A Guide to Producing in Community Theatre
Producer
The producer reports to the Masque Theatre Board of Directors.
Duties:
• Coordinates and is responsible for all aspects of production, both technical and artistic
• Is responsable to enter all auditioners into Masque online system
• Attaches selected cast to show in Masque online system
• Organizes, prioritizes and manages finances, personnel, and scheduling
• Keeps up to date on all developments from inception to final wrap-up of the project
• Ensures everyone has a clear job description and is able to do their job effectively
• Fosters team spirit
• Obtains the rights for the play script and music royalties
• Engages a director and, if required, a musical director and choreographer
• Engages designers and department heads in consultation with the director
• Creates a master production schedule
• Sets up an accounting system for the production in consultation with the treasurer
• Creates a budget for the project with a break-down for each department based on design concepts
• Makes arrangements for the audition call
• Notifies all auditioners about whether they have been cast
• Creates a Production Team and Cast Contact List
• Designates a Publicist to work with the Vice-President Public Relations from the Masque Board
• Attends all production meetings, the first rehearsal, all of technical week, and opening night
• Arranges for transportation of technical items, costumes, props, furnishings, etc. to the theatre
• Ensures all departments have completed their clean-ups and returns of borrowed or rented
equipment
• Ensures all accounts are paid
• Creates the financial report showing the original budget and the project actual expenditures
• Submits a producer’s report with department reports and financial report to the Board of
Directors
• Works within a budget
Skills:
• Highly organized
• Financially responsible
• Strong communication skills
• Approachable and able to mediate disagreement
• Enthusiastic about the project
• Strong inter-personal skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong supervisory skills
• Ability to delegate, motivate and encourage others
• Prepared to mediate a dispute, to solve the problem, and in extreme situations, inform the Board
of Directors
Note:
In circumstances where a cast or crew member is consistently late, does not do an assigned job, or abuses
membership privileges, the producer should be asked to explain to the volunteer how this behaviour is
affecting the others and offer an opportunity to change. It is sometimes assumed in community theatre
that one must put up with a disruptive volunteer (not true!) The producer, after consultation with the
Board of Directors, may ask a volunteer to leave when their behaviour puts a project at risk.
