Introduction to Production

Foreword

Peter Lawrence, Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre – Stage Manager and Production Supervisor

The theatre is a chaotic place. It can often seem that disorganization rules – scripts change, music is re-written, set pieces are cut or added, actors are re-assigned roles, budgets expand. But this seeming chaos is really just part of a process. And it’s an entirely creative process, whether one is a producer, an actor, a general manager, a designer, an actor or a stage manager. Each player in this process is lending his or her expertise to the shifting needs of a theatrical production.

Mike Nichols always said, “Everyone serves the production. And if you can’t serve it, get out of the way.”

But serving the production means different ...