PROGRAM COORDINATOR: PRODUCTION TEAM JOB DESCRIPTION
Years From Now Students Will Still Have the Show's Program
by Tom McLaughlin
September 16, 2005
The program editor is responsible for preparing the hard copy of the program which will be presented to the audience. The following is a list of specific items which need to be done and a time-frame for accomplishing your tasks.
Before The Rehearsals Begin
Begun Done
� ____ ____Read the
play.
� ____ ____Make a list of the
cast of characters, the setting , the year or time of the play.
� ____ ____Meet with the
director and review your list. Note any other additions the
director may want to include in the program. Determine if the
director would like the cast in alphabetical order or in order of
appearance.
� ____ ____Review programs of
past shows. Determine a format to be used for this
production.
� ____ ____Together, with the
director, make a list of everything your crew needs to do.
Make a production time line establishing deadline dates.
During The First Weeks Of The Rehearsal Period
� ____ ____Meet with the
stage manager. Copy the names of all cast members and all
crew heads and their phone numbers.
� ____ ____Meet with cast
members before daily rehearsals begin to determine the correct
spelling of names. Do the same with all crew heads.
� ____ ____Meet with each crew
head. Ask them for a list of all members of their crew with
names correctly spelled.
� ____ ____Ask the director for
any special entries in the program. (Example: "Thank You"
column, "From The Director" column)
During The Mid-Rehearsal Period
� ____ ____Prepare a mock-up
of the program. Make several photo copies of the
mock-up. Distribute them to the stage manager, each crew
head, and the director for approval, corrections, and
additions.
� ____ ____Meet with the
publicity crew head and the director to determine whether the
poster design will be the program cover or if another design will
be the program cover or if another design will be needed.
� ____ ____Finalize the
program. Show it to another design will be needed.
� ____ ____Check with the
director for the number of programs needed from the printer.
� ____ ____Take the mock-up to
several printers to determine the best price. Report that
information to the director. You may want to make an
appointment with the publicity crew head and go to a printer
together since you have the same needs.
� ____ ____Obtain a school
purchase order. Take the purchase order and the final mock-up
to the printer.
� ____ ____Compliment and thank
your crew.
During Technical Week
� ____ ___Meet with the
house manager to determine where the programs are to be stored once
delivered.
� ____ ____Call the
printer. Determine the day and time when the programs are to
be picked up or delivered.
� ____ ____Either pick up the
programs or arrange to meet the person delivering them.
� ____ ____Give the programs to
the house manager.
� ____ ____If you are giving a
bill, make sure the final bill is given to the director.
� ____ ____Compliment and thank
you crew.
During The Run Of The Show
� ____ ____Check daily on
the amount of programs left for the run of the production.
See the director for emergency plans in case the program supply is
depleted before the final performance.
� ____ ____Before closing night
write a letter to the person who will have your position for the
next show. Give that person advice based on your
experience. File the letter in your 3-ring binder behind you
job description.
� ____ ____Compliment and thank
your crew.
During Strike
� ____ ____Collect any
unused programs and give them to the stage manager or to the
director. Make sure all cast members have souvenir
programs.
� ____ ____Compliment and thank
you crew.
� ____ ____You may want to
write a thank you note to the printer--especially if the programs
were well done.
