Assistant vs. Associate

[gypsy.rose.blanchard]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:03pm

What's the difference between assistant and associate directors/choreographers?

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:08pm

lol my answer will be somewhat random for this board, but I am a physician assistant, and we are constantly saying our name should be changed to physician associate because it has less of a negative connotation of being an "assistant" -- but ultimately, i don't have an exact differentiation between the two titles. Not in the medical field and certainly not in the broadway realm. Curious to see people's answers to this

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:08pm

Just billing --- that's all.  Associate is just a fancier title afforded assistants with experience.

 

 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:25pm

In my experience in professional regional theatre at least, “assistant director” is usually basically an internship position. They help with odds and ends and some of the dirty work, but are mostly there to observe and learn. “Associate director” however does actually direct bits and pieces of the show and has more direct involvement in the artistic product.

However, the terms can sometimes be used interchangeably, and I think it’s kind of purposely vague. Basically, the position is whatever the director needs/wants it to be.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:31pm

Sometimes, shows will have both an Associate and Assistant, so there's hierarchy. The Associate Director may also get the title of Resident Director for a long-running show. A few Stage Managers have also morphed into Associate Directors. For a tour or a UK import, the Assoc. is often the de facto director of that production. (i.e. Tommy Kail and Andy Blankenbuehler don't individually stage each production of Hamilton –– they may check in, work with the casts, offer notes, etc. but Associates are "setting" the show.)

Like the previous poster said, billing also comes into play: sometimes they'll be on the title page, sometimes they won't; it really depends on the director, producer, and the level of work that the Assoc/Asst. is doing.

Each situation varies, but for a new show the Assoc./Asst. job could include staging minor scenes, "cleaning" scenes, character work, dramaturgy, notating blocking, scheduling, liaising with designers, note-taking during performances, taking charge of put-in rehearsals, staging special appearances like the Today Show, getting coffee/lunch, etc. And many prominent Directors and Choreographers started as Associates: Rob Ashford, Kathleen & Rob Marshall, Jerry Mitchell, Warren Carlyle, Marc Bruni, Trip Cullman, Lila Neugebauer, etc.

Updated On: 5/3/19 at 12:31 PM

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:33pm

Typically it's the associate director who's left in charge when the director leaves (and preps any replacement cast members, swings, understudies, etc.) and is also in charge of making sure the show maintains good shape (and running any rehearsals as needed during the run of the show).  Assistant directors take on some of the same responsibilities, but are often doing more typical assistant tasks (taking and distributing notes, prepping scripts, etc.).  But it really varies from production to production and more specifically director to director.

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:57pm

An Assistant Director/Choreographer is there to assist the creative they work for on a number of things from getting coffee/lunch to writing down their bosses notes; working as a liaison between their boss and the others working on the production, etc. the Job duties can vary based on the project and the director/choreographer they work for. There job is usually done once the show opens.

 

 

An Associates job usually continues on past opening night. They will be the one responsible for running fill in/understudy rehearsals with the SM team/Dance Captains, etc. They are most likely the one’s who will stage the show and run rehearsals when a a tour or sit down production starts rehearsals while the Director/Choreographer usually drops in after a bulk of the work has already been taught to the cast. They will be at more performances giving notes throughout a shows run; as well as running rehearsals if their Boss can’t be there if rehearsal needs to be split up and the Director and/or Choreographer needs to be two places at once. An Associate will also be the one that usually will notate the blocking/Choreography in StageWrite and get all notations and changes to the cast/SM team, etc.

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 1:30pm

I’ve always known the difference as associates have decision-making power (as long as it’s consistent with the vision set forth by their superior) whereas assistants simply report to their superior and help out. This is mostly from a designer perspective, though, but I believe it carries over to direction and choreography as well.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 11:04pm

OMG, if you don't know the answer, please don't guess. or analogize. #5 answers this well, but some of you, goodness. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 12:05am

For a Broadway orchestra, an associate conductor is usually second-in-line to the podium while an assistant conductor is third-in-line. There may be other conductor subs as well, but that’s the hierarchy. As with other associate positions, an associate conductor/MD might also set a production, run a rehearsal, or teach replacements, understudies, and swings the show.