Chapter 5 A Day in the Life of a Theatre

9AM: Theatre Ensemble Flow Chart in Detail © 2013 Cengage Learning

10AM In the Office: Artistic Director: in charge of the overall creative vision of theatre. Producer: financially backs the theatre. Literary Manager: evaluates new scripts and acts as liaison between playwrights, agents and the theatre. Patrick Riviere/Getty Images

11AM Rehearsing and Building the Show Stage Manager: assists the director through the rehearsal process. Stage Manager: assists the director through the rehearsal process. Technical Director: supervises the construction crews. Technical Director: supervises the construction crews. Prop Master: in charge of all the objects the actors handle while on stage. Prop Master: in charge of all the objects the actors handle while on stage. Bruce Gilkas/FilmMagic/Getty Images Bob O’Connor/Getty Images

In the Costume Shop: Drapers study the Costume Designer’s drawings and cut fabric into patterns. Stitchers sew the fabric patterns together. NOON William Missouri Downs

1PM Musical director supervises all aspects of the musical. Musical director supervises all aspects of the musical. Choreographer creates dances and teaches the steps to performers. Choreographer creates dances and teaches the steps to performers. Fight director stages safe, realistic onstage fights. Fight director stages safe, realistic onstage fights. AP Photo/Damon Winter/The New York Times/Redux Pictures Keith Srakocic

2PM Sound Designer creates a soundscape and effects for the show. Sound Designer creates a soundscape and effects for the show. Set Designer creates the production design. Set Designer creates the production design. Dramaturg is a literary advisor. Dramaturg is a literary advisor. Drew Farrell/ArenaPAL/Topham/Image Works

3PM Production meeting takes place where all aspects of the production are discussed. Production meeting takes place where all aspects of the production are discussed. Mission statement declares the theatre’s purpose and key objectives. Mission statement declares the theatre’s purpose and key objectives. Damon Winter/The New York Times/Redux Pictures

4PM The Publicity Department is working to promote the next play. Louise Wilson/Getty Images

5PM During a concept meeting for next season, directors and designers brainstorm and research future productions. William Missouri Downs

6PM The actors enter through the stage door usually located behind the theatre. The actors enter through the stage door usually located behind the theatre. The time the actors arrive at the theatre is known as their call. The time the actors arrive at the theatre is known as their call. Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako

7PM The house is lingo for the place where the audience sits. The house is lingo for the place where the audience sits. The house manager is in charge of the ushers. The house manager is in charge of the ushers. The greenroom is the place where the actors wait before the entrances. The greenroom is the place where the actors wait before the entrances. © Don Turner. Property of Cengage Learning.

8PM The running crew consists of stagehands, dressers, and riggers. O. Rotem/Lebrecht/The Image Works

9PM Parts of the set can include legs, teasers, and the cyclorama. © Don Turner. Property of Cengage Learning.

10PM The show can’t run smoothly without the Lighting Board Op, Sound Board Op and the Stage Manager calling all the cues. Mike Goldwater/Alamy

11PM Time to roll out the ghost light, which remains onstage until the next day. Time to roll out the ghost light, which remains onstage until the next day. Bob O’Connor/Getty Images

Curtain Call A theatre’s ensemble can be divided into four categories: administrative, creative, construction and production. And at nearly any time of the day, members of the ensemble are hard at work on the elements that create contemporary professional theatre. O. Rotem/Lebrecht/Image Works