Stage Productions

Use cardboard cutout figures of fantasy characters, actors or other objects in a variety of effective and creative ways during live stage shows. Construction methods for these cutouts will vary:...

Staging is a term used in theater that refers to setting up props, blocking actors, and making sure lighting is in place. These elements, and several others, need to come together to ensure a...

Theatrical lighting illuminates the stage so the audience can see the performers, but it does a lot more. Lighting serves an invaluable role in accentuating the mood of the play, enhancing the...

Theater properties, or props, date back to the Greek plays in which actors wore large exaggerated masks on their faces to represent their characters. They evolved in the Renaissance with the...

Lighting is one of the most powerful special effects at work in modern theater. It is not only necessary for the audience to see the actors, but shapes how they feel about the entire play. Through...

Very few plays or musicals are set in only one location, which means that the scenery---including furniture, the background or the set itself---needs to be changed between acts. The primary...

A stage manager is the liaison between the director, actors, producer and the audience, and he or she makes sure that the show is running smoothly from start to finish. Discover the job of a stage...

English teachers and community-theater volunteers often end up with the job of lighting an amateur production. A truck pulls up and unloads a pile of black or gray metal instruments, piles of...

Even if you've written the greatest script in the world and have actors lined up who are enthusiastic about performing in it, it's not going to enjoy the applause and reap the benefits of an...

Your favorite actor is coming to town in a touring Broadway production! Want a free meet-and-greet? How about some autographs? Maybe a picture or two? Here's how to get that one-on-one time.

Any produced play is a theatrical production. You could be witnessing the latest Broadway hit musical in New York City or watching your 7-year-old son play one of the three wise men in a Nativity...

Stage props are used to enhance theater performances. They add meaning and help create realism. By common definition, props are used by actors in the course of a theatrical production....

Most auditions have an initial audition followed by a callback. During the first audition, most directors require actors to perform two monologues. The monologues are only one to two minutes in...

Stage directors are an important part of the theater world. The job is in charge of all aspects of the production. Directors are in charge of everything from casting to the final product....

There's nothing quite as rewarding as watching a theatrical script you've directed come to life after weeks of rehearsal. The success of the show, however, depends on making smart casting choices...

Most amateurs think that building a set for a school or community is simple. Just bang a few pieces of wood together and paint them and off we go! The reality is that most amateur designs are too...

As a director you are challenged with more of a task than just telling your actors what to say and how to say it. You truly need to block every motion, from entrances and exits to where to stand...

Directing a play you wrote yourself can be tricky. On the one hand, you are making sure your original vision is not tampered with. On the other hand, you’re losing out on the fresh perspective...

Rehearsals are the meat and potatoes of a stage production. How you organize the logistics, manage the group dynamics and encourage and guide the creativity of this critical process will determine...

As the director of a stage play, you not only have to interpret the playwright’s vision and guide your cast of actors, you also need to be able to collaborate effectively with the various...

The relationship between a director and actors is delicate. Your vision and skill create the solid foundation they depend on but it’s their ability to shine that is the heart of the play. A few...

You’ve chosen the script and selected your cast. Now its time to turn your vision into a well-crafted production. The next critical step of the project is to design the staging, or movement, of...

One of the director's jobs is to block the play; that is, guide people in their movements around the stage. These movements include exits and entrances, crossing the stage and physical activities...

Directors can clarify the arc of a scene by breaking it down into smaller pieces. Dividing a scene into beats makes it easier for a director to communicate with actors and develop the ebb and...

Being the Head of Makeup for a theatrical production is an important job. Turning an actor into a character through the use of makeup is a fulfilling accomplishment for any makeup artist. However,...

When conducting auditions for a play, it is of utmost importance to establish an attitude of professionalism from the get-go. One must pay attention to detail and manage human resources well in...

Every theatrical presentation begins with an important choice--what play should you perform?

In this computer age, the Internet offers a number of efficient, focused and virtually free ways to publicize a theatrical event. This tool should be used in addition to traditional methods such...

Community theater can provide exhilarating experiences for everyone involved, but a director may have to cast actors with a wide range of abilities. The challenge of getting a good performance...

A festival of one-act plays is a good way for theaters to provide an outlet for local writers, attract and train new actors and directors as well as provide innovative entertainment for the...

A theater scrim is a panel or back drop used in theatrical performances. The scrim allows one scene to be going on in front of the scrim while a silhouette or other scene happens behind the scrim....

Stage theater is an art which needs the accurate and concise cooperation of many people and much practice. Directors are the key to ensuring that the entire group can work well together to perform...

The world of theater is full of energy, imagination, hard work and creative people. In this world there are many parts to play. You can work behind the scenes or under the lights. You can become a...

If you love the theater and are highly organized, punctual, dependable and efficient, then you may be cut out to be a stage manager. A stage manager has one of the most important jobs in the...