Counting the Crew

I’ve set up a date, three weeks down the road, for all the “executive artists” of Walterdale’s next season—directors, production managers, stage managers, and assistants—to meet and settle on matters of scheduling and so forth (I actually call them “Superfriends” in an effort to deflate some of the pomposity of “executive artists”). This means I need to find a stage manager, at least, and maybe one or two more head designers.

To that end, I got Jaclyn to lend me a copy of the “Production Manager’s Bible.” It lists a typical crew complement for a Walterdale show. Over the next six months, I (and Jaclyn) will have to find people to perform the following offstage roles:

Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant Production Manager
Set Designer
Props Designer
Costume Designer
Make-Up and Hair Designer
Assistants to the Designers
Fight Coach
Dialect Coach
Choreographer
Vocal Coach
Musicians
Master Builder
Builders (4-6)
Painters (4-6)
Props Master/Builder
Sound Operator
Lighting Operator
Wardrobe (Laundry and Ironing Assistants)

From the scale of theatre I’m coming from, this seems like a colossal list. I’m used to working with a stage manager and maybe one or two designers. Assistants and volunteers are luxuries I’m not accustomed to. It’s inspiring and gratifying (I already feel grateful even though none of them have even done anything yet), but I shall have to ensure that their valuable time is put to good use.