Fundamentals of Play Production

Production Staff DIRECTOR—OVERSEES ENTIRE PROCESS OF STAGING PRODUCTION PRODUCER—HANDLES BUSINESS END OF PRODUCTION SECURES RIGHTS AND ROYALTIES RAISES MONEY HIRES ACTORS AND STAFF SUPERVISE PUBLICITY

DIRECTOR’S SKILLS INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, FOCUS AND COMMUNICATE WITH ACTORS AND CREW CONCENTRATION, PATIENCE AND IMAGINATION STRONG VISUAL SENSE—ABILITY TO CREATE STAGE PICTURES UNDERSTANDING RHYTHM, PACING AND STYLE OF PLAY BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF TECHNICAL THEATRE ANALYZE PLAY FOR PLOT, CHARACTER, SETTING AND THEME

DIRECTOR’S STAFF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR STAGE MANAGER KEEPS REHEARSAL PROCESS ORGANIZED, HELPS RUN REHEARSALS STAGE MANAGER LIAISON BETWEEN DIRECTOR AND TECHNICAL STAFF; RUNS SHOW DURING PERFORMANCES PROMPTER FEED LINES TO ACTORS DURING OFF BOOK REHEARSALS; CORRECTS INCORRECT BLOCKING DRAMATURG RESPONSIBLE FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY OF PLAY REPORTS TO DIRECTOR, CAST, AND CREW GIVES ADVICE ON COSTUME, SET, AND PROP DESIGN CLARIFIES PRONUNCIATION AND MEANINGS OF UNCLEAR LANGUAGE CREATES LOBBY DISPLAY AND NOTE TO AUDIENCE IN PROGRAM

PRODUCER’S SKILLS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS UNDERSTANDING OF COSTS FOR A TYPICAL PRODUCTION PROJECT AND MANAGE EXPENSES PREDICT AUDIENCE’S RECEPTION ANALYZE PLAY FOR ARTISTIC AND COMMERCIAL MERIT

PRODUCER’S STAFF BUSINESS MANAGER PUBLICITY MANAGER HOUSE MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FUNDS PAYING BILLS MANAGING EXPENSES TICKET SALES AND PROGRAMS PUBLICITY MANAGER PROMOTES THE SHOW IN THE COMMUNITY—ADVERTISING AND GRAPHIC DESIGN DESIGNS SHOW LOGO, T-SHIRTS HOUSE MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEATING AND COMFORT OF THE AUDIENCE

PRODUCTION TEAM: DIRECTOR, PRODUCER AND DESIGN TEAM DESIGN TEAM: ALL TECHNICAL DESIGNERS MEET EARLY ON TO DISCUSS PRODUCTION CONCEPT PRODUCTION CONCEPT: HOW THE PLAY SHOULD LOOK AND FEEL DIRECTOR COMES UP WITH THIS AFTER CONSULTATION WITH PRODUCER AND SCRIPT; PRODUCTION TEAM HELPS TO DEFINE AND REFINE IT.

Types of Rehearsals Reading Rehearsal Blocking Rehearsals Attended by all members of cast and production team Cast engages in a read thru of the script, production team listens, takes notes, and prepares Blocking Rehearsals Rehearsals in which the director co-ordinates all the planned movements on stage All gestures and movements must be meaningful Director works to create balanced, unified, and proportional stage pictures that help to tell the story

Working Rehearsals Polishing Rehearsals Technical Rehearsals most creative part of rehearsal process; actors develop their interpretation the character and words and actions are put together Actors are OFF BOOK (lines memorized) during Working Rehearsals Polishing Rehearsals During final weeks of rehearsal period, when all the essential elements of the production are in place Technical Rehearsals Final week of rehearsal, when lights, sound, and stage changes are co-ordinated by the various crews Dress Rehearsal: final rehearsal, usually before an invited audience, before the first performance