Transcript Who’s Who in Theatre

The Playwright
 A person who writes plays
 A playwright writes the story and dialogue of a play, as
well as many of the stage directions that the actors and
director follow, to tell the story for the stage
 The playwright does not write the music
The Director
 The director is in charge of everything that happens on
stage
 They guide the cast and crew toward the goal of
creating a wonderful production
 Some directors also act, design, produce or write
The Composer
 Composers write many different styles of music for the
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theatre, this depends on what the musical is about that
they are writing for
Phil Collins wrote rock music for Tarzan
Alan Menken wrote traditional songs for Beauty and
the Beast
Lebo M wrote world music, incorporating the sounds
of Africa for The Lion King
The composer not only writes the music for the songs
but for in-between scenes and during dance numbers
Tarzan
The Lyricist
 The lyricist’s job is to write the words that go with the
composer’s music
 Sometimes the composer is the lyricist but usually a
composer and a lyricist team up to write the
songs/music
 Tim Rice and Elton John are a popular songwriting
team. For the Lion King, Tim Rice faxed Elton John the
lyrics to the song “The Circle of Life” and Elton John
sat down at his piano and wrote the melody in 20
minutes!
Tim Rice and Elton John
The Producer
 The Producer is the one that decides to put on a show
and decides what the show is
 He/she then finds the people to do it (the playwright,
director, designers, actors, composer, lyricist) and
supervises their work
 The producer is also in charge of finding a theatre to
perform in, advertising, publicity and ticket sales
Stage Crew
 The stage crew helps the show run smoothly and can
have many different jobs
 Props- manages the props and sets them up before, after
and during the show
 Electrics- runs the lights (turning on or off) and running
special effects such as smoke
 Carpentry- in charge of moving the really big props or
scenery on the stage
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Some shows require flying with ropes or trap doors that stage
crew is in charge of
Other important people
 Musical supervisor and conductor: The person who
teaches the singers the songs and conducts the
orchestra during the show
 Choreographer: creates and teaches the dances in the
show
 Fight directors: create and stage any combat or
fighting in the show
 Publicist: arrange for critics to come to the show,
special appearances for the cast and crew in stores or
TV shows, any sort of advertising
Other important people
 Set Designer: designs everything on the stage-
backgrounds, props
 Sound Designer: in charge of how everything sounds,
from microphones to recorded sound effects needed
 Costume Designer: designs costumes, masks, wigs,
hats or anything extra needed to bring the character
alive such as tentacles for Ursula in The Little
Mermaid or stilts for a giraffe in The Lion King
 Makeup Design: creates the makeup or face paint
design the actors wear to enhance their character
The Little Mermaid
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Opened on September 26, 1957
732 performances
West Side Story
 Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side
Story is set against the backdrop of gang warfare in
the Puerto Rican ghetto of New York City.
 The Sharks and The Jets are opposing gangs.
 Tony was the leader of The Jets but removed himself
from gang life.
 Riff is now the leader of The Jets and he pleads with
Tony to come to a dance where the Jets are going to
challenge the rival Sharks, led by Bernardo, to fight.
West Side Story
 When Tony meets Bernardo’s sister Maria, it is love at first
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sight.
Tony tried to stop the fight, but he is too late. Bernardo has
killed Riff. In a fit of anger, Tony kills Bernardo.
A few days later, Maria sends a friend to tell Tony she still
loves him.
Instead, her friend lies to Tony and tells him Maria is dead.
Tony ties to avenge her death but instead, he is killed by
the Sharks.
Maria finds Tony as he is dying. She begs the gang
members to realize how misguided their hatred for each
other is.
West Side Story
America lyrics
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 OTHERS
I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America!
ROSALIA
I like the city of San Juan.
ANITA
I know a boat you can get on.
ROSALIA
Hundreds of flowers in full bloom.
ANITA
Hundreds of people in each room!
America lyrics con’t.
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Automobile in America,
Chromium steel in America,
Wire-spoke wheel in America,
Very big deal in America!
ROSALIA
I'll drive a Buick through San Juan.
ANITA
If there's a road you can drive on.
ROSALIA
I'll give my cousins a free ride.
ANITA
How you get all of them inside?
ALL
Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America;
Nobody knows in America
Puerto Rico's in America!
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ROSALIA
I'll bring a T.V. to San Juan.
ANITA
If there a current to turn on!
ROSALIA
I'll give them new washing machine.
ANITA
What have they got there to keep clean?
ALL
I like the shores of America!
Comfort is yours in America!
Knobs on the doors in America,
Wall-to-wall floors in America!
ROSALIA
When I will go back to San Juan.
ANITA
When you will shut up and get gone?
ROSALIA
Everyone there will give big cheer!
ANITA
Everyone there will have moved here!