Trying to explain to your admin why you need a larger budget – or a budget at all? Here’s is a list of Who’s Who Behind the Scenes in high school theatre for you to present to them. Not every production or event will need every person on this list, and large productions will need all of them and more, and your theatre may vary in its needs, so feel free to copy this and adapt as necessary. (You can also use this as a quiz for your beginning students!)
DIRECTOR - directs the actors in the show – in a high school this is usually the Drama teacher or a guest director, sometimes students assistant-direct full length shows or direct One Act plays.
CHOREOGRAPHER - choreographs any dance pieces in the show – this can be a teacher within the school (some sports teachers also know dance), a hired choreographer from a local dance company, or a particularly talented student.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR - works with the actors on any vocal pieces in the show, and/or rehearses and conducts the orchestra or band that plays with the show. There can be a vocal director and an instrumental director, or one person who does both. Again, a teacher (sometimes the school’s choir and/ or band teacher), a hired musician from the community, or a particularly talented student.
STAGE MANAGER (SM) - assists the director at rehearsals, runs the show every night, calls all the cues, in charge back stage. In high schools, this is usually a student. Once the curtain goes up on opening night the student Stage Manager is fully in charge.
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER (ASM) - assists the Stage Manager, sometimes is in charge of props. Sometimes also known as the Deck Manager - if the SM is calling the show from the booth the ASM will be in charge of what goes on on the stage deck.
PROPERTY MASTER/MISTRESS (PROPS) – procures or creates the props (any object used by the actors which is not permanently built into the set), sets out the props used by the actors every night, makes repairs as necessary.
SET DESIGNER - designs the set, oversees the construction of the set. In high school theatre this can often be a well-meaning parent who has usually had some construction experience, or a certificated vocational tech theatre teacher.
SET CREW - builds the set, usually the student and/or parents.
RIGGING/STAGE CREW – usually students, who move the set pieces and scenery during the show.
COSTUME DESIGNER - designs the costumes, oversees the making of the costumes, makes repairs as necessary. In high school theatre this can often be a creative parent who has sewing and design experience, sometimes a professional from the community, or a certificated vocational tech theatre teacher.
COSTUME CREW - sews the costumes, usually the students and/or parents.
DRESSERS - help the actors with any quick or complicated costume changes during the show.
MAKE-UP ARTIST - designs the make-up, may help with application of complicated make-up. Usually students or parent volunteers take on this role for shows with more complicated make-up. If not, each actor is responsible for his or her own make-up.
LIGHTING DESIGNER - designs the light plot, oversees the hang and focus, attends tech rehearsals and decides on light levels to be set throughout the play. This is a specialty area, not usually found from within the school, like construction or sewing, so usually a Lighting Designer is hired from the community, a theatre technician employee who performs this task, or a certificated vocational tech theatre teacher.
LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR - programs the light board for tech rehearsals and runs the light board for the performances. Usually a student with a strong interest in lighting.
MASTER ELECTRICIAN - helps with hang and focus, is the technician or student who is most familiar with the craft. The Master Electrician can also be the Light Board Operator but not always.
ELECTRICIANS or LIGHT TECHNICIANS - help with hang and focus, assists the Master Electrician if needed during the show, such as for gel changes, re-patching, helping execute a particularly difficult manual cue on the light board, etc.
SOUND DESIGNER - designs the sound cues, oversees placement of mics on stage and/or on actors, attends Tech Rehearsals and decides on sound levels to be set. This is a specialty area, not usually found in the outside world like construction or sewing, so usually a Sound Designer/Engineer is hired from the community, or a theatre technician employee who performs this task, or a certificated vocational tech theatre teacher.
SOUND BOARD OPERATOR - programs the sound board for tech rehearsals and runs the sound board for the performances. Usually a student with a strong interest in sound.
MIC WRANGLER – in charge of helping the actors put their headset mics on backstage before and during a performance. Usually a student.
RIGGER – when hanging scenery or drops ALWAYS have the processed supervised by a qualified rigger. Remember that you are hanging hundreds of pounds of weight overhead. The correct hardware and process must be used.
RUNNING CREW – the people who move the sets and fly the scenery, during a show. Usually a team of students supervised by a theatre technician.
