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Stagecraft Week 16  
(May 15-19, 2023)

Important terms/concepts/info are in RED.

Google Classroom assignments are in BLUE.

Ms. Price provides ALL learning for absent students in a self-directed format.

If absent, read & understand/complete each day's activities below.  You are EXPECTED to keep up with what's going on in class.

 

Day 1:  Design INSPIRATION 

1. If absent, be sure you've completed last week's learning if you haven't already.  Remember, design is a PROCESS, so following the process in order is key to more success and less frustration.

2. Watched a Video (Set Design of Newsies) and discussed.  If absent, watch with the following questions in mind:

1.) How was the set designed to meet the NEEDS of the show?

2.) What RESEARCH did the designers do to make their designs historically accurate?

3.) What are some repeated images you observed in the design choices?

4.) What was the "STARTING POINT" for INSPIRATION of the entire design?

3.  Discussed:   Research vs. Inspiration and various aspects students should consider researching for their own shows (as discussed last class and in the video 

4.  Continued with individual RESEARCH in order to find INSPIRATION for your own scenic designs (Collect research/inspiration to your Google Classroom assignment entitled Scenic Research (Musical Design Project)  - follow directions on slide 2!

  • Remember, EVERYONE does their OWN research/inspiration hunts - even if you're working with a partner or group.  Personal inspiration is NOT a group activity (although you can come together as a group to discuss what you found).  

***If you haven't yet finished transferring your HIGHLIGHTED scenic information FROM your script TO your Google Classroom Assignment: Locations in Your Musical -  Tab 2:  "Needs of the Script", you MUST complete that on your own time.  Follow directions at the top of Tab 2 for how to complete this required assignment.***

Day 2:  (Scenic) DESIGN CONCEPT

1.)  Discussed: With set/scenic design, you not only need to design what's IN the space - you also need to design for how those things need to FUNCTION in the space, and also TRANSITION from one set/scene to another.

 

2. Watched a Video (Mary Poppins Scenic Design) and discussed.  If absent, watch the video with the following questions in mind:

1.) How was the set designed to meet the NEEDS of the show?

2.) From where did the designer get INSPIRATION for both the Broadway & touring show designs?

3.) How did the design handle TRANSITIONS from scene to scene?

3.  Watched a teaching video (Inspiration & Design Concept - watch to 2:38)  If absent, you MUST watch this video.

 

4.) Learned about DESIGN CONCEPT.

  • WHAT is Design Concept?  The over-arching IDEA that UNITES all aspects of design together into one COHESIVE "look"/"feel" for the visual telling of a play/musical.

  • Example:  In This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, this Girl Does Nothing, my INTERPRETATION of the story was that I wanted it to be an imaginative & magical modern fairy tale about finding yourself while finding HOME.  After interpreting what I felt was the meaning/heart of the story, I developed the show's DESIGN CONCEPT.  Because I decided that the heart of the show was all about finding yourself while finding your way back home, I chose to set the entire play INSIDE the characters' childhood home. Although the characters go on adventures all over the world (and far from home) in the play, I decided to create an imaginative and magical feel to the show by having the characters tell their tales inside the home, while using found objects throughout the cottage to "become other things" in their adventures.  (For example, a ladder to the cottage's loft is turned sideways and becomes a lighthouse that sails the ocean.)  This scenic/design concept (of telling the whole story inside the cottage) was the unifying concept that tied all visual elements of the show together.

5.) Learned more about  DESIGN CONCEPTS by reading ONE (your choice) of the following Design Concepts for KP's shows:  Once On This IslandFlowers for AlgernonThe Crucible. Metamorphoes, The Laramie Project.  If absent , be sure to read ONE of the above "Design Concepts" (required) with the following questions in mind:  

  • What is a design concept?

  • What does it do?

  • How can/does a show's design concept impact a director's visual telling of a story?

  • For the show you chose: What do you find interesting about KP'schosen design concept (and/or the images shown to illustrate that concept visually)?

6.) Watched & Discussed Behind the Scenes of Wicked - Set Design (12:16)   If absent , be sure to watch with the following questions in mind: 

1.) The designer says that the STORY is about two sisters, but what was the MOOD/STYLE the designer was trying to create with his design?

2.) What RESEARCH did the designers do?

3.) What was the overall DESIGN CONCEPT, and in what visual elements of the show did that concept appear?

4.) What are some things that you found interesting, intriguing, or inspiring in this video?

7.)  Continued your RESEARCH and INSPIRATION search for any additional elements that could inform your final design concept and choices.  (Add your research/inspiration - AND any inspiration images - to your Google Classroom assignment entitled Scenic Research (Musical Design Project) if/when new ideas emerge.  If absent, be sure to complete your Scenic Research TODAY.

***If you haven't yet finished transferring your HIGHLIGHTED scenic information FROM your script TO your Google Classroom Assignment: Locations in Your Musical -  Tab 2:  "Needs of the Script", you MUST complete that on your own time.  Follow directions at the top of Tab 2 for how to complete this required assignment.***

Day 3:  Design AESTHETIC

1.) Reviewed PROCESS of scenic design.

2.) Watched & Discussed a video (Beetlejuice Scenic Design If absent , be sure to watch with the following questions in mind:

  • From WHERE did the designer get his iNSPIRATION for the design of Beetlejuice?

  • What was the overall DESIGN AESTHETIC of Beetlejuice?

  • What are some DETAILS that could be considered in YOUR design?

3.) Students were given time to:

  1. )  FINISH your SCENIC NEEDS spreadsheet (Google Classroom Assignment: Locations in Your Musical;  Tab 2 "Needs of the Script" - follow directions at the top of tab 2)

  2. ) Continue/Finish individual RESEARCH / INSPIRATION searches. (Be sure to add any inspiration images - to your Google Classroom assignment entitled Scenic Research (Musical Design Project) if/when new ideas emerge from your research)

  3. ) Develop/Discuss a DESIGN CONCEPT for your show.  (Use your Google Classroom assignment: Interpreting a Musical Script to help you.)

  4. Develop/Discuss your show's DESIGN AESTHETIC and any DETAILS you may want to consider with your specific designs.

4.) Reminder:  Design Meetings with the Instructors begin NEXT CLASS.  Be sure you have completed your SCENIC NEEDS and RESEARCH/INSPIRATION before next class (see above).  We will discuss both, as well as YOUR own ideas for design.  We will also help you (and/or your group) with moving forward with your design concept and set designs. 

Day 4:  Design AESTHETIC /  PRESENTATION Prep / Design Meetings

OR Catch-up Day

1.) Considered (for your scenic design):  

  • Have you ignored any part of the storytelling space?

  • How can every area on stage SUPPORT your overall design/concept?

  • How can you work to make everything on stage feel COHESIVE?

2.) Watched a teaching video (Design Aesthetic) and discussed (as a class and with your design group) how it could apply to your own design.  If absent , be sure to watch!

3.) Reviewed each step of the design process that should be complete to this point:

  1. Read script / Determine NEEDS of the script

  2. INTERPRET the script:  What is YOUR take on this story and how you want to tell it?

  3. Conduct both RESEARCH and an INSPIRATION search to inform/inspire your own ideas for design.

  4. Create a DESIGN CONCEPT that unites the visual storytelling of the script.

  5. "Play" with ideas and work to make those ideas visible with NAPKIN SKETCHES.

4.) Watched a teaching video (Napkin Sketches - 2:40 to end) about making your ideas visible.

5.)  Discussed what comes NEXT in the Design Process:

  1. Participate in Design Meetings and hone in on your set design choices (consider also your design AESTHETIC, as well as all parts of the stage that can help to support your set)

  2. Determine your final SET/SCENIC DESIGN.

  3. Create a Design Presentation that best conveys your set/scenic design.

 

4.) Discussed what should be included in your Design Presentation ( If absent , be sure to read rubrics)

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