Theatre Arts

Links:

In this quest you will be the scene designer for a play that you will choose. Follow the steps below:

1. Read the play to familiarize yourself with it. Click the Stage Craft Overview link and read the entire document.

2. Reread the play, this time filling out the Pre-Design Worksheet. Complete a Story Star about the play.Your teacher will supply both of these for you.

3. Research areas that may help you get ideas for your scenery. For example, if the play takes place in modern times in an English Villiage, you would need to research what the architecture or styles are of that area. Ask yourself what do you know about the setting? Find out more by looking at pictures, drawings, movies from the era or setting, etc.

4. List notes, ideas, sketches, web addresses, etc in your folder to show what you found in your research. Find examples of wall paper, furniture, and decor, on the internet and print out samples to include in your presentation. OR you may simply sketch them.

5. Make thumbnail sketches of your ideas. Once you have a few, choose on one to focus. Create a rendering of your scene design. Be as specific as you can, including funiture. Add colors, textures, etc. See the links on Scene design for examples of both thumbnail sketches and renderings.

6. Our stage dimensions are 34' X 25'. (This depth included the apron. Draw a ground plan of your scene design showing doorways, windows, furninture, etc. Use a 1/4" scale. Label all flats alphabetically. Explore the links for examples.

7. Now you are ready to make a scale model of your set. Draw each wall of your scene design using a 1/2' scale on poster board or card stock. On the back side, draw where the flats would be and lable each flat to match your ground plan. Draw what will be on the front of these flats. These need to be as detailed as possible. Don't include furniture but DO include wall decor such as paneling, wall paper, paint color, pictures, shelves, signs etc.

8. Cut out your scenery, MAKE SURE YOU ALLOW A 1/2" TAB ALONG THE BOTTOM. This will be what you use to attach your scenery to your stage.

9. Find a box top or cut a piece of cardboard to represent your stage in 1/2" scale. It should be 18" wide and 10" deep.

10. Fold the bottom 1/2" tab of your scenery back. You will need to cut wherever you plan on bending your scenery in order to fold it. (You teacher will demonstrate).

11. Attach your scenery to your stage platform. Make adjustments as needed.

12. Make furniture using various materials, such as card stock, spools, cotton balls, etc. Make sure they are made at the same 1/2" scale. For instance, if you have a 6 foot sofa, then your scale model sofa would need to be 3" long. Etc. If you have toy or miniture pieces that could work, feel free to use them.

13. Attach the furniture where it should be. Don't forget your stage floor. Will you paint it? Use rugs? You decide. Also, you should have one scale character on your model. You can cut out a paper doll, use a toy, but make sure it is to scale.

14. Organize the following in a folder to be turned in with your model. All papers should be labled with your name, the play title,the date and the scale it was drawn in the bottom right-hand corner. Your design folder and presentation must consist of the following:
1) thumbnail sketches (at least 2), 2) 1 detailed 3-D rendering of set, 3) 1/4" ground plan of set with flats labled, 4) 1/2" scale model with detailed drawing on each wall or section and flats labled on the back 5) all notes taken during research including story star.

10) Prepare a 2 - 4 minute presentation to share your design ideas to the class. You must introuduce your play, explaining the setting, and a summary of the plot. Explain what some of the necessary elements that were specified in the script. Support your design by giving reasons for the choices you made, including design, color, decor, etc. Be prepared to answer questions and ready to defend your choices.