Chapter 2: What it Means to Be Part of Theater
Actors, Directors/Creatives, Crew, Audience. What are they?
Let’s break it down!
In the video above, we find a breakdown of the different elements of general theater, which can be applied to theater genres outside of musical theater too. The key relations that we will look at here is which community members contribute to certain theatrical elements.
Beginning with the directors and creative team, this will include playwrights, composers, producers, choreographers, music directors, musicians, vocal coaches, scene directors, costume designers, set designers, sound designers light designers, the list goes on! These people are responsible for developing the story, whether from square one, or by making it a physical reality through tangible expression. Without these members of the community, musical theater simply wouldn’t exist, such as how a muse cannot exist without an artist.
Playing off of this metaphor, we find our muses, aka our actors. These people will be found with the abilities to bring characters to life through musical, dramatic, or dancing art forms in collaboration with one another. They bring the climax, the monologues, themes and messages to life for other humans to experience.
The humans that experience this entertainment from their seats are the audience members. Some might know family members and friends on stage, some might be there to simply support their community, or to see their favorite show. Audience members are people who receive this art form in the masses, and who drive the arts to either flourish or deminish depending on engagement.
Lastly, but certainly not least, we have our crew members. This includes our stage managers, light board operators, spot light operators, rail line operators, back stage hands, sound operators, and so many more. These are the people behind the scenes who make everything on stage possible. Think of them like your parents who pack your lunch in the morning or does your laundry when you’re busy juggling other life things. While the actors do their part on stage, the crew members make every cue happen backstage, setting the entire show up for success and ensuring safety of everyone involved.