Who’s Who in Theatre

The PlaywrightA person who writes playsA 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 DirectorThe director is in charge of everything that

happens on stageThey guide the cast and crew toward the goal

of creating a wonderful productionSome directors also act, design, produce or

write

The ComposerComposers write many different styles of

music for the theatre, this depends on what the musical is about that they are writing for

Phil Collins wrote rock music for TarzanAlan Menken wrote traditional songs for

Beauty and the BeastLebo M wrote world music, incorporating the

sounds of Africa for The Lion KingThe composer not only writes the music for

the songs but for in-between scenes and during dance numbers

Tarzan

The LyricistThe lyricist’s job is to write the words that go

with the composer’s musicSometimes 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 ProducerThe Producer is the one that decides to put

on a show and decides what the show isHe/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 CrewThe stage crew helps the show run smoothly

and can have many different jobsProps- manages the props and sets them up

before, after and during the showElectrics- runs the lights (turning on or off) and

running special effects such as smokeCarpentry- in charge of moving the really big

props or scenery on the stage Some shows require flying with ropes or trap doors

that stage crew is in charge of

Other important peopleMusical 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 peopleSet Designer: designs everything on the

stage-backgrounds, propsSound 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

West Side StoryMusic by Leonard BernsteinLyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Opened on September 26, 1957732 performances

West Side StoryBased 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 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 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. ALL

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!

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!