Stagecraft class is a year long class in which students learn the principles of theatrical design and will apply their knowledge as the stage crew for an IHMS production. Students will specialize in a particular backstage area such as lights and sound, set design and props, costumes,  technical direction or stage management.  

As a team, students will be entrusted with the real responsibility of planning a cohesive design, working within a budget and against time constraints to realize their vision onstage. 

During performances, students will serve as “run crew”, operating the lighting and sound systems, taking charge backstage with scene changes and prop organization, as well as cueing actors. This class will require some after school time and mandatory attendance at dress rehearsals, and at all performances.

This class is aligned with the National Arts Standards , the California Visual and Performing Arts Standards,  and the Arts Media & Entertainment Career Technical Standards. 

Learning Targets

Students will be able to:

• Artistically analyze and interpret theatrical literature

• Reflect, refine, analyze and evaluate their own ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts

• Be able to strategize solutions to complex creative challenges and identify appropriate tools, resources, and methods for problem-solving.

• Develop, implement and communicate new ideas to others effectively

• Balance and Incorporate creative ideas with other stage components with consideration to color theory, scale and harmony.

• Act on creative ideas 

• Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams

• Distinguish different genres and styles of design

• Design, develop and produce technical theatre components from rehearsal to performance

• Organize time, money and resources according to production demands

• Utilize the latest technology for lighting, sound, and set design

• Learn safe and effective practices of working with tools and equipment

• Collaborate with technical teams and director to create a cohesive overall design

Essential Standards

These standards represent the core learning targets of the Stagecraft program. They are from the California Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards  and the Performing Arts Career and Technical Standards (CTE). While we will cover many other skills and concepts, the following were  selected as the most fundamental skills for success in the course and future college and career pathways. 

Creating: 

CA Theatre Arts Content Standards

1c. Imagine and explore solutions to design challenges of a performance space in a drama/theatre work.

2b. Share leadership and responsibilities to develop collaborative goals when preparing or devising drama/theatre work.

3c.Implement and refine a planned design using technical theatre elements during the rehearsal process for devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Performing:

CA Theatre Arts Content Standards

5b.Use a variety of technical theatre elements to create a design for a rehearsal or drama/theatre production.

Arts, Media and Entertainment CTE Standards

C2.3 Plan one technical component of a production from design to performance.

C4.0 Demonstrate key skills and an understanding of the complexities of production planning.

Responding:

CA Theatre Arts Content Standards

9c. Analyze and evaluate the aesthetics of the technical theatre elements in a drama/theatre work.

Arts, Media and Entertainment CTE Standards

B3.2 Research, analyze, and plan a theatrical performance (live or recorded) with the director, designer or playwright.

Connecting:

Arts, Media and Entertainment CTE Standards

B6.6 Work collaboratively as designer, producer, or actor to meet directorial goals in scenes and plays from a variety of professional sources.

B9.0 Explore the connection between artistic preparation and professional standards and practices.

C1.0 Demonstrate knowledge of industry safety standards and practices in all areas of technical production.

Grades

Stagecraft class centers around play production. Producing the play represents the culmination of a semester’s worth of work.  Since the production is the focus of the class, missing Dress Rehearsals and/or performances will severely impact a student’s semester grade.  

All assignments, designs, rehearsals, performances,  peer and self evaluations and other work in Stagecraft class will be separated into four weighted categories to compile a student grade.

The four categories are:

Creating (envision, conceptualize, rehearse, develop) 40%

Creating grade may include:  ground plans, set design renderings/ sketches, 3-D scales,  project outline (plans/steps) , lighting design & rigging, set construction, costume selections, makeup looks, prop making

Stagecraft Creating Rubric

Performing (select, prepare, share, present) 30%

Performance grade includes:  the final set design, costume, or lighting look, and  technical crew job performance at dress rehearsals and shows. 

Stagecraft Performance Rubric

Responding (reflect, interpret, evaluate) 10 %

Responding grade includes: Script work and analysis, identifying personal aesthetics/artistic preferences, interpreting text/performance, identifying and evaluating artistic choices made by others, seeing work through various perspectives and viewpoints.

Responding Rubric

Connecting (research, empathize, interrelate) 20 %

Connecting grade includes: analyzing larger cultural  and societal elements in work, relating work to personal or larger historical/cultural examples, identify and explore various forms, styles, genres, research of different time eras, cultures, global film practices, self and peer critique and evaluations,.

Stagecraft Connecting Rubric

Grading Rubrics

Each assignment and project within these categories is scored using a 5 point rubric.

0= Incomplete, missing

1= Far Below Standard (the student provides little or no evidence of meeting the learning objective.)

2= Below Standard (the student is below the learning objective.)

3= Approaching Standard (the student is approaching the learning objective.)

4= Skillful (the student has met the learning objective.)

5= Accomplished (the student has met the learning objective and can apply and transfer it)

Grading Scale

After the assignments are graded according to the rubrics,  they will be weighted by category, and the total grade will be displayed in the gradebook according to this scale:

A= 80-100%

B= 60- 79%

C= 40-59%

D= 25-39%

F= 0-24%

Assignment Tracking

We will be using Google Classroom as the information hub to for class communication and assignment tracking. Assignment grades will be exported into Infinite Campus. To see a student's cumulative calculated grade, view into Infinite Campus. 

Grades will be updated every two weeks.

Performances

All dress rehearsals and performances are mandatory for Stagecraft students. Please mark these important dates on the calendar. Putting on a play is tough work, and the technicians will be depended on to run the shows by other Stagecraft students, and the actors. Missing these crucial dates will impact grading significantly.

All-School Musical Performances

(Students must commit to all dates, but most will only be assigned to half of the Technical Rehearsals, Dress Rehearsals and Performances)

Dress Rehearsals for our school musical are on Friday, January 30th and Saturday, January 31st from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The evening performances will be on Thursday, February 5th, Friday, February 6th and Saturday, February 7th.  Stagecraft students are "on call" from 5:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. for evening shows. Our matinee performance is Saturday,  February 7th at 2:00 p.m. Stagecraft students are "on call" from 12:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. for the matinee show. We will also have technical rehearsals on Wednesday, January 21st, Thursday,  January 22nd, Friday, January 23rd,  Monday, January 26th, and Wednesday, January 28th, and Thursday, January 29th from 3:00- 6:00 p.m.

Advanced Drama Performances

Students must commit to all dates, but most will only be assigned to half of the Technical Rehearsals, Dress Rehearsals and Performances)

Advanced Drama students will perform on Thursday, April 30th  and Friday, May 1st at 7:00 p.m. Stagecraft students should be available one hour before curtain time and expect performances to last two hours total. Dress Rehearsal for our play will be on Thursday, April 23rd and Friday, April 24th from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Please mark all of these dates carefully on the calendar.

Please mark these dates carefully on the calendar as Stagecraft students are required to attend all dress rehearsals and performances.

*All Performances will be graded. Due to the collaborative nature of performance, please notify me immediately if of any conflicts with performance and Dress Rehearsal dates or times. The deadline to notify me of conflicts is by September 12th.  

Musical Production Performances

Students must commit to all dates, but most will only be assigned to half of the Technical Rehearsals, Dress Rehearsals and Performances)

Performances for our Musical Class Production are Friday, May 15th  and Saturday, May 16th  from 5:30- 9:30 p.m. Dress Rehearsals for our Musical Production class Performance is on Friday, May 8th and Saturday, May 9th from 5:30- 9:00 p.m.

Extra Hours

Each Stagecraft student is required to complete at least 8 hours of after school work throughout the year.  In most cases students will be offered a variety of dates to choose from and will always be given at least a week’s advance notice.

Certain jobs require even more after school time. For example, students who sign up to be Stage Managers will have to be available at least 2 days a week after school from October through February.

Saturday Work Days

One opportunity to meet the extra hours requirement are our Saturday Work Days. These days are set aside to be for set construction and painting, prop making, and costume fittings. Please mark these dates on the calendar.

*These days are scheduled for  Stage Management, Set Design, Lights and Sound, and Technical Director Crews

Saturday, November 15,   10:00- a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 13th, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. 

*This day is scheduled for  the Costume and Makeup Crew. 

Saturday, January 10th, 10:00- a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Parent volunteer help is really appreciated during these days. The  “Sign Up Genius” link  will be emailed home shortly.

Attendance and Absence Policy

Students who miss school due to excused absences will be given the opportunity to make up all missed work. Upon returning to school, the student should checkGoogle Classroom and/or Infinite Campus to see what what missed. Absent students should utilize tutorial sessions as needed to go over missed work.  Late work will be accepted for full credit up until the last week of the semester. If a dress rehearsal or performance is missed due to a legitimate illness or family emergency, students will be assigned an alternate project of equal weight.

Tardy Policy

Students are expected to be in the classroom at the start of the class.  Students or in their seats by the bell can be marked tardy and receive classroom and schoolwide consequences. 

Consequences for unexcused tardies (per quarter):

• 1-3 tardies: Attendance office/teacher will document and attempt to resolve a student’s tardy problem by discussing the situation with student and parents, an optional assignment will be given reinforcing the importance of being on time.

• 4 tardies: Attendance office/teacher will document the tardies and advise an administrator. An administrator will conference  with the student and assign detention.

• 6  tardies: If tardies continue, additional detention will be assigned and an attendance contract will be put in place

• 9  tardies: If tardies continue and the  attendance contract as is not adhered to, consequences may include additional detention

12 tardies: Students and guardians will be recommended for Student Attendance Review Team (SART) and School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process referral. Students may also be advised to spend one or more days of a weekend at the school site. 

Homework

Excepting the Dress Rehearsal and Performance attendance requirements,  almost all of our work will be done within class time.  There will be  no homework unless class work is not completed. Instead of homework, Stagecraft students will be asked to log 8 after school hours per semester working on the production. 

There will be many dates to choose from to log hours. We will  have two optional Saturday work days (see the dates to mark on the calendar section) which can easily cover the majority of the time. 

SRVUSD Homework Policy

Late/Missing Work

Most late work will be accepted for full credit up to two weeks after the deadline. Students needing extra time may sign up for Student Support sessions to complete projects.  Students will not be able to make up points for missing mandatory Dress Rehearsals and Performances unless they submit a doctor's note or have reported conflicts with the performance schedule by September 13th. In these cases they will receive an alternate assignment of equal weight. 

Artificial Intelligence/ AI

All usage of AI programs in this class requires prior approval from the teacher. Before incorporating any AI tool into an assignment or activity, you must discuss your intent with the teacher. Any assignment created with (or supposedly without) the use of AI programs is subject to a verbal review with the teacher.  Be prepared to explain and discuss the content of your work, without the contributions or assistance of AI. 

Tutorial

On Wednesdays and Thursdays students are afforded  30 minutes of tutorial time. Tutorial is designed to provide students an opportunity to receive reteaching, intervention, enrichment, or time to work on projects, readings, and redos. Students will select which tutorial to attend weekly, based on their needs.  In some cases, teachers will assign students to attend tutorials they offer as needs arise. Weekly sign ups are in Infinite Campus and it is recommended that students wait until Friday to sign up for tutorial. Not all of the sessions are available until then. Students who fail to sign up for the week’s tutorials  by Monday at 8:30am may receive a lunch detention. 

 Academic Honesty

Please review page 13 of the IHMS Family Handbook

Students will need pencils, paper, earphones/earbuds and a place to safely store class handouts and/or scripts. They will also need their chromebook charged and ready to use.All other materials will be provided in class. Students with long hair should bring a hair elastic to tie hair back when doing set construction or painting.

Materials that are helpful but not required include: black Sharpie pen, highlighters, post-its.

Please view the embedded presentation below to view the class expectations, rules and procedures.

Parent Communication

As the play gets into production, there are lots of updates about rehearsal schedules, ticket and DVD information, production needs and volunteer opportunities to send home. The easiest and quickest way to communicate with parents has been via email. Hard copies of important information will also be provided, but email has been the most direct and fastest method of communicating with parents. 

The best way to contact me is also through email: hraines@srvusd.net

Parent Volunteers

We really can’t survive without our wonderful parents!  I’ll be emailing hime a Sign Up Genius link to view and sign up for backstage volunteer jobs. 

Our class is about to embark on the unforgettable journey of play production.  There’s nothing like the exhilaration of uniting the artistic talents and discipline of theatre actors, designers and technicians to create a show. The academic and personal benefits to student participating in artistic ventures of this scale have been well documented by research. Hopefully, this shared creative experience will be a treasured memory for students for years to come. 

While mounting a school production is quite costly, the Drama program does not receive adequate funding from the school or district required to produce the musical.  In order to have school plays, our productions must be supported through class donations and ticket sales. 

Iron Horse Drama has received great staff and community support to keep our program strong. In order for this year’s students to have the same opportunities and resources past students have enjoyed, it is necessary to ask for a donation and/or for parents to sign up for production volunteer jobs.  The per student donation request is $40.00 per semester.  Checks should be made payable to Iron Horse Middle School.  Cash donations are also appreciated, however, I am unable to make change.

Donations of time and expertise are greatly appreciated as well. Parent volunteers are needed for chaperoning backstage, supervising dressing rooms, providing intermission concessions, altering costumes and helping on “Saturday Work Days” with set construction and scenic painting. I will shortly be emailing home with a digital link to “Sign Up Genius” to volunteer.

Thank you for helping the Performing Arts continue to thrive at IHMS. If you are able to make a donation, all donations will be given a written receipt. The students and I really appreciate any help/donation you can give. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

LINK TO DONATION LETTER