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.
