SCENIC DESIGN

SELECTED SHOWS

1. A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD by Robert and Willie Reale

2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen

3. 35 mm: A MUSICAL EXHIBITION by Ryan Scott Oliver

4. HOLIDAY INN: Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin

5. AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY by Tracy Letts

6. 1940s RADIO HOUR by Walton Jones

7. SIDE MAN by Tracy Letts

8. THE GHOST SONATA by August Strindberg

9. SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE by Lee Hall

10. MIST AND SHADOWS by UAFS Devised Immersive

11. THE WESTERN DISTRICT by Brandon Goldsmith

12. THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA by Tennessee Williams

13. LYSISTRATA by Aristophanes

14. MACBETH by William Shakespeare

15. THE 39 STEPS by Patrick Barlow

16. ALL MY SONS by Arthur Miller

17. DELTA-V  Devised  by UAFS Students

18. CRIMES OF THE HEART by Beth Henley

19. LEND ME A TENOR by Ken Ludwig

20. Dømnium Devised by Thatre@UAFS

21. MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM by William Shakespeare

22. THREE SISTERS by Anton Chekhov 

23. IMOGEN by Robert Stevenson

24. AWAKE AND SING! by Clifford Odets

25. ON THE VERGE by Erik Overmeyer

26. AURORA by J. Rodriguez-Barbera & R. Stevenson

27. SUEÑO by José  Rivera

28. TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare

INTRODUCTION:

The SCENIC DESIGN Project Documentation:                  Guerra-Monje

-       Thumbnails, Sketches, and notes, very small with the first reading of the script.

-       Proof of identification of spaces (in the play and in the theatre), and production necessities.

-       Design Statement.

-       Research – Tracings & Pictures.

-       Rough Sketches.

-       Sketches for Ground plan and Section (¼”= 1”-0”) on graph paper.

-       Research on Textures and Materials.

-       White or color model (¼”= 1”-0”).

-       Renderings (one per scenery change with indication of atmosphere, composition, and color).

-       Ground plan ( ½”=1’0”).

-       Section ( ½”=1’0”).

-       Any other Drafting necessary to the TD (Set Details and sitting configurations).

-       Paint Elevations.

-       Props Folio (with drawing and research for each prop).

-       Shift Plot using 1/8” ground Plan.

-       Scene Shift Breakdown.

-   Line Set Schedule.

NOTES:

-   Thumbnails Sketches and notes, very small with the first reading of the script.

Serve the purpose of developing ideas

Personal responses to emotions, spaces or the structure of the play.

They help to understand the play and its visual possibilities.

Not intended for conversation but self reflection

Questions you might ask you:

 How can you best describe the various moods created by each situation?

      Is there an apparent solid or fragile structure?

     How expressive is the language, how colorful?

     What about color and textures…etc

-   Proof of identification of spaces (in the play and in the theatre), and production necessities.

Ground Plan and elevation of the Theatre available?

Budget, size of show?

Locales for the show based on the script.

Props needed.

Questions you might ask you:

Are the plans accurate?

What role the costumes and lighting will play in the production?...

Does the director have a strong production concept that will lead the design approach?

-   Design Statement.

Half page total

- What do you think the author want to say with the play?

  What is the play about without mentioning the plot?

- Design Approach:

  What does the play say to you?

  What do you want to say through the design of the play? (Design Challenge)

- How are you going to communicate that idea?

  Which mood and locale are you going for?

  Design choices:

                     Elements: Line, Shape, Color, Space…

                      Arrangement: Contrast, Balance, Complexity, Variety, Proportions…

Where are you mainly going to drawn visual information to assist you with the design (research)?

        Nature, Media, Art: Be specific and explain why

Questions you might ask you:

What is the desired experience for the audience?

-   Research

Those will help you to create the ideas you envision

You design concept will guide and serve as selector factor through the process

Contextual research: (link to the script in general)

- Past productions: production pictures, drawings, reviews, music…

- Historical Research. For the period the play is set in or when it was written

The author (live, context, influence…), art, architecture, fashion, daily life

    Conceptual Research: (link to the concept of the show or the visual direction you are going for)

- Visual representation concepts or ideas, like for example, isolation, disgrace, pity, marriage, surprise, brotherhood, lie, success…

- Specific guided research for your concept: a specific art period or artist, an object, a theory, a place…

   Research on Textures and Materials.

-   Rough Sketches.

First visual presentation of ideas. Serve to communicate with other members of the production team.

They show composition and space relationships

They indicate locale and mood

No attention to detail is ok, changes might be necessary to adapt to the collaborative process

      Free Media

-   Sketches for Ground plan and Section (1/8”= 1”-0”)

On graph paper helps to see.

Serve to show placement and scale

Serve to identify actors’ movement problems, sightlines problems, scenery storage issues, levels and flow issues and other problems to solve in the layout

- White or color model, or computer generated model

(¼”= 1”-0”) for physical models

White Model: Mainly to communicate with director

Color Model: Great tool for the light Designer

-   Renderings

One per “substantial” scenery change with indication of atmosphere, composition and color

This piece is judged not only for the information that provides to the design team but also for its artistic and pictorial qualities

-   Ground plan (½”=1’0”).

Working document intended to show the layout of the set on the stage

In its different configurations

Include arrangements of soft goods (leg and borders) an other masking

Necessary mainly for the director, technical director and light designer but also props, costumes, sound and projections

To be sure use USITT drafting standards

Refer all measurements to Center and Plaster Lines

Include section cut and Title Block

-   Section ( ½”=1’0”).

Mainly necessary for the light designer and TD

Chose to section the set in its most informative plane

Include all height measurements

Include Title Block and relation to other drafting plates

-   Any other Drafting necessary to the TD

 Include sitting configurations if necessary

Set Details must be provided to the TD for construction but do not have to show construction solutions

Include Title Block and relation to other drafting plates

-   Paint Elevations.

Working document intended to show color and desired finish for the scenic pieces

Scale will vary. While a floor might be ½” scale, a door might be 1” or 2” scale depending on the detail

Media will mimic final result as possible to make transition easier

-   Props Folio

Drawing or image for each prop

Will include color and texture clearly indicated

-   Shift Plot using 1/8” ground Plans.

Different set configuration mainly use for The Stage Manager

-   Scene Shift Breakdown.

Word Document with explanation and sequence of scenery shift. It mainly deals with tasks to be accomplished in the ground and the Fly System

-   Line Set Schedule.

Chart type document that includes what is in every line of the fly system, its trim height and its weight

1940s RADIO HOUR by Walton Jones 

It took two theatre spaces with a passage between when touring