There is one more performance of Zoo Story at Stellar Beans on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 7pm. Stellar Beans is located at 319 Broad St. in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Doors open at 6pm and tickets are $10 general admission or $7 with the purchase of food or a beverage (although no iced beverages will be sold) provided by Stellar Beans. Come support local theatre.

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Thursday, August 23, 2018

Director - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 5

A director is the person that is responsible for guiding actors all throughout rehearsals in order to achieve the vision that the director has for a play. This entails many duties involving the play itself, actors, and other teams and workers in the theatre. It is important that the director be able to work closely with others. While some theatres have a resident director (meaning that there is always a director available to direct a play), most theatres hire directors on a freelance basis. Even when there is a resident director, some theatres may invite guest directors.



The director must read the script and come up with a vision for it. Sometimes the script specifies how it is to be staged. This may include the set and blocking, just the set, or just the blocking. Other times, everything is left up to the director's vision. Either way, the director still has to analyze the script to figure out what he or she wants the actors to do and how he or she feels they should be saying lines. While the director will most likely let the actors make personal choices (although there are some that treat actors like pawns and tell them exactly what to do), there will be some ways that the director will want to see things on or hear things from the stage. The director will guide actors and will work with them one on one or in small groups when needed.

The director is also responsible for holding auditions. Sometimes the director is responsible for casting people in roles. Other times, this is delegated to a casting director. However, the production's director will most likely still be at auditions and discuss casting with the casting director.

During the rehearsal process, the director will also attend production meetings that are held so the different departments can discuss what is needed for the production. Once the entire rehearsal process is done, the director's job is done. It is then up to the director (unless there is a certain contract in the theatre specifying what should be done) to attend or not attend the performances of the play.

The director will also set a rehearsal schedule. If there is a production manager, the director will work closely with that person in order to figure out a rehearsal schedule and help that person be able to keep others on schedule so everything is ready for the production.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Production Manager - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 4

When a theatre has a production manager, that person is responsible for supervising all aspects of a production and allocating the budget for resources. This position may not be found in a theatre because the duties assigned to a production manager may be assigned to a producer. It is also possible that a theatre will have both and the duties will be split or even shared.



It is important that the production manager works closely with all of the departments in the theatre. This includes all of the departments that work backstage. A main duty is making timelines to make sure all work is completed in a timely manner in order for a production to take place. If needed, the production manager will provide help in however the theatre sees fit. This may be by hands-on help or it may be by finding people to hire if that is within the theatre's budget.

The production manager is a liaison between the different deparents of a theatre. He or she checks on what is needed in each department. The production manager may also be in charge of the budgets for different departments and making sure that they are followed. Another duty may be hiring and firing cast and crew.

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