Theatrical producer
A theater producer (also Theatrical Producer or Theatre Producer) is a person who plans all aspects of the creation, production and economic evaluation of a theater production encompassing and responsible manager function is derived. Theater production in this context means the stage productions of all genres, so including musical theater as opera, musical, show, revue or the dance theater. The profession of theater producer is not to be confused with the job description of a music producer, but it is similar in some aspects of activity of the film producer.
Historically, the theater producer was also known as an impresario. In the English -speaking world the term is still used today.
Activities of the theater producers
The theater producer puts together the creative team for the production, including author, director, composer, choreographer, set designers, costume designers, props manager, lighting designer, sound designer. The producer accepts all players under contract, perhaps at a later date, the artist or the ensemble. Should this be necessary in advance auditions or castings, organizes and directs the theater producer this together with the director. Often, the theater is also the producer and initiator for the new production - he therefore has a key function for the material development, material selection and the creation of new formats in the theater.
The creative process, starting with the material development of the samples up to the performances is patterned from the theater producer, coordinated, controlled and monitored, always accompanied and content. Chance of theater producers this occur at the same time as a director, in particular for smaller productions.
The commercial theater producer ensures the financing of production, including through the acquisition of investors, he should not work in a publicly subsidized environment or financed by own funds or sponsorship. In England and the U.S., the debt financing of theater productions by investors is commonplace, for example at New York's Broadway or London's West End on while so today rather remains the exception in Germany.
The theater producer is responsible for all economic and financial aspects of a production, including for the calculation and monitoring of the production budget and running costs from the start of planning until after the last performance of a production. Here, it moves as a senior key player and mediator always the tension between artistic creation and economic necessity. For financial management and controlling this include the planning and monitoring the evaluation of production, eg the pricing policy for individual tickets per venue and collection against the ticket sellers. Sales planning for ticket sales in cooperation with ticket systems is a further object of the commercial theater producer. Even more sources of revenue for the production, such as in merchandising or sponsorship are developed by the theater producer, planned, designed and monitored. The theater producer also ensures the correct billing with licensors, theater publishers and collecting societies such as GEMA.
The theater producer is responsible for the theater production and in law: he clears before starting production any performance rights, other interested third party rights and other legal issues in the course of production, usually in close Zusammenanarbeit with its in-house counsel or external lawyers. He ensures the production so far from law.
The theater producer in charge of developing and funding the entire marketing and public relations for the theater production. This includes after developing a marketing strategy then the planning and implementation of marketing and communication activities such as Production of photographs and films, websites, posters and advertising motifs, the design of integrated advertising and promotional campaigns, outdoor advertising, marketing collaborations, public relations, etc. In tour mode, this area of responsibility expanded again to the design, coordination and monitoring of the national or possibly even international marketing and the local press work at the venues.
Depending on the nature of the production of theater producer is also responsible for renting the theater, or - in the tour operating - for contracts with local agencies and service providers as well as for the monitoring of local measures of these partners. In particular, the own rental of theaters is here for a new theater production is a costly and risky endeavor, but the financial success of the new production in advance must be imputed estimated and thereto the first maturity are adjusted the same, which is not always possible and in poor utilization of a theater production, this does not rarely financially quickly set bad.
This also results in a further object of the theater producers: the proper closure of a production and the related settlement with the relevant partners and stakeholders with whom one is in contractual relationships. Unless the theater production due to lack of sales does not contribute financially or is played after a longer duration, the producer has to recognize this early stage and the production eg evaluated in a different way or at a different time or possibly entirely discontinued. The financial risk here is for the theater producer who has to oversee all financing and sources of cost, in general a high.
Requirements
Due to the high complexity, specialization and complexity of the work of the theater producers are available for this profession, at least in the German speaking no training pathway; the work of the commercial and independent theater producers is also associated with high financial risks, require the personal passion for the profession. A sole access to the profession as a theater producer with a business degree would not be very appropriate. Most theater producers come rather from the work practice at the theater or in the entertainment industry to their profession and sometimes have additional special qualifications artistic, academic, commercial or technical nature for example, began the famous British theater producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh (including Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Oliver!, Miss Saigon, Cats ) his career as a stagehand ( stagehand ) touring Productions.
The special position of the theater producers requires not only knowledge of the market, artistic and psychological sensitivity, superior management skills, negotiation skills and ampersand as legal knowledge and great expertise in marketing and a constant monitoring of the international theatrical market and audience development in the home market. In addition, the theater producer requires knowledge of all the technical and logistical aspects of a theater production ( stage equipment, stage, lighting, sound, special effects). Also needed in particular the independent theater producer who is not tied to a permanent theater, a strong network of partners, investors and operators, if necessary, what inexperienced or young theater producers to enter this profession more difficult.
In the UK, however, provides the non-profit organization STAGE ONE, an offshoot of the Society of London Theatre, for the development, training and financial support of young theatrical producer. This is justified by the relevance of theater producers for the continued existence of the British theater scene and also the significant economic importance to the UK, including through cultural exports.
Historical models
William Shakespeare is considered an archetype of the theater producer, he was next to his artistic work he always strategically hosted on market conditions, a highly successful theatrical manager. Later this applies first and foremost to Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev on who practiced as an impresario of the Ballets Russes with his productions dance theater redefined and great cultural influence. Max Reinhardt also has a role model as a commercial theater producer through his production of entirely new, ambitious and commercially successful formats in the entertainment theater, where he became known as the producer high economic risks. Max Reinhardt was "the Lord of the largest, internationally active theater group of his days " ( TIME ). David Merrick is considered formative, its productivity and profitability as a producer are still considered unrivaled for the commercial Broadway theater, as well as his creativity in PR for his productions.
In an ironic way, Mel Brooks sat down with the role of theater producers in the film The Producers (Original Title: The Producers ) from 1968 as well as in his musical The Producers apart.
Swell
- Cameron Mackintosh - The Musical is Money to his Ears in: The New York Times
- Investing in stage musicals in: The Economist
- What's the producer 's role? in: The Guardian, UK