Stage types and Comparison sheet

Using these two documents you will be working learning about different stage types prior to designing your own project. The pink document below will be submitted at the end of the study section full of information and notes on the stage types. After you have learned about the 4 main different types of stages, you will choose the Proscenium stage to work on to create your Formative Assessment.

The first step in the process is to read the show, analyze the script, and conduct any research necessary so that the designer can make informed decisions on their design. Before you begin your scenic design, you will need to select a scene to base your set design around, and make sure you have read it a few times. As Christopher Dills says in "Read, Render, Realize", read it once for enjoyment, and then read the script for sensory and physical needs, and make sure to take notes and annotate your script.

You read the article "Read, Render, Realize" by Christopher Dills and watched a video with set designer David Korins, who designed the sets for Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton. Both of these designers mention thumbnail sketches as part of their process.

By this point, you may have an idea for your set design. But designers don't go with their first idea without exploring other possibilities as well. You will need to make numerous thumbnail sketches that are possible ideas for set designs for your scene.

Start by making a sketch of one idea of how you think the set could look. Remember, thumbnail sketches are small and not very detailed - they have just enough information to get your idea down on paper. Next, do this again with a different idea. Use your list of ideas from the last step to inspire you and spark new ideas.

TO GAIN EXPERIENCE: Create at least 4 small thumbnail sketches with different ideas for how the set could be designed for this scene. The sketches do not have to be super detailed, as long as they visually convey your idea. Take a break and walk away from your sketches. After some time away, come back and re-visit them, and see what you think. Make any additions or changes you would like to make.

TO COMPLETE THIS STEP IN THE CHALLENGE: After taking some time away from your thumbnail sketches, select your favorite idea to move forward with. Now, you will create a colored set rendering, or a more detailed drawing of your set design idea, which you could show to others (such as the director) to convey your design concept to them. While your rendering doesn't have to be perfect, it should include enough detail to convey your ideas clearly to someone else, so you may want to use color. While creating your rendering, try to keep scale in mind. Decide how big an actor would be, then try to draw all your set pieces with that size in mind. Your set design must be usable by actors!

TIP: For an example of a set rendering, check out Step 4 in "Read, Render, Realize" by Christopher Dills on dramatics.org.

In Scenic Design Level 1, you should have created a sketch/rendering of your set design concept for your chosen scene. Now in Level 2, you will build a 3D model to communicate your design concept.

Before you start building your model, take some time to get inspired and build a mood/inspiration board for your set design. Think about the theme, mood, symbols, colors, patterns, textures, etc. that you may want to include, and collect some images that convey these ideas. You can even look for images that could inspire the specific set pieces you would like to include. This collage of photos will help communicate your design concept and guide you in the process of crafting your 3D model.

TO GAIN EXPERIENCE: Create a mood/inspiration board. The photos can be collected on a physical board, a virtual slideshow, or you can use a tool such as Pinterest.

Discover Model Making Techniques

You are ready for the next step of learning how to create a model. For this challenge, you will crafting a 3D model of your set design concept in a shoe box, or another small cardboard box that you have available. Using online resources and/or the help of a mentor, research techniques for creating set pieces for your model. You might start by watching the following two videos of people showing how they made their small cardboard box dioramas/models. Research different techniques for creating model set pieces. Identify what set pieces you will need to be crafting to create your model.

For the basis of your model, decide if you want to use the stage in a box, the theatre model or find a shoe box or another cardboard box. As this is an individual project - some of you will have to use a shoe box for your design.

You can create your model either inside or on top of the box. If you are designing for a proscenium stage, you might want to turn the box sideways and use the opening to the box as your proscenium. If you are designing for a thrust or arena stage, you could create your model on top of the box.

To create your set pieces, you can use paper or cardboard cut outs that are propped up or folded to stand up. You could also experiment with other disposable or recyclable materials, such as the person in the video who used bottle caps. Feel free to be creative when finding materials that will effectively communicate your ideas to others. Challenge yourself to only use objects that you can find around your home. Collect materials from around your home that you can use to build your set pieces for your model.

Use your sketch from Level 1 as a reference and base your model off of it. As you create the model, feel free to experiment with how things look and change things around as needed. You may make discoveries as you are crafting that you didn't think about when you were sketching, so your model may not be exactly the same, and that's okay.

Craft the pieces that you need for your set design model using paper, tape, and whatever other materials you find at home that you can use.

TIP: Remember, your pieces for your model do not have to be perfect. All they need to do is communicate to someone else what your idea is.

Put all of the set pieces that you built into your shoebox or cardboard box and make sure they look the way you want them to! Don't forget to add color or pattern to the floor and walls of the box if that is part of your design - you can even just draw it directly on the box. Look at your model and make sure that all of the pieces you envisioned are there. Does your model represent and communicate your vision for the set? If not, make small edits until it does! If yes, then you have completed this challenge!