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Running crew, run crew or stage crew, is a collective term used in theatre to describe the members of the technical crew who supervise and operate ("run") the various technical aspects of the production during a performance.^[1]^[2] While the "technical crew" includes all persons other than performers involved with the production, such as those who build and take down the sets and place the lighting, the term "running crew" is generally limited to those who work during an actual performance.

The term is typically not applied to crew or department heads, although there are exceptions. The running crew may include performers if they also function in technical capacities while offstage.

Crew positions

A typical running crew will include any or all of the following positions, depending on the nature and size of the production, and the complexity of the technical requirements. Each position is organised by the most common title; depending on the country, type of production, and producing organisation, different titles may be used for the same position.

Stage management

Assistant stage manager: Assists the stage manager in their duties. Generally one assistant stage manager is in charge of running backstage operation during a show.
Props: responsible for maintenance and placement of hand props before scenes as well as their subsequent retrieval after the scene.
Call boy: responsible for alerting actors and actresses of their entrances in time for them to appear on stage, on cue.

Lighting

Light board operator: operates the lighting control system. Sometimes this is integrated with the show control system.
Deck Electrician: responsible for placing, connecting and/or operating stage lighting units, such as stage lights. Sometimes, they are necessary to have during scene changes, in the case of moving set pieces with lighting equipment inside. Typically, more than one will be backstage.
Master Electrician: responsible for the maintenance and operation of dimming & power distribution systems during a performance, including "hot" or "live" patching. Occasionally, some of these duties could also be delegated to the run crew's deck electricians.
Spotlight Operator (or followspot operator): operates a type of lighting instrument called a followspot, which allows a performer to be lit evenly no matter where on stage they may go. Can typically be found in the lighting booth, along with the light board op. Also, some theatres have followspots located above a false ceiling, on the catwalk.

Sound

Sound operator (A1): operates the sound board and/or audio control system specified by the sound designer, computerised or otherwise. Sometimes this is integrated with the show control system. There can be multiple sound board ops.
Mic wrangler (A2): manages microphones and maintains headsets as a show runs. Usually there are several mic wranglers located backstage, in the wings, with the running crew.

Stage

Flymen (or fly crew/rail crew): operate the fly system, a system of ropes or wires, pulleys and counterweights by means of which scenery is "flown" in and out (down and up, respectively) during scene changes.
Stagehand: A technician responsible for moving scenery at the stage level, by manually carrying or rolling set pieces (e.g., scenery wagons) between the stage and the wings. This can include carrying on and off furniture, props, or scenery.

Wardrobe

Wardrobe: A "dresser" (who works for Wardrobe) is responsible for maintenance and placement of costumes, as well as assisting performers in getting into and out of costumes.
Makeup: responsible for applying or assisting in the application of face and body paints, wigs and hairpieces, etc.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Hopgood, Jeromy (2015-09-07). Dance Production: Design and Technology. CRC Press. p. 12. ISBN 9781317635413.
^ Downs, William Missouri; Wright; Ramsey, Erik (2016-10-05). The Art of Theatre: Then and Now. Cengage Learning. p. 104. ISBN 9781305954700.

[:0-1] Hopgood, Jeromy (2015-09-07). Dance Production: Design and Technology. CRC Press. p. 12. ISBN 9781317635413.

[2] Downs, William Missouri; Wright; Ramsey, Erik (2016-10-05). The Art of Theatre: Then and Now. Cengage Learning. p. 104. ISBN 9781305954700.

[1]

[2]

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+'''Running crew''', '''run crew''' or '''stage crew''', is a collective term used in [[theatre]] to describe the members of the [[technical crew]] who supervise and operate ("run") the various technical aspects of the production during a [[performance]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=US6DCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|title=Dance Production: Design and Technology|last=Hopgood|first=Jeromy|date=2015-09-07|publisher=CRC Press|year=|isbn=9781317635413|location=|pages=12|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4sy5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA104|title=The Art of Theatre: Then and Now|last=Downs|first=William Missouri|last2=Wright|last3=Ramsey|first3=Erik|date=2016-10-05|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=|isbn=9781305954700|location=|pages=104|language=en}}</ref> While the "technical crew" includes all persons other than performers involved with the production, such as those who build and take down the sets and place the lighting, the term "running crew" is generally limited to those who work during an actual performance.
-{{Unreferenced|date=December 2009}}
-'''Running crew''', '''run crew''' or '''stage crew''', is a collective term used in [[theatre]] to describe the members of the [[technical crew]] who supervise and operate ("run") the various technical aspects of the production during a [[performance]]. While the "technical crew" includes all persons other than performers involved with the production, such as those who build and take down the sets and place the lighting, the term "running crew" is generally limited to those who work during an actual performance.
 The term is typically not applied to crew or department heads, although there are exceptions. The running crew may include performers if they also function in technical capacities while offstage.
 ==Crew positions==
-A typical running crew will include any or all of the following positions, depending on the nature and size of the production, and the complexity of the technical requirements.  Each position is organized by the most common title; depending on the country, type of production, and producing organization, different titles may be used for the same position.
+A typical running crew will include any or all of the following positions, depending on the nature and size of the production, and the complexity of the technical requirements. Each position is organised by the most common title; depending on the country, type of production, and producing organisation, different titles may be used for the same position.
 ===Stage management===
-* [[Stage management|Assistant stage manager]]: Assists the [[Stage management|stage manager]] in their duties.  Generally one assistant stage manager is in charge of running backstage operation during a show.
+* [[Stage management|Assistant stage manager]]: Assists the [[Stage management|stage manager]] in their duties. Generally one assistant stage manager is in charge of running backstage operation during a show.
 * [[Theatrical property|Props]]: responsible for maintenance and placement of hand props before scenes as well as their subsequent retrieval after the scene.
 * [[Call boy (theatre)|Call boy]]: responsible for alerting actors and actresses of their entrances in time for them to appear on stage, on cue.
 ===Lighting===
-* [[Light board operator]]: operates the [[stage lighting|lighting control system]].  Sometimes this is integrated with the [[show control]] system.
+* [[Light board operator]]: operates the [[stage lighting|lighting control system]]. Sometimes this is integrated with the [[show control]] system.
 * [[Electrician_(theater)#Deck_Electrician|Deck Electrician]]: responsible for placing, connecting and/or operating stage lighting units, such as stage lights. Sometimes, they are necessary to have during scene changes, in the case of moving set pieces with lighting equipment inside. Typically, more than one will be backstage.
 * [[Master Electrician]]: responsible for the maintenance and operation of dimming & power distribution systems during a performance, including "hot" or "live" patching. Occasionally, some of these duties could also be delegated to the run crew's deck electricians.
-* [[Spotlight operator|Spotlight Operator]] (or followspot operator): operates a type of lighting instrument called a [[followspot]], which allows a performer to be lit evenly no matter where on stage they may go. Can typically be found in the [[Control Booth|lighting booth]], along with the light board op. Also, some theaters have followspots located above a false ceiling, on the [[Catwalk (theater)|catwalk]].
+* [[Spotlight operator|Spotlight Operator]] (or followspot operator): operates a type of lighting instrument called a [[followspot]], which allows a performer to be lit evenly no matter where on stage they may go. Can typically be found in the [[Control Booth|lighting booth]], along with the light board op. Also, some theatres have followspots located above a false ceiling, on the [[Catwalk (theater)|catwalk]].
 ===Sound===
-* [[Sound operator]] (A1): operates the [[Mixing console|sound board]] and/or audio control system specified by the [[sound designer]], computerized or otherwise. Sometimes this is integrated with the [[show control]] system. There can be multiple sound board ops.
+* [[Sound operator]] (A1): operates the [[Mixing console|sound board]] and/or audio control system specified by the [[sound designer]], computerised or otherwise. Sometimes this is integrated with the [[show control]] system. There can be multiple sound board ops.
 * [[A2 (theater)|Mic wrangler]] (A2): manages microphones and maintains headsets as a show runs. Usually there are several mic wranglers located backstage, in the [[Wings_(theater)#Stage|wings]], with the running crew.
 ===Stage===
 * [[Flymen]] (or fly crew/rail crew): operate the [[fly system]], a system of ropes or wires, pulleys and counterweights by means of which [[Theatrical scenery|scenery]] is "flown" in and out (down and up, respectively) during scene changes.
-* [[Stagehand]]: A  [[technician]] responsible for moving scenery at the stage level, by manually carrying or rolling set pieces (e.g., [[scenery wagon]]s) between the stage and the wings. This can include carrying on and off furniture, props, or scenery.
+* [[Stagehand]]: A [[technician]] responsible for moving scenery at the stage level, by manually carrying or rolling set pieces (e.g., [[scenery wagon]]s) between the stage and the wings. This can include carrying on and off furniture, props, or scenery.
 ===Wardrobe===
 * [[Wardrobe]]: A "dresser" (who works for Wardrobe) is responsible for maintenance and placement of [[costume]]s, as well as assisting performers in getting into and out of [[costume]]s.
-* [[Makeup]]: responsible for applying or assisting in the application of [[face paint|face]] and [[body painting|body]] paints, [[Wig (hair)|wigs]] and hairpieces, etc.
+* [[Makeup]]: responsible for applying or assisting in the application of [[face paint|face]] and [[body painting|body]] paints, [[Wig (hair)|wigs]] and hairpieces, etc.<ref name=":0" />
+== References ==
+{{Reflist}}
 {{Running crew}}