TECHNICAL

THEATRE
Careers in the Backstage!
Scenic Designer

■ The scenery and furniture create the DESIGN of a set

■ The scenic design needs to show the audience:
– The style and tone of the production (drama or comedy? fictional or non-fiction?)
– Create mood and atmosphere (should the audience feel nervous? happy? sad?
– Give clues to the time and place (the 1980s or the 1800s?)
– Offer creative opportunities for movement and LEVELS for actors
■ Scenic designers create SKETCHES, FLOOR PLANS, and MODELS
■ The design is then BUILT by Technical Directors and Carpenters.
What does the
scenic design
tell you about
the play?
What does the
scenic design
tell you about
the play?
What does the
scenic design
tell you about
the play?
What does the
scenic design tell
you about the
play?
Lighting Designer
■ Like a Scenic Designer, the Lighting Designer
needs to tell a story through the environment of
the show – time and place, weather, mood, and
more.
■ Also like a Scenic Designer, the Lighting
Designer needs to draw plans mapping where
lights need to hang and where they should point
(or focus)
■ The Designer is assisted by a Master Electrician,
and a Lighting Board Operator
■ The Designer talks to the Stage Manager about
when different light CUES need to happen
What do the
lights tell you
about these
scenes?
What do the
lights tell you
about these
two different
plays?
Props Master

■ Responsible for finding, buying, or making all PROPS

■ The Props Master needs to communicate with the Scenic Designer to make sure the
props fit the environment of the set
■ Props need to be DURABLE enough to last, sometimes, for 8 shows a week without
needing to be replaced
**Sometimes SPECIALTY PROPS, like Mary Poppins’
magic carpet bag, need to be BUILT.
Costume Designer

■ The job of a costume designer is to create distinct characters through wardrobe

■ Sometimes this means making one actor look like multiple different people, or even
showing how one character changes over time
■ Like props, costumes need to be extremely DURABLE – and also easy to change in and
out of, especially if an actor needs to make a QUICK CHANGE
Stage Manager

■ The stage manager is like the PARENT of a show – they need to supervise it and help it
to grow and succeed
■ Stage managers need to know how ALL other tech jobs work
■ They keep track of all blocking, choreography, light cues, sound cues, and more
■ Once a show is in performances, the stage manager is IN CHARGE