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• Producer


  The person who takes the play from a mere concept to an actual finished presentation
• Producer's responsibilities


  1. Chooses all the team members and assigns them their functions

  2. Oversees the casting of the actors and actresses for the different roles

  3. Decides on major logistical matters like when and where the play will be staged, the production schedule, and in most cases either finances all the production costs or else sources the funds needed
• Director


  The overall artistic coordinator of the entire production
• Director's responsibilities


  1. Instructs and guides the actors as to the delivery of their lines of dialogue

  2. Instructs and guides the actors as to their positions and movements on stage (called "blocking")

  3. Instructs and guides the actors as to the thoughts or feelings they are to convey through tone of voice, facial expression, and gestures

  4. Coordinates closely with the set lighting, sound, costume/makeup designers, and the choreographer (if the play involves dance) to create the envisioned total effect
• Playwright


  The writer of the script for a stage performance
• Playwright's work


  • The initial concept or plot may be original, and then developed into a play script
  • The script may be based on an existing story or another play which the playwright will then adapt to present in a new way
  • The script forms the basis of the entire production, contains the exact lines of dialogue that each character will memorize and deliver on stage, often with notes on tone of voice, facial expression, and even movement or blocking
  • The script provides a clear description of the set, props, and lighting to be used in each scene
• Set designer


  The person responsible for the concept and creation of the physical stage setup
• Set designer's work


  • Builds the set (or sets) that will simulate the world that the play's characters are supposed to live in
  • The set may be realistic and filled with authentic details, or it may be minimalist, merely suggesting the setting with a few pieces of furniture or props and a simple backdrop
• Lighting designer


  The person who coordinates closely with the set designer to create the lighting for the play
• Lighting designer's work


  • Lighting is critical in creating the mood of each scene in the play, highlighting a dramatic moment, signalling the entrance of a character, focusing attention on a specific spot on stage, or even providing the blanket of darkness for set and prop changes
• Costume designer


  The person responsible for ensuring the actors and actresses look believable in their roles
• Costume designer's work


  • Studies the general setting (time and place) that the play is meant to take place in, as well as each character in the script
  • Designs and sews costumes to meet the requirements of the play, or assembles costumes from available clothes and accessories with some additional touches as needed
  • For a modern or avant-garde play, the actors sometimes wear regular street clothes with a simple prop, a mask, or headgear to denote the characters they are playing
• Sound designer


  The person responsible for creating and enhancing the atmosphere of the performance
• Sound designer's work


  • Adds detailed notes to the script to serve as a guide for the sound crew during rehearsals and the actual performance
  • Includes special sound effects like thunder, birds chirping, rushing water, gunfire, passing cars, approaching footsteps, and the like
• Production manager


  The person responsible for coordinating all the complex behind-the-scenes details of staging a play
• Production manager's responsibilities


  • Oversees the crews for the sets and props, the sound and music, the lighting designer and the costumes
  • Ensures that all the needed elements, facilities, and equipment are not only available, but are in good working order, properly catalogued and labelled, and safely stored from one rehearsal to the next, up until the time of the performance
• Technical director


  The person who shadows the play's director throughout the entire production process
• Technical director's responsibilities


  • Carefully notes how each actor and every member of the stage, sound, lighting, and costume crews need to be coordinated to bring the director's vision to life
  • Ensures that every instruction is properly executed and that all the individual details work together seamlessly in the actual performance
• Choreographer


  The person responsible for planning and rehearsing the dance scenes in a play
• Choreographer's responsibilities


  • Plans out all the dance steps to suit the music and rehearses the actors until they are able to perform the dance skillfully while remaining "in character" on stage
  • Programs the moves of the opposing sides for any fight scenes so they can be executed not only believably, but safely as well
• Makeup designer


  The person responsible for planning the hairstyles and makeup to complement the costumes
• Makeup designer's work


  • Works through the wonders of makeup, face and body painting, and hair coloring
  • Employs other accessories like masks, wigs and hair extensions, headdresses, and even prosthetics to alter certain facial features or body parts