Leadership Roles at Damascus Theatre Company

DTC is always seeking show proposals, directors, choreographers, and designers for future productions.  If you are interested in working with DTC, please contact us.

 

Director

The Director is responsible for interpreting the artistic vision of the production in collaboration with the production team, technical crew and performers. Responsibilities include the following:

  • Present ideas and concepts to the board for consideration
  • Prepare audition materials (script excerpts and music) for auditions and call-backs
  • Work with production team on casting the show
  • With assistance from the producers, make rehearsal schedule, keeping in mind cast conflicts, availability of rehearsal space, and holidays
  • Submit all rehearsal scheduling details and other cast information to the webmaster for cast website and submit updates or changes regularly
  • Run rehearsals, taking notes or having assistant take notes on blocking or choreography
  • Treat the cast respectfully
  • Set realistic goals on set construction, prop availability, and costuming. Keep close tabs on all of these issues with help from the producers so the budget doesn’t get out of control
  • Keep on-going communication with choreographer, vocal director, and music director. Attend dance, music, and orchestra rehearsals as needed to make sure everyone is on the same page with your concept of the show
  • Work with your musical director if any musical cuts need to be made
  • Encourage cast to “sell” the show to friends, family, and business associates. No one wants to play to an empty house!
  • Collaborate with the Stage Manager, Lighting Crew and Sound Crew to ensure that back-stage duties (such as striking set pieces, when to open or close curtain, delegating actors to help with scene changes, etc), lighting design and sound all work properly
  • Write the Director’s Letter for the program
  • Assist Producers in other duties as needed (recruiting volunteers, helping with fund-raisers, planning cast party & strike, etc)

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Producer

The Producer is responsible for staffing, budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating the various aspects of the production. The Producer is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the production are completed within budget, according to the Company’s and the director’s wishes, and in time for the first public performance. The producer oversees the cost effectiveness and planning of the entire production process.

Responsibilities include the following:

  • Securing the rights to present the play from the royalty house or publisher-agent
  • Forming a highly motivated and collaborative production team, which includes all those in charge of the various areas of the production – director, musical director, choreographer, rehearsal pianist, set designer, properties manager, costume designer, technical staff, stage manager, house manager, box office manager, fundraising chair, volunteer coordinator, and publicist
  • Budgeting
  • Deciding date, time and performance venue
  • Scheduling and executing auditions
  • Helping to cast the show
  • Distributing scripts and music to the cast and orchestra. Collecting and returning materials to the royalty house after the show closes
  • Lead Production meetings
  • Scheduling rehearsals
  • Setting rehearsal venues
  • Rehearsal process and preparation
  • Organizing strike
  • Financial accounting of the show’s expenses and revenues

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Music Director

The Music Director is responsible for working with the Director and Choreographer to plan music for the productions. The Music Director will also work closely with the vocal performers in preparation for the production.

Responsibilities include the following:

  • Learn the music of the production
  • Help cast the production along with the production team
  • Collaborate with the Director, Producer and Choreographer
  • Help schedule rehearsals and attend whenever necessary
  • Work with the performers during rehearsal times
  • Conduct vocal warm-ups
  • Attend Production Meetings

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Set Designer

The Set Designer is responsible for designing and overseeing the creation of the scenery in conjunction with furniture, and props for the production. The Designer will work in collaboration with the Director, Producer, Lighting Designer, Costume Designer and Technical Crew to create a set that both works with the Director’s conception of the production and is realistic for the performance space.

Responsibilities include the following:

  • To become familiar with the script and the Director’s concept
  • To provide sketches and construction details to be discussed, refined and used as reference during construction
  • To assess existing flats, set pieces, construction materials and paint supply inventory as a basis for re-use during construction.
  • To assist in providing a budget for new materials and seek sources for donations of supplies.
  • If available to do so, aid in set construction and encourage participation of cast, crew and families
  • Attend Production Meetings

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Choreographer

The Choreographer is responsible for designing, teaching and directing the dance, or other stylized movement, for the production.

Responsibilities include the following:

  • Collaborate with the Director and Musical Director on the concept of the production and the music accompanying the movement
  • Help cast dancers and performers
  • Design and teach choreography to performers
  • Work with the Costume Designer to make sure that costumes are appropriate for those dancing
  • Attend production meetings

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Stage Manager

The Stage Manager provides practical and organizational support to the director, actors, designers, stage crew and technicians throughout the production process. The role of the stage manager is especially important to the director in rehearsals. Here the director and the stage manager work side by side, with the stage manager recording the director’s decisions about blocking and notes for the actors, keeping track of logistical and scheduling details and communicating what goes on in rehearsals to the rest of the team. This enables the director to concentrate his or her full attention on directing.

The Stage Manager has several key responsibilities and tasks to perform including:

  • Coordinating the work of the stage crew
  • Calling cues and possibly actors’ entrances during performance
  • Attending Production Meetings
  • Overseeing the entire show each time it is performed
  • Helping the producers manage strike
  • Along with the technical director, work out a smooth and efficient plan for the stage crew to follow during set changes

Once the show opens, the director’s work is essentially complete. Now it’s the stage manager’s job to make sure that every aspect of the production runs just as the director intended time after time, until the production closes.

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