When your cherub arrives home from work saying 'The Swing tripped over the Dresser's foot and fell into the Soundie's arms' You would be totally forgiven for thinking that he'd been working too hard! In fact many terms for the people he may work with, will be spoken to you as if you are as knowledgeable as s/he is, so to help you, here is a list of some of them!!!
AGENT finds work for an actor for a percentage of his earnings
ART DIRECTOR conceives and designs sets
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ('AD') responsible for schedules,ensuring everyone is where they are supposed to be, smooth running production. AD's are often also called the 'first', 'second' or 'third' (first having the responsibilities of the main cast, the second the logistics of all the crew, and the third the extra's)
BEGINNERS people in the first scene of a play
BEST BOY assistant to chief electrician
BODYDOUBLE person filling in for principal ,in shots where identity can be obscured (eg. from behind, at a distance, below neck etc)
CASTING DIRECTOR hired by the producers of the show to find the talent for the director or producer to choose from
CHAPERONE responsible for the care and well-being of children during production
CHILDRENS ADMINISTRATOR oversees all aspects of children in production, sets up licences, auditions, schedules, and chaperones
CHOREOGRAPHER responsible for setting the dance moves and sequences
COMPANY MANAGER supports cast and crew, in a non-production perspective
CONDUCTOR director of the orchestra
CREW backstage people who do all the technical tasks during the show
CRITIC writes the reviews on the production
DANCE CAPTAIN one of the dancers in a show, responsible for leading rehearsals and warm-ups
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER prompts actors, cues technicians, notes changes to dialogue, moves and set requirements during rehearsals
DIALECT COACH specialist in teaching actors specific accents and dialects
DIRECTOR co-ordinates all artistic aspects of production from start to finish through casting and technical co-ordination.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY supervises all aspects of lighting, camera position set-ups, lenses, filters, film processing, and camera crew
DOLLY GRIP crew member who moves piece of equipment allowing camera to be mobile (the Dolly)
DRESSER helps actors get into costume during quick change
EDITOR puts shots filmed, together into sequences or scenes
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER responsible for day to day decision making on a production
EXTRA person playing background roles
GAFFER chief electrician
LEA (Local Education Authority) council department responsible for issuing licences for performing children
MUSICAL DIRECTOR responsible for the music in the production
PHOTOGRAPHER person who takes photographs
PRINCIPAL person playing one of the main roles in the production
PRODUCER brings together all the aspects of a show such as the script, director, actors, then oversees the production until its release
PRODUCTION COMPANY company actually making show
PROPERTIES MASTER responsible for getting or making the small items used during production
RUNNER person doing mundane fetching or carrying
STAGE MANAGER responsible for the smooth running of a performance, the liaison between director and technical staff
SOUNDIE sound technician
SWING person in chorus who fills in for any absent performer
UNDERSTUDY covers featured player's role if he is unable to do so
WARDROBE MISTRESS responsible for making, repair, and washing of the costumes
