Teamwork in the Performing Arts

This paper addresses the nature of teams and teamwork in the performing arts, including symphony, chamber orchestra, chorus, and jazz, as well as musical theater, straight theatre, improv, ballet, and puppetry. The results of an interview study of performing arts leaders in these domains are reported. These results suggest an "ecology" of performance. The characteristics of this ecology strongly influence the nature and roles of teams, as well as how teams are created and supported. Potential relationships among the attributes of this characterization are discussed.