5.02 Take Two

Director

One of the most important jobs in theatre is that of the director. All aspects of a play are affected by the director and his/her "vision" of

• what the play is all about,

• what message this play is attempting to convey to the audience, and

• how the director sees fit to best convey this message.

The director explains to the crew what he wants to do.

A director is needed for any situation, whether it is a staged reading, a reader's theatre performance, or a full theatrical production. A director is not only in charge of all aspects of production, as an artist he or she has a vision that ties all performance elements together. Becoming a theatre director is not an easy undertaking, nor is it easy to actually become a theatre director. To learn about the specific duties and responsibilities of a theatre director, visit

• The Director's Job,

• Theatre director: Job description, and

• Qualifications for a Theatre Director.

 

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Producer

Similar to a director, the producer is also another member of a theatrical performance group who is in charge of different aspects of the show; however, depending on the theatre, the play, and the group with whom the producer is working, his or her responsibilities may vary, and some of producer's responsibilities may overlap with the responsibilities of the director. The producer invests the money, hires the workers, and accepts the financial risks to stage a theatrical production.

To put it simply, a producer is the person who can envision the end product and be involved in each step of the production process as it takes place. The producer's job is to find investors who are willing to provide the money to fund a show, hire the director and production staff, establish a budget, and make sure that all bills are paid. Often, in a smaller production or theatre, the producer and director are the same person.

Go to the following websites to learn more about a theatre producer's job and qualifications:

• Qualifications for a Theatre Director and

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Producers and Directors.

 

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Costume Designers

Costume designers have an important task designing costumes and making sure that these designs meet the demands of the performers.

As the person in charge of designing, making, and correcting all costumes for a play, the job of a costume designer is to make sure that each actor who walks on stage has clothing, masks, headwear, and accessories that are appropriate to the director's vision. What this entails is either locating or constructing each of the pieces needed and making sure that the actors not only look good, but also feel comfortable. The size of the job depends much on the size of the production, the type of play, and the director's creative interpretation of the play.

Read The The Costume Designer's Job to find out more about costume designers.

When designing costumes for characters, designers must think about their gender, occupation, position and status in society, occasion, and personality traits. A director ultimately decides the style of a play, and all props, set design, and costume design must be consistent with this tone and style.

Costumes can tell the audience about the time and place in which a play occurs. Based on the style of dress and the manner in which the characters wear the clothing, you can put the story of the play in the correct historical context.

Costumes can also indicate the type of personality characters may have. What they wear and how they wear it can tell the audience much about who they are and what they believe and think.

One major part of a costume designer's job is making sure that the costumes they design are functional. If the show is a musical, will the performers still be able to sing and dance on stage?

Two women are dressed in Renaissance masquerade costumes.

As a costume designer, there are various ways and methods that should be used to successfully plan the design of the costumes for any given performance. These include studying the time period and using inspiration from art, other creative work, and the imagination.

 

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Stage Design

Stage design is the visual masterpiece of a dramatic production as created by scenery, lighting, sound and costumes. Stage designers are responsible for designing stage settings for productions. This can range from single scene dramas to complex scenery and scene changes required by major production.

Read about set design as a career at the following websites:

• The Set Designer's Job

• National Careers Service: Set Designer

Read Read, Render, Realize: A step-by-step guide to set design from Dramatics magazine for more information about stage design and to learn more about how stage designers go about creating their masterpieces.

 

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Stage Lighting

Stage Lighting has always been an important element in the world of theatre, from ancient Greek times to today. Some of the first lighting cues can be seen in ancient Greek plays through references to sunrise and sunset, cloudy skies, or morning mistiness. The Greeks made use of the sun, moon, and clouds to create the desired stage effects; however, now modern technology assists to create the right light as well as the right mood, atmosphere, and effect on stage.

The primary function of light is to make objects or surroundings visible to the human eye. The purpose of stage lighting is to illuminate only what the director wants the audience to see at any given moment during a scene.

Lighting helps focus the audience's attention to certain areas, performers, or props. Lighting is also intended to create moods and emotions in a scene that will reinforce a particular moment. Color is key in creating the mood or directing the emotion of a scene. The use of hues and saturation in the stage lighting helps to convey what is going on, about to happen, or to redirect the emotions of the audience.

Lighting is intended to make the performers, scenic elements, and props appear three-dimensional against the other set pieces and the overall background.

The intensity of lighting can range from a dim glow to an explosion of light. This is what gives theatrical lighting its dramatic effect and look. From romantic situations on stage to war-like episodes, the intensity of lighting varies in order to create a particular effect.

Read Lighting Team to learn about possible careers in the industry. You can also see more about lighting from Theatre Crafts

 

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