The director is a recent development, born out of the great diversity of styles in the modern theater, the complexity of modern productions, and the eclectic nature of the international repertoire. The director analyzes the script, provides an overall vision for the production, and coordinates all the elements in order to make a unified whole. This involves arriving at a concept and then communicating it to the actors and designers who will bring the production to life. The director is also responsible for the overall artistic quality of the production—style, pace, and visual appearance.

The director may have many collaborators, such as a choreographer, a stage manager, and a dramaturg. Behind the scenes, the producer and manager work to coordinate the business and management elements.