The Roles of Artistic Director and General Manager in Theatre

Artistic director = Leads the general artistic direction of the company General manager = Manages the theatre office staff (including box office) Technical director = Works alongside the production manager and is responsible for the execution of all technical aspects of a theatrical production Director = Responsible for taking the text of a play to make sense of it and to make artistic choices in order to transpose it to the stage by dramatizing it

Production manager = Coordinates the general organization of a production and ensures deadlines are respected Stage manager = Manages all rehearsals and coordinates the organisation of rehearsals and performances Assistant stage manager = Ensures smooth logistics on stage and backstage during performance Lighting designer = Responsible for the conceptualization of the lighting design and manages installation

Set designer = Assumes the conceptualization of the theatrical space (the set) according to the staging Head carpenter = Responsible for producing estimates for the purchase of the materials for the set and is responsible for the construction of the set Sound designer = Responsible for the conceptualization of the sound design and aural environment Costume designer = Responsible for the conceptualization of costumes and costume accessories

Six months before opening = Hire the production personnel (set, costumes, light, sound designer, etc) and organise auditions 4 months before opening = Determine the budget and casting, finalise preliminary costume and set designs 8 to 12 weeks before opening = Determine the rehearsal schedule and the production calendar, ground plan is complete and construction drawings shared with the builder 3-4 weeks before opening = Organise measurements with the costume director and rehearsal props are due

3 weeks before opening = Lighting design has begun and final costume fittings 2 weeks before opening = Install the set on the stage, hang and focus the lights, and set painting is completed 1 week before opening = Final deadline for props and costume fittings Opening night = Tech week, sound and lighting levels sessions, costume parade, Q2Q technical rehearsals and run-throughs

Reserve the performance venue = One year before opening Create a preliminary budget = One year before opening Determine casting = 4 months before opening Final costume fittings = 3 weeks before opening

Leads all production meetings = Production manager Works under the authority of the artistic director = Director Coordinates the organization of rehearsals and performances = Stage manager Responsible for taking the text of a play to make sense of it = Director

Assumes the conceptualization of the theatrical space (the set) according to the staging = Set designer Responsible for producing estimates for the purchase of the materials for the set = Head carpenter Responsible for the conceptualization of the lighting design and manages installation = Lighting designer Responsible for the conceptualization of the sound design and aural environment = Sound designer

Technical director = Works under the authority of the artistic director and the general manager, overseeing the execution of technical aspects of a production Production manager = Works under the authority of the artistic director and the general manager, managing the general logistics of a production Assistant stage manager = Works under the authority of the stage manager, ensuring smooth logistics on stage and backstage during performance Costume designer = Works under the authority of the production manager and the director, responsible for the conceptualization of costumes and costume accessories

3-4 weeks before opening = Finalise the construction drawings and share them with the builder 2 weeks before opening = Install the set on stage 1 week before opening = Final deadline for props and costume fittings Opening night = Tech week and final rehearsals