The following is a very general description of the roles
played by
the various members of a production team. Every production is
different so the specific responsibilities of each position may vary
from one production to the next but the following notes may give
a general idea of what is involved. The titles for the roles are
those used in programs. The pronouns “he” and “she” are each
used in a non-gender discriminatory sense and may be used
interchangeably.
Director
The Director has overall responsibility for the whole
production
from the time the play is chosen until the time it opens. After
studying the script in depth, he develops the overall concept for
the interpretation, style and staging of the production. He chooses
the Producer or asks the Vice President to find one, conducts
auditions to select the cast and cooperates with the Producer in
selecting the production crew. He schedules and conducts
rehearsals for the cast to develop the interpretation of the play
and coordinates the production aspects of the play (lights, sound,
costumes, set design etc.) to ensure that the original staging
concept is preserved. He is responsible for maintaining the morale
of the whole team to ensure that everyone has fun and that there
is no perceived discrimination between actors and crew. If he
has time, he will work with the actors to help them develop their
characters and their acting skills and ensure that their
interpretation is compatible with the overall concept of the play.
Assistant Director
The Assistant Director generally assumes any tasks delegated
to
her by the Director. This may include following the “book” and
making notes for the Director. An Assistant Director is often a
Director-in-Training and may deputize for a Director who cannot
attend a rehearsal. An Assistant Director should not give notes
directly to the cast as these may conflict with the Director’s
intentions and may be confusing.
