The Stage Crew’s Role in Bringing Your Theater Performance to Life

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Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes while actors are captivating the audience? From the moment the curtain rises to the final round of applause, the stage crew is the unseen force ensuring every transition is seamless, every prop is in place, and every lighting cue hits just right. Read on for a deeper appreciation of the vital roles these positions play in bringing a theatrical performance to life.

What is a stage crew?

Also known as stagehands or run crew, this is a group of skilled workers who help make sure the show happens exactly as it should. Unlike technical roles who perform their duties before opening (such as a costume designer, choreographer, or set designer), the stage crew actively does their work during each performance. 

History of the stage crew

Live theater dates back to the ancient Greeks, and so, too, does the concept of a stage crew. In the Middle Ages, a “conducteur de secrets” collected audience money, held the script offstage, and fed performers forgotten lines. Renaissance theater often had actors and playwrights handling stage crew responsibilities. Elizabethan and Jacobean theater employed a stage keeper to move props and a bookkeeper to mark entrances and exits, track scenery, and cue sound effects.

It wasn’t until William Shakespeare’s time that the stage crew we know today began to take shape, when young apprentices did this work in their efforts to learn a trade. By the late 19th century, there were enough people making a living behind the scenes in theater to necessitate the founding of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

What does the stage crew do?

The backstage crew can be divided into two categories: those who help run the show from a booth or elsewhere in the house, and those who are physically backstage with the actors during a performance.

The house crew

Stage manager: The stage manager is responsible for everything that happens backstage. It’s their job to “call” the show—that is, tell every department when it’s time to do their jobs. While actors don’t have much contact with the stage manager during a performance, there is a lot of interaction pre-show during mic checks, lighting focuses, fight calls, etc. For a glimpse of the sheer volume of cues a stage manager hands out every day, watch this show-in-the-life of Broadway stage manager Tripp Phillips.

Light board operator: This position runs the lights. A show may also have spotlight operators, who physically move spotlights to follow actors around onstage. (Though, with current technology, spotlights are often automated.) Actors don’t have much direct contact with lighting operators outside of tech rehearsal.

Sound operator: The sound operator’s job is to run sound, turning actors’ mics on and off as needed, adjusting floor mics, and cuing sound effects. The role (called “A1” for short) often has an assistant (“A2”) who is the eyes and ears backstage. While actors may only see the A1 during a pre-show mic check, it’s likely they’ll spend one-on-one time with the A2 during the show. Mics can be fussy, so it’s the A2’s job to track down a malfunctioning mic and replace batteries, adjust a faulty wire, or just give it a good wipe down.

The backstage crew

Run crew: When you think of stage crew, these are probably the first people who come to mind. Depending on the size of the show, there’s usually at least one person on each side of the stage, often the head carpenter and/or assistant stage manager, who communicates with the stage manager via headset. This person organizes the rest of the run crew, who move set pieces, raise and lower scenery, change gels, and conduct other physical activities.

Actors don’t typically spend a ton of time working directly with the run crew, but it’s important they be aware of them at all times. Everything happening backstage is a tightly choreographed dance, and staying out of the way ensures the show runs smoothly and safely. 

Props head: As the name suggests, it’s this person’s job to ensure all props are set where they need to be prior to curtain (usually on a very organized prop table) and keep track of them during the performance. Sometimes, they’ll hand them off to actors if they’re needed quickly. When the show is over, the props head ensures every item is back in its proper place. 

Wardrobe/dressers: While most costume work is done before the curtain ever rises, members of the costume team still have quite a bit of work to do during the show. Dressers help actors with quick changes, sometimes with several dedicated to a single actor if the turnaround needs to be extra speedy. Look at how many crew members help Kelli O’Hara with a quick change at the 2015 Tony Awards

Wardrobe is also on standby for any malfunctions or minor repairs required during the run. 

Wranglers: If there are children in a show, there’s often a wrangler backstage responsible for ensuring they’re in the right costumes, keeping them entertained and quiet during downtime, and safely returning them to their parents or guardians post-show. While adult performers may not spend much time with wranglers, child performers spend every second they’re not onstage with them.

Do performers interact with the stage crew?

Actors can expect to interact with every member of the crew. Even the positions stationed out in the house will interact with actors during mic checks and light focuses. Because of this dynamic, aspiring performers may find it helpful to spend time on a crew themselves to gain a better appreciation for what they do. (Many BFA programs actually require students to work on a crew at least once.) Ultimately, everyone in the theater is there to accomplish a common goal: to put on the best show possible.

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