Although the audience typically only sees the actors on stage, it typically takes dozens of people, if not hundreds, to produce a Broadway show. The Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show in Broadway history, had an opening night cast of 33 actors in addition to 14 understudies. The show’s production staff featured more than 40 people working on just the music alone, while dozens of others worked in production design, casting, directing, costuming, and stage management, among other roles.
Putting together a musical or play, especially on Broadway, is a collaborative effort that requires passion and dedication to the art of theater. Below is a look at the responsibilities of six particularly important backstage theater roles.
Choreographer
Especially vital for musical theater productions, choreographers create intricate dance routines for the actors and also dictate how they move on stage when they’re not performing a number. A position that has been integral to theater since the Greek classical age, choreographers read through and analyze the script of a musical before developing interpretive dance routines to match each song. They also attend rehearsals to ensure all cast members are performing these routines at the highest of levels.
While there is no formal training to become a choreographer, most have an extensive background in dance and have studied various routines since they were young. Aspiring choreographers usually work in an assistant capacity under more experienced professionals before taking the lead on Broadway productions.
Set Designer
The set is an especially important element of any theater show as it serves as a backdrop to the action on stage and helps audience members connect to the story. Like choreographers, set designers first need to read through and become familiar with the script to inform their set concepts. They typically manage teams responsible for creating and executing their vision and build and photograph scale models. They also have to share their ideas with props, lighting, make-up, and costume departments.
Set designers not only need to be aware of how to create eye-catching sets but need to do so within budget. There’s no standard formal education for set designers, but academic programs in design, fine art, lighting, or interior design can help complement the skills needed to excel in the role.
Costume Designer
The role of costume designer is rather self-explanatory, but involves more than just designing clothes and other apparel for the actors. Costume designers must perform extensive research, especially for plays or musicals set in the past, to ensure design accuracy. They also need to have a good rapport with the director to ensure their design ideas match the overall vision of the production.
Costume designers need to be competent in sewing, have an eye for detail, and be able to articulately communicate their ideas in a collaborative and fast-paced environment. Wardrobe assistant is a common introductory role for aspiring costume designers.
Production Manager
Production managers are responsible for ensuring the technical elements of a production are completed on time, within the budget, and safely. They collaborate with the management team, designers, and technical crew and can work on multiple productions simultaneously. In essence, they serve as the chief financial officer of the show and oversee all finance-related decisions. They also establish the production schedule, organize meetings for cast and production staff, and produce construction drawings for scenery elements.
In contrast to most creative positions, the production manager role is typically reserved for those with a formal credential in technical theater or subjects such as lighting, events management, performance production, and business.
Stage Manager
The stage manager shares many of the same responsibilities as the production manager. Both individuals communicate daily with different departments, but the stage manager’s job is to ensure all creative decisions and rehearsals are going as planned whereas the production manager checks in with departments to make sure all creative decisions align with the production’s budget. The stage manager does, however, liaise with the production manager on budgetary decisions.
The stage manager’s primary responsibilities also include creating rehearsal schedules, managing props, arranging wig and costume fittings, creating prompt scripts with notes on actors’ requirements and cues, and changing set and props as necessary between scene changes. They also manage the onstage area and backstage during performances.
Lighting Designer
Considered a theatrical technician along with costume staff and scenic carpenters, lighting designers are tasked with planning all lighting elements of a show to match the artistic vision of the director. They work in coordination with light board operators, who make sure all lighting elements are executed as planned during the show.
The position and its requirements can be learned on the job as an associate lighting designer, but it can help to undergo training in electronics. Those with experience in the position can also find work in music concerts and photo shoots.