What is a Theater Company Manager?
The company manager handles the daily business of the production company that includes all of the actors, musicians and production staff. Arranging travel and accommodations, paying employees, and managing legal contracts are some of the main responsibilities of this position. The company manager supervises the overall production and makes all of the financial decisions. Accurately accounting for expenditures is vital to staying within the production budget. Problem-solving skills are also important to deal with a changing environment and many different personalities.
Real People Profile
| Name: | Randy Meyer |
| Workplace: | Disney's Beauty and the Beast U.S. National Tour |
| Education: | Bachelor of Science in speech, Northwestern University |
| Favorite Subject(s) in School: |
English |
| First Real Job: | Assistant company manager for Phantom of the Opera Tour |
| Dream Job: | Producer of a Broadway musical |
| Interests: | Film, travel and tennis |
Real People Q&A
Advice for students interested in my job:
Anything is in your reach. Just put your mind to it.
What subjects in school will students need to do my job?
Math, theater production and communication studies
What I like most about my job?
I'm a real people person, so it's nice to interact with the musicians, actors, and designers. Everyone has their own personality, so working with them and making this all work is what I thrive on.
What is the biggest challenge in my job?
It's a long-time commitment. It's also challenging sometimes because you miss your family and friends.
How do you get a job like mine?
I started out as a TV and film production major and kind of fell into doing theater and producing theater in college. I also produced some things in high school. Having a business background and a hands-on theater background is the best way to get where you need to go. I found out that being a company manager was something that I was really good at and something that I was interested in doing.
