Determining Production Requirements for a Play Mrs. Abbott

Production Requirements: What you need to be able to do/have in order to produce a play.

Choosing a Script The first questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a script are: “Is it a good story?” “Is the dialogue good?” “Are the characters 3 dimensional” “Is there action?”

Choosing a Script If you answer yes to all questions…move ahead…if not, then you should find another script… WHY? Because good acting, costumes, sets, props and technical elements will NOT overcome a bad script.

Characters: Deciding if you have talent in your theater to perform all the characters in the play is an important part of choosing a script.

Characters: It’s important to do a brief character description for each of the main and supporting roles. This will help you to decide if your theater has the talent to perform the play!

Technology What technical needs does your show have? Do you need to make anyone fly?

Technology It’s important to know the abilities of your technical staff…start by making a list of technical elements you want to include in your show…flying, sound effects, lighting effects…then you can make an educated decision regarding if this show is good for your theater or not…

Set

Set Questions to ask yourself: How many sets does the show need? How much is each set going to cost? What kind of special pieces do you need? (Example: Hot air balloon)

Costumes

Costumes How many actors do you have? How many costumes do you need? How much are the costumes going to cost? Can you buy all the costumes or do you need to make some?

Costumes Costume Plot: A costume plot is used to break down each costume and how much each costume is going to cost. This plot usually includes a sketch of the costume.

Properties Properties or props are all the things that are used on stage by the actors.

Properties To figure out what props your show needs…read the script, they are usually in the stage directions…if not, then the characters talk about them. A good director makes a list of props they need and begins to look for them before a show starts rehearsals.

Your Job: To determine the production requirements for Stargazers: What technical elements are needed, lighting, sound effects... What should the set look like…draw out an example… What should the costumes look like…describe the costume you would use for each of the 8 main characters, and the 3 aliens and how much you think they will cost. Make a list of the props you need for the show, and how much you think they will cost.