A Tour of Production In The Theatre Industry

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Do you know the difference between a production manager and a production stage manager for the performing arts? Unfortunately, it isn’t always very clear in the theater community to tell the difference between these two jobs. A job seeker simply searching openings in a Google search will find many listings such as Stage Manager, Production Manager, Production House Manager, Opéra Manager, Stage manager, etc. None of these variations of titles makes much sense when determining what type of job title you are applying for. It can be a very confusing field that can leave any job seeker perplexed and frustrated.

Elizabeth Bradley, Performing Arts Industry Essentials contributor and professor at NYU, breaks down the roles of the production team in theatre companies. 

What is a stage manager?

This role is filled in a theater when you have three, four, five, six, and seven shows simultaneously. In New York, the Public Theater would be a good example. This role leads the stage management team.

What is a production manager?

On the more logistical and engineering side of things, you have the position of production manager. They make sure that the practical elements of the show are available to the director and the actors when they are needed, and perhaps most importantly, on budget.

What other roles make up the production team?

Under the production manager, you have a technical director, costume designer, lighting designer, sound operator, and sound designer. 

The production manager and stage manager are vital members of the theatre team. Both must be able to handle a wide range of responsibilities. To sum up, these two roles work together to ensure that they can produce the show.

Interested in learning about all the career possibilities in the performing arts industry? Download The Ultimate Performing Career Guide.