Terms List

Manager: someone who manages aspects of a business. In the theatre realm there are many different types of managers: general, business, marketing, programming, house, company, and many more.

Mission statement: the idea that is expressed in the mission statement serves as the standard by which a venture is ultimately judged to be a success or failure. It can be thought of as the constitution or conscience of the operation. A mission statement is in fact a legal requirement when a group incorporates and applies to the IRS for tax-exempt status, which virtually all performing arts entities have.

Art manager (ideal): … a person who is knowledgeable in the art with which he is concerned, an impresario, labor negotiator, diplomat, educator, publicity and public relations expert, politician, skilled businessman, a social sophisticate, a servant of the community, a tireless leader – becoming humble before authority – a teacher, a tyrant, and a continuing student of the arts.

Impresario: outdated term for producers who rarely own their own theatres, who usually concentrate on the fields of opera, dance, and music, and who organize world-class tours of performing artists and ensembles.

Producer: British – person who stages and directs the play; continent – regisseur or metteur en scene. American – person who finds property, secures performance rights, raises capital. Not-for-profit – the entity itself is the producer. The holder of the fiscal responsibility.

Theatre Operator: owns or rents a theatre and may also produce or book in the entertainment.

Presenter/Promoter: the person or group who promotes the theatre to the community.
Freelance General Manager: independent professionals who often maintain a permanent office and core staff and are hired by produces to take general management responsibility for specific shows or projects.

Other Freelance Producing Managers include the artistic director, executive director or president/ceo, general manager (on a staff), general director, managing director, actor-manager, director of theatre/performing arts, and chairperson of the theatre/music/dance

Financial managers are in charge of the finances , taxes, and accounting of a theatre or performing arts center. Under the realm of the financial managers are certain titles such as: director of finance, controller/comptroller, accountant, and business manager. This seems to be one of the departments that could stand to have jobs doubled.

Fundraising managers: while the financial managers are in charge of the money within the institution, the fundraising managers are in charge of bringing in and organizing new income. People in this realm of the business could be a development director, associate director of fundraising, special events director, and a director of volunteer services.

Marketing and Income-Related Managers include such titles as director of marketing, director of membership, director of audience development, director of public relations, press representative, director of community relations, director of advertising sales, director of publications, ticketing services manager, box office/ticketing manager, head treasurer, group sales manager, subscription sales manager, merchandise-marketing manager, and concessions manager. In general someone in this field would work with the public advertising the production and theatre, and also working with the public when they desire tickets for the show.

Production and Operations Managers: are the ones who actually run the shows and the location. They’re in charge of making sure that things run smoothly on a daily basis and during the run of a show. These positions include: director/manager of information systems, literary manager/dramagturg, production manager, facilities manager, human relations/personnel manager, stage systems manager, company manager, house manager/theatre manager, production stage manager/stage manager, technical director/technical supervisor, tour manager or tour director, advance stage manager, internship director, school director or administrator, director of security, and maintenance supervisor. Some will be on crew full time to keep the building up and running, and others may only be hired during a production.

Program: a word used because it embraces a spectrum of guiding principles that include the building’s purpose, expected activities, and functions, and spaces to be built.

Pro forma: describing something provided in advance to prescribe form. (knowing how a business typically runs to build a building that fits those needs.
Program portfolio: a document developed in the early stages of the planning of a building or design, to be used later with the executive board and advisors and design professionals.

Scale: the ratio of audience intimacy to the size needs of the space.

Dark Theatre: a theatre that is only used part time (sometimes rented out during the offseason)

Black Box/Multiform Theatre: a theatre, or theatre space that can be changed to fit the individual show and audience needs.

A professional is someone who is paid to work, and their work is of a high quality.

A nonprofessional is someone who works without monetary compensation (despite other rewards.)

Covered employment (employees): being covered by the company in regards to benefits such as health insurance, pension, and annuity contributions that union workers receive through their negotiated contracts. Or a position protected by union agreements

Common labor relations terminology: arbitration, boycott, closed shop, fact-finding, fire for cause, in good faith, injunction, local, lockout, mediation, to serve, settlement, sidebar, strike, strikebreaker, unfair labor practice, union busting, union shop, wildcat. All individual definitions may be found in chapter 3 (p 67-8) These terms would be used in a contract, or in regards to a union worker.

Budget: a financial estimate of future income and expenses.

Commercial theatre: operates without subsidy and is centered in New York City – on Broadway and Off- Broadway and its behavior in terms of product, talent, and box office influences all other theatre activity in America; it even has an impact on film and television.

Property – a script, a piece of theatrical-literary real estate that has the potential for making money. The producer also sees the script as a “vehicle,” a medium that allows his or her ability to be displayed before an audience.

Not-for-Profit Professional Theatre – The theater Communications Group, an arts service organization serving American not-for-profit theatres, estimates that there are between 1300 and 1500 nonprofit theatres in the United States. While many of these theatres may resemble the resident stock companies of the 1800s, the grew out of a completely different tradition; indeed they have created their own tradition in American theatre. The not-for-profit theatres are governed by boards of trustees and artistic directors who, unlike the actor-managers of yesteryear, have their sights fixed on artistic and organizational rather than commercial goals, although the lure of a commercial transfer often looms large.

Amateur: from the Latin amare (to love), an amateur is a lover (of theatre)

Community theatre: civic theatre, local theatre – performed by residents for residents.

College Theatre: a theatre program on a college campus, run by faculty and students involvement. Audiences consist of the school community, relatives, and the local community.

Stock and Dinner Theatre: stock theatres are generally a “summer” production and are mainly nonprofessional. A dinner theatre may or may not be professional, but includes the audience enjoying a meal while watching the production.

Presenter: those who concern themselves with the presenting of the productions that have been produced by others.

Box office: the non-internet version is the front line of ticket selling and purchasing. May also include a “will call” table and other ticket concerns. Online box offices can be used to sell tickets without the paper hassle – a device of convenience.

Audit: checking over the finances (or any situation) to make sure that things are going as planned, and funds are being appropriated.

Sponsorship: footing the bill for a production, and subsequently having your name (or business name) attached to the production.

Intern: an unpaid worker who is usually a student trying to make their way in the career or vocation they are interning with.

Development: the code word for fundraising.

Marketing: presenting the production or theatre to the public to have it recognized and to gain popularity. Notifying possible patrons to the upcoming events. Putting on a good face for the general public, trying to create good press for the theatre or production. May consist of posters, radio/tv ads, a viral campaign (think youtube) and word of mouth.

Merchandising: part of marketing – providing the public with items that represent the theatre or production, either for sale, or give aways (good PR)

Focus group: the target group that the theatre is trying to reach. The demographic.
Publicity director: someone who is a promoter that is enthusiastic about the product being promoted.

Facility management: in charge of taking care of the grounds and theatre area. Cleaning, repairing, general upkeep, building/injury insurance, safety.

House/Theatre management: front of house staff that coordinates the box office and other public relations within the theatre. There to take care of the patron, and to make all audience members feel comfortable.