Math Vs. Theater

Math and theater relate to each other in many different ways. Math relates to theater in a business sense. For example if I was a theater producer and wanted to put on the musical Sound of Music I would have to know how to budget enough money so that I could have enough money to build a set, get costumes, pay the actors, pay the box office staff, all the various designers and still make a profit.

A budget is like a puzzle but with math one can put the puzzle together.

An actress can use math when on stage. On stage timing of entrances, exits, and when to say ones lines is  one of the most important things to know how to do. Knowing how to read a clock ( something one learns how to do in a math class) is vital to timing.

Another way math relates to theater is in the set building department. If a set builder is only a centimeter off the entire set will be off. Also knowing all the postulates of geometry is very important to building a set. For example if I want to build a triangular platform a set designer needs to know if it is better to use a 45, 45, 90 triangle or a 30, 60, 90 triangle.  This skill, that one learns in geometry, is crucial to having a good looking, functional set. 

architects scale

These math skills may seem simple but to someone in the theater business they are crucial to success.