Running crew or run crew, is a collective term used in theatre

Theatre

Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...

 to describe the members of the technical crew

Technical crew

The Technical crew, often abbreviated to "tech crew" or "technicians", are the individuals employed behind the scenes who control all the technical aspects of creating a concert, play, musical, opera or other live performance...

 who supervise and operate ("run") the various technical aspects of the production during a performance

Performance

A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...

. 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.

Stage Management

• Assistant Stage manager
  Stage management
  Stage management is the practice of organizing and coordinating a theatrical production. It encompasses a variety of activities, including organizing the production and coordinating communications between various personnel...
  
  : Assists the Stage Manager
  Stage management
  Stage management is the practice of organizing and coordinating a theatrical production. It encompasses a variety of activities, including organizing the production and coordinating communications between various personnel...
  
   in their duties. Generally one Assistant Stage Manager is in charge of running backstage operation during a show.
• Props
  Theatrical property
  A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is an object used on stage by actors to further the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The difference between a set...
  
  : responsible for maintenance and placement of hand props before scenes as well as their subsequent retrieval after the scene.
• Call boy
  Call boy (theatre)
  Call boy is the job title of a stagehand in the theatre. They are hired by either the director, producer or stage crew chief...
  
  : responsible for alerting actors and actresses of their entrances in time for them to appear on stage, on cue.

Lighting

• Light board operator
  Light board operator
  The light board operator is the electrician who operates the light board. Depending on the scale and type of production, the board op may be responsible for conventional or automated lighting fixtures, as well as practicals and, in some instances, controlling video as well.Sometimes, most commonly...
  
  : operates the lighting control system
  Stage lighting
  Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
  
  . Sometimes this is integrated with the show control
  Show control
  Show control is the use of automation technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. It is distinguished from entertainment control , which coordinates elements within a single entertainment discipline such as lighting, sound, video, rigging...
  
   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
  Master electrician
  The Master Electrician in a theatre is responsible for implementing the lighting design for a production drawn up by the Lighting designer. This involves overseeing the preparation, hanging, connection and focusing of stage lighting fixtures.This can be done on a show by show basis, or as a...
  
  : 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
  The Spotlight Operator, Followspot Operator, Followspot, Spot Op, Dome Operator or Domie is a theatrical technician, defined as a lighting technician, who operates a specialized stage lighting instrument known as a followspot. A followspot is designed to move, change size, beam width, and color...
  
   (or followspot operator): operates a type of lighting instrument called a followspot
  Followspot
  A followspot, sometimes known as a spot light, is a powerful stage lighting instrument which projects a bright beam of light onto a performance space. Followspots are controlled by a spotlight operator who follows actors around the stage...
  
  , 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 theaters have followspots located above a false ceiling, on the catwalk
  Catwalk (theater)
  A catwalk is an elevated service platform from which many of the technical functions of a theater, such as lighting and sound, may be manipulated.- Function :...
  
  .

Sound

• Sound operator
  Sound operator
  The sound operator is the person responsible for the overall and total execution of all sound-related aspects of a theatrical performance...
  
   (A1): operates the sound board
  Mixing console
  In professional audio, a mixing console, or audio mixer, also called a sound board, mixing desk, or mixer is an electronic device for combining , routing, and changing the level, timbre and/or dynamics of audio signals. A mixer can mix analog or digital signals, depending on the type of mixer...
  
   and/or audio control system specified by the sound designer, computerized or otherwise. Sometimes this is integrated with the show control
  Show control
  Show control is the use of automation technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. It is distinguished from entertainment control , which coordinates elements within a single entertainment discipline such as lighting, sound, video, rigging...
  
   system. There can be multiple sound board ops.
• Mic wrangler
  A2 (theater)
  A2 is an abbreviation for Audio Assistant, Second Audio Assistant, or Second Assistant Audio Engineer. Any of these three terms, or any similar term such as Mic Wrangler, may be used to describe the same set of duties....
  
   (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
  Fly system
  A fly system, flying system or theatrical rigging system, is a system of lines , blocks , counterweights and related devices within a theatre that enable a stage crew to quickly, quietly and safely fly components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people...
  
  , a system of ropes or wires, pulleys and counterweights by means of which scenery
  Theatrical scenery
  Theatrical scenery is that which is used as a setting for a theatrical production. Scenery may be just about anything, from a single chair to an elaborately re-created street, no matter how large or how small, whether or not the item was custom-made or is, in fact, the genuine item, appropriated...
  
   is "flown" in and out (down and up, respectively) during scene changes.
• Stagehand
  Stagehand
  A stagehand is a person who works backstage or behind the scenes in theatres, film, television, or location performance. Their duties include setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.-Types of stagehand:...
  
  : A technician
  Technician
  A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
  
   responsible for moving scenery at the stage level, by manually carrying or rolling set pieces (e.g., scenery wagon
  Scenery wagon
  A scenery wagon, also known as a stage wagon, is a mobile platform that is used to support and transport movable, three-dimensional theatrical scenery on a theater stage. In most cases, the scenery is constructed on top of the wagon such that the wagon, and the scenery it supports, forms a single,...
  
  s) between the stage and the wings. This can include carrying on and off furniture, props, or scenery.

Wardrobe

• Wardrobe
  Wardrobe
  A Wardrobe is a cabinet used for storing clothes.Wardrobe may also refer to:* Wardrobe , a full set of multiple clothing items* Wardrobe , part of royal administration in medieval England...
  
  : A "dresser" (who works for Wardrobe) is responsible for maintenance and placement of costume
  Costume
  The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
  
  s, as well as assisting performers in getting into and out of costume
  Costume
  The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
  
  s.
• Wigs/Makeup: responsible for applying or assisting in the application of face and body
  Body painting
  Body painting, or sometimes bodypainting, is a form of body art. Unlike tattoo and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for only several hours, or at most a couple of weeks. Body painting that is limited to the face is known as face painting...
  
   paints, wigs and hairpieces, etc.