theatre play response

THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

The Stage

Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway, NY

The Stage is the space and mechanical features that is used to mount a production with visual, aura and physical elements. The space consists of the stage floor, space above and below the stage, all backstage space, all equipment and mechanical features of the stage. The following are terms that apply to the theatre facility and operation. Note the photo (above) and stage ground plan (below) of the Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway.

· Traps - Opening in the stage floor, normally covered, which can be used for special effects, such as having scenery or performers rise from below, or which permits the construction of a staircase that ostensibly leads to a lower floor or cellar.

· Wings - (1) Left and right offstage areas. (2) Narrow standing pieces of scenery, or "legs," more or less parallel to the proscenium, which form the sides of a setting.

· Downstage/Upstage - Front of the stage toward the audience and rear of the stage away from the audience.

· Right Stage/Left Stage - The left and right sides of the stage from the actor's perspective.

· Apron - Stage space in front of the curtain line or proscenium; also called the fore-stage

· Cyclorama - Permanent curved drop used to mask the rear and sides of the stage; referred as "cyc"; used to light as sky, etc.

· Masking - Scenery or draperies used to hide or cover.

· Rake - To position scenery on a slant or angle other than parallel or perpendicular to the curtain line; also, an upward slope of the stage floor away from the audience

· Fly loft/space/flies - Space above the stage where scenery may be lifted out of sight by means of ropes and pulleys when it is not needed.

· Front of House - Where the audience sits, is slanted downward from the back to the stage.

· Orchestra - (1)Ground-floor seating in an auditorium. (2) In ancient Greek theater, the circular playing space

· Skene - In ancient Greek theater, the scene house behind the orchestra.

· Ghostlight - a single incandescent light on a stand/lamp; always lit on the empty stage. This is a practice for safety purposes in a dark theatre. 

Theatrical Design and Technology

Theatrical Design and Technology includes all areas of the performance that contributes to and creates the "World of the Play": an environment for the action and support for the actors. The designers and director work together to develop and shape the play’s environment.

· Designers develop conceptual and design ideas for one or more aspects of a theatre production: Scenic, Costume, Makeup/Hair, Properties, Lighting, Sound. This Design team (all designers) work together closely on the overall production while focusing on his/her specific design area.

· Technicians are the artisans/craftspeople who construct, build and realize the designs. After the realization phase is complete, the technicians run and maintain production throughout the performance run. 

Hamilton: The Musical

Hamilton:The Musical is the focus of the two design modules (ACT VIII & ACT VIII). 

"Hamilton is the story of the unlikely Founding Father determined to make his mark on the new nation as hungry and ambitious as he is. From bastard orphan to Washington's right-hand man, rebel to war hero, a loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal, to the Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy. George Washington, Eliza Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and Hamilton's lifelong friend/foil Aaron Burr all make their mark in this astonishing new musical exploration of a political mastermind." (Broadway.com)

Scenic Design & Technology

Photos: Hamilton: The Musical

Scene Design and Technology  focuses on the creation of the set. This differs from interior decorating in that Scenic Design creates an environment and an atmosphere that are not filled until occupied by performers. With this in mind, view and study the above slides of the Hamilton set. Note the scenic design aspects and how these were used to create the environment and enhance the performance.

Scene design objectives:

· set the tone and style of the production

· distinguish realism from non-realism

· establish time and place

· develop a design concept

· provide a central design metaphor

· coordinate scenery with other elements

· deal with practical considerations

Scenic Design Terms:

· Robert Edmond Jones - considered the most outstanding American scene designer of the first half of the twentieth century. Believed that theatre resembles life: has both an opportunity and obligation to be more than a mere reproduction.

· Box set - Interior setting using flats to form the back and side walls and often the ceiling of a room.

· Unit set - Single setting, developed by Edward Gordon Craig, that can be made to represent various locales by moving basic elements and adding properties

· Stock set - Standard setting for a locale used in every play that requires that environment.

· Dress the set – the adding of properties and set decorations to enhance the atmosphere and mood.

· Elevator stage - Stage which allows the entire floor or sections of the floor to be raised and lowered automatically.

· Turntable/Revolving stage - Large turntable on which scenery is placed so that as it moves, one set turns out of sight while a new one is brought into view.

· Flats - Single piece of scenery, usually of standard size, combined with similar units to create a set. Formerly made of canvas stretched over a wooden frame, but now frequently made of a hard substance such as plywood; a hard flat is sometimes called a Hollywood or movie flat.

· Renderings - visual representations of designs used a communication tool with director, other designers, technicians, and performers

· Drop - Large piece of fabric, generally painted canvas, hung from a batten to the stage floor, usually to serve as backing.

· Strike - To remove pieces of scenery or props from stage or to take down an entire set after a final performance; also includes costumes, lights and sound.

Costume Design & Technology

Costume Design and Technology focuses on the appearance of the character - head to toe. The full physical appearance is the domain of the costume designer and technicians. Conceiving and developing costume designs for each character must be developed as a part of the overall production design concept. The Costume Designer is a part of the design team and works with the other design areas. The objectives of costume design are to establish production style, period and locale; identifying status, occupation and personality; indicating relationships; convey symbolic significance of characters; meeting performers' needs; consistent with whole production. With this in mind, view and study the slides of the Hamilton costumes. 

Hamilton  Costume Design - read this article (required reading)  ORIGINAL SKETCHES  click this link

A more extensive explanation of what the costume area does and how it operates, descriptions of the costume positions mentioned in your reading are provided here  Costume Positions & Terminology  (adapted from USITT Costume Commission).

· Distressing -  The process of making a costume piece appear worn-out or dirty.

· Milliner -  Theatre artist who creates hats and headwear as designed by the Costume Designer.

Lighting Design & Technology

Lighting Design and Technology focuses on the use of light to illuminate the stage and action. Lighting also provides the element of atmosphere and the shaping of the audience's focus on the actions. The functions and objectives of lighting design are to  provide visibility; reveal shapes and forms; provide focus; create visual compositions; create mood; reinforce style; establish time and place; establish rhythm; reinforce central visual image. With this in mind, view and study the slides of the Hamilton lighting. 

A more extensive explanation of what the lighting area does and how it operates, descriptions of the lighting positions mentioned in your reading are provided here  Lighting Positions & Terminology  (adapted from USITT Lighting Commission). 

· Cat walk -  Narrow metal platform suspended above the stage to permit access to lights & scenery hung overhead.

· Dimmers -  Device for changing lighting intensity smoothly and at varying rates.

Makeup/Hair Design & Technology

Make-up/Hair Design and Technology focuses on all areas of the body that require hair and/or makeup. Typically, makeup artists are  are used in theatre when special makeup applications and designs are used, e.g. Cats, Spiderman. Most stage productions use wigs and hairpieces. Hair and wig designers and crews are significant part of the backstage staff. With this in mind, view and study the slides of the Hamilton make-up/hair. 

· Makeup Artist - artist responsible for applying makeup and prosthetics to aesthetically enhance performers.

Sound Design & Technology

Sound Design and Technology focuses on all sound (reinforcement, music, effects, pre-show, underscoring, etc.). Sound is a relatively new aspect of design. Lights and sound are usually the most complex areas to run in a live performance. With this in mind, view and study the video above. 

Sound Design article (required reading): click  'Hamilton' Is Revolutionizing the Art and Science of Broadway Sound Design

· Sound Designer - The position who controls and/or creates anything that is heard during the production including - sound design (technical and conceptual) and the aural environment of the show.

· Underscoring -  Music or sound heard between scenes, acts or during scenes to add emphasis or mood.

· Sound reinforcement - Amplification of sounds produced by the performer or musical instrument.

· Amplification -  To increase volume and pervasiveness of sound.

· Body mike - Wireless microphone attached to performer's body or costume.

· Shotgun mike -  Highly directional microphone aimed from a distance at specific area.