Acting Terms | Part 4 | Theatre People
CAST: The group of actors who play all the characters in a show.
DESIGNER: The person or persons responsible for devising(=planning) and creating one technical aspect of the show, be it the lighting, sound, costume, make-up, props(=something you use as a support), or some other aspect.
DIRECTOR: The individual who oversees the mounting of a stage play. He or she is in charge of all designers, bringing everything together to a cohesive whole(=united and working together effectively). He or she also oversees the actors and all action onstage.
DRAMATURG: This person deals mainly with research and development for plays and operas. He or she primarily deals with the historical and cultural aspects of the play.
PLAYWRIGHT: The person who writes the plays.
STAGE CREW: The people behind the scenes who keep the play running. They can change scenery, control the elements that fly on and off the stage, help prepare actors with quick changes, and generally make the play happen.
STAGE MANAGER: This person has the overall responsibility of making a show run smoothly. He or she is in charge of all of the stage crew and technicians once the show begins, calling cues(=signals) and overseeing scenery changes, etc. During rehearsals, the stage manager often acts as a prompter, keeping track of the script for the director and actors.
See also