Running crew

Last updated April 30, 2024

In theatre, the running crew (also run crew or stage crew) are members of the technical crew who supervise and operate ("run") the various technical aspects of the production during a performance.^[1]^[2] While the "technical crew" includes all persons other than performers involved with the production, such as those who build and take down the sets and place the lighting, the term "running crew" is generally limited to those who work during an actual performance.

Crew positions

A typical running crew will include any or all of the following positions, depending on the nature and size of the production, and the complexity of the technical requirements. Each position is organized by the most common title; depending on the country, type of production, and producing organization, different titles may be used for the same position. (This also depends on what the director classifies it all as.)

Stage management

Assistant stage manager: Assists the stage manager in their duties. Generally, one assistant stage manager is in charge of running backstage operations during a show.
Props Master: Responsible for maintenance and placement of hand props before scenes as well as their subsequent retrieval after the scene. Additionaly props masters run the properties department and work to ensure that all props exist within the theater and are easily locateable should they not already be where they need to be (i.e. maintaining a prop table).^[3]
Assistant Props Master: Assists the prop master in their duties usually taking one side of the stage during a performance.^[3]
Call boy: responsible for alerting actors and actresses of their entrances in time for them to appear on stage, on cue.

Lighting

Light board operator: operates the lighting control system by activating lighting cues at the direction of the stage manager. Sometimes this is integrated with the show control system.^[4]
Deck Electrician: responsible for placing, connecting, and/or operating stage lighting units, such as stage lights. Sometimes, they are necessary to have during scene changes, in the case of moving set pieces with lighting equipment inside. Typically, more than one will be backstage.
Master Electrician: responsible for the maintenance and operation of dimming & power distribution systems during a performance, including "hot" or "live" patching. Occasionally, some of these duties could also be delegated to the run crew's deck electricians.^[4]
Spotlight Operator (or follow spot operator/dome operator): operates a type of lighting instrument called a follow spot, which allows a performer to be lit evenly no matter where on stage they may go. It can typically be found in the lighting booth, along with the light board op. Also, some theaters have followed spots located above a false ceiling, on the catwalk.

Sound

Sound operator (A1): operates the sound board and/or audio control system specified by the sound designer, computerized or otherwise. Sometimes this is integrated with the show control system. There can be multiple soundboard ops. Alternative names/technical labels for the position include: A1.^[5]
Mic wrangler (A2): manages microphones and maintains headsets as a show runs. Usually, there are several mic wranglers located backstage, in the wings, with the running crew. Alternative names/technical labels for the position include: A2, A3, Audio Technician.^[5]

Stage

Flymen (or fly crew/rail crew): operate the fly system, a system of ropes or wires, pulleys, and counterweights by means of which scenery is "flown" in and out (down and up, respectively) during scene changes.
Stagehand: A technician responsible for moving scenery at the stage level, by manually carrying or rolling set pieces (e.g., scenery wagons) between the stage and the wings. This can include carrying on and off furniture, props, or scenery.

Costumes

Wardrobe: In charge of facilitating the use of costumes during shows. Often referred to as running wardrobe, wardrobe manager, and wardrobe assistants. They have assistants, dressers, who help with fittings and quick changes (when an actor needs to change costume very quickly, often backstage).^[6]
Makeup: responsible for applying or assisting in the application of face and body paints, wigs and hairpieces, etc.^[1]
Dresser: A member of the running crew present in the wings of the stage. Their main responsibilities including, helping the actors get dressed during pre-show, choreographing quick changes, executing quick changes from hidden spaces on-stage, and making emergency repairs throughout the duration of the show.^[7]

Related Research Articles

A film crew is a group of people, hired by a production company, for the purpose of producing a film or motion picture. The crew is distinguished from the cast, as the cast are understood to be the actors who appear in front of the camera or provide voices for characters in the film. The crew is also separate from the producers, as the producers are the ones who own a portion of either the film studio or the film's intellectual property rights. A film crew is divided into different departments, each of which specializes in a specific aspect of the production. Film crew positions have evolved over the years, spurred by technological change, but many traditional jobs date from the early 20th century and are common across jurisdictions and filmmaking cultures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of theatre</span> Collaborative form of performing art

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to theatre:

Stage management is a broad field that is generally defined as the practice of organization and coordination of an event or theatrical production. Stage management may encompass a variety of activities including overseeing of the rehearsal process and coordinating communications among various production teams and personnel. Stage management requires a general understanding of all aspects of production and provides complete organization to ensure the process runs smoothly and efficiently.

In theatre, a lighting designer works with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create the lighting, atmosphere, and time of day for the production in response to the text while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety, and cost. The LD also works closely with the stage manager or show control programming, if show control systems are used in that production. Outside stage lighting, the job of a lighting designer can be much more diverse, and they can be found working on rock and pop tours, corporate launches, art installations, or lighting effects at sporting events.

Stagecraft is a technical aspect of theatrical, film, and video production. It includes constructing and rigging scenery; hanging and focusing of lighting; design and procurement of costumes; make-up; stage management; audio engineering; and procurement of props. Stagecraft is distinct from the wider umbrella term of scenography. Considered a technical rather than an artistic field, it is primarily the practical implementation of a scenic designer's artistic vision.

An electrical lighting technician, or simply lighting technician, are involved with rigging stage and location sets and controlling artificial, electric lights for art and entertainment venues or in video, television, or film production.

Set construction is the process undertaken by a construction manager to build full-scale scenery, as specified by a production designer or art director working in collaboration with the director of a production to create a set for a theatrical, film, or television production. The set designer produces a scale model, scale drawings, paint elevations, and research about props, textures, and so on. Scale drawings typically include a groundplan, elevation, and section of the complete set, as well as more detailed drawings of individual scenic elements which, in theatrical productions, may be static, flown, or built onto scenery wagons. Models and paint elevations are frequently hand-produced, though in recent years, many Production Designers and most commercial theatres have begun producing scale drawings with the aid of computer drafting programs such as AutoCAD or Vectorworks.

Scenic design, also known as stage design or set design, is the creation of scenery for theatrical productions including plays and musicals. The term can also be applied to film and television productions, where it may be referred to as production design. Scenic designers create sets and scenery to support the overall artistic goals of the production. Scenic design is an aspect of scenography, which includes theatrical set design as well as light and sound.

The light board operator, is the electrician who operates and may even programs the light board. They are considered part of the "Electrics" Department or LX Department. All non-design elements of lighting will be handled by the LX Department, i.e. electricians. Light board operators mainly are responsible for decoding the light designer's ideas from paper to opening night ready. In some cases, the light board operator is also the light designer.

Television crew positions are derived from those of film crew, but with several differences.

A stagehand is a person who works backstage or behind the scenes in theatres, film, television, or location performance. Their work include setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.

The technical rehearsal or tech rehearsal is a rehearsal that focuses on the technological aspects of the performance, in theatrical, musical, and filmed entertainment.

A fly crew is a group of people who are in charge of maintaining and operating the fly system during theatre production. A member of a fly crew is also called a flyman. Despite the name, there is no gender restriction in order to work within a fly crew.

Performing arts – are art forms where the participant engages in a physical performance using their body, voice, language, or use of specific equipment for entertainment purposes.

A theatrical technician, also known as a theatrical tech, theatre technician, or theatre tech is a person who operates technical equipment and systems in the performing arts and entertainment industry. In contrast to performers, this broad category contains all "unseen" theatrical personnel who practice stagecraft and are responsible for the logistic and production-related aspects of a performance including designers, operators, and supervisors.

In theatre, an electrician is a person who works with the various aspects of lighting. Some of the positions among electricians include the lighting supervisor, master electrician, deck electrician, light board operator, moving light programmer, followspot operator, as well as simply electricians. This group is generally known as the "Electrics" Department or LX Department.

The wardrobe supervisor is responsible for overseeing all wardrobe related activities during the course of a theatrical run or film shoot. The modern title "wardrobe supervisor" has evolved from the more traditional titles of "wardrobe mistress/master" or "mistress/master of the wardrobe". The wardrobe supervisor may be present at some production meetings and fittings, their primary responsibilities generally begin at the load-in stage of a production and during prep of a film. At load-in physical custody and responsibility for the costumes shifts from the costume designer and shop staff to the wardrobe supervisor.

This text is from the Furious Theatre Company website. Reprinted with permission.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to stagecraft:

References

1 2 Hopgood, Jeromy (2015-09-07). Dance Production: Design and Technology. CRC Press. p. 12. ISBN 9781317635413.
↑ Downs, William Missouri; Wright; Ramsey, Erik (2016-10-05). The Art of Theatre: Then and Now. Cengage Learning. p. 104. ISBN 9781305954700.
1 2 Strawn, Sandra J.; Schlenker, Lisa (2018). The Properties Director's Toolkit: Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication for Prop Shop Management in the Theatre and Performing Arts (2nd ed.). Routledge. pp. 20–22. ISBN 978-1-138-08415-5.
1 2 Schiller, Brad (2021). Living the Lighting Life: A Guide to a Career in Entertainment Lighting. Routledge. pp. 10–12. ISBN 978-0-367-34932-5.
1 2 Schiller, Brad (2022). Living The Audio Life: A Guide To A Career In Live Entertainment Sound. Routledge. pp. 3–5. ISBN 978-1032-03778-3.
↑ Pride, Rebecca (2019). The Costume Supervisor's Toolkit: Supervising Theatre Costume Production From First Meeting To Final Performances. Routledge. pp. 97, 132. ISBN 978-1-138-18258-5.
↑ Pride, Rebecca (2019). The Costume Supervisor's Toolkit: Supervising Theatre Costume Production From First Meeting to Final Performance. Routledge. pp. 100–102. ISBN 978-1-138-18258-5.

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[:0-1] 1 2 Hopgood, Jeromy (2015-09-07). Dance Production: Design and Technology. CRC Press. p. 12. ISBN 9781317635413.

[2] Downs, William Missouri; Wright; Ramsey, Erik (2016-10-05). The Art of Theatre: Then and Now. Cengage Learning. p. 104. ISBN 9781305954700.

[:12-3] 1 2 Strawn, Sandra J.; Schlenker, Lisa (2018). The Properties Director's Toolkit: Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication for Prop Shop Management in the Theatre and Performing Arts (2nd ed.). Routledge. pp. 20–22. ISBN 978-1-138-08415-5.

[:2-4] 1 2 Schiller, Brad (2021). Living the Lighting Life: A Guide to a Career in Entertainment Lighting. Routledge. pp. 10–12. ISBN 978-0-367-34932-5.

[:1-5] 1 2 Schiller, Brad (2022). Living The Audio Life: A Guide To A Career In Live Entertainment Sound. Routledge. pp. 3–5. ISBN 978-1032-03778-3.

[6] Pride, Rebecca (2019). The Costume Supervisor's Toolkit: Supervising Theatre Costume Production From First Meeting To Final Performances. Routledge. pp. 97, 132. ISBN 978-1-138-18258-5.

[7] Pride, Rebecca (2019). The Costume Supervisor's Toolkit: Supervising Theatre Costume Production From First Meeting to Final Performance. Routledge. pp. 100–102. ISBN 978-1-138-18258-5.

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