Technical Theatre “Without technicians, actors would just be people yelling on a blank stage in the dark.”

The Director and his helpers Producer Director Assistant Director Stage Manager Prompt book Assistant Stage Manager House Manager ushers

Properties A.K.A. “Props” Prop Master Prop table Costume props (purse) Hand props (telephone) Floor props (furniture) Decorative (painting) Buy Build Pull

Set- People and Terms Set designer vs. carpenters/crew Technical Director (TD) Stagehands Gaft tape Spiking Stage blocks

Fly system Batons- the pipes they attach lights and set pieces onto Pigs- the name for the weights they use to balance the weight of the lights and set pieces on the batons (like a teeter-totter) This is how they bring in set pieces to change the scene or fly someone like Peter Pan Pulley system- The ropes and pulleys they use to raise and lower the set

A picture of the fly rail

Scene shop This is where they build all the set pieces and store things until they are ready to be put on stage. There are many tools, and safety is essential!

Types of stages: Theatre in the round- Audience on all sides Thrust stage- audience on 3 sides Proscenium stage- Typical stage where audience in just in front of the stage

Examples of set designs and ground plans done in CAD

Examples of flats

Fun set examples:

Fun set examples:

Makeup- steps and terms Actors usually do their own-(Cats) unless professional or extremely challenging Clean face Base Highlight Shadow Specialty Ben Nye/Mehron Wigs

Types of stage makeup Basic Old age Fantasy Animal Period Gender reversal Celebrity Specialty (scars, noses, facial hair, moles, etc.) Blood and gore

Makeup Sketch Wigs

Example of highlight and shadow

Animal makeup Example

Specialty makeup examples

Period Fantasy Blood and Gore Specialty

Body makeup

Old age makeup example

Lights Lighting Designer vs. Light board op. Blackout & Blueout Lighting designer creates a light plot and gives it to the Master Electrician. The Master Electrician is the person in charge of hanging all the lights to make it look as the Lighting Designer had envisioned, and for recording all the light cues. Blackout & Blueout Bite light Follow spot vs. Spotlight Work lights Lighting instruments Lamp- 750 watts (normal is 75w) Fragile- sensitive to oil on skin

Example of a light plot

Details of a light plot

Light board and computer program

Lighting Instruments Ellipsoidal PAR Can Very specific area is lit, very condensed light. These you can use gobos for. This creates a wash, or a broad area that is lit instead of a specific spot. Cannot use gobos with these because the light is too spread out.

Parts of a lighting instrument

Lighting colors

Intelligent lighting Intelligent lighting is newer, and therefore more expensive, but will probably eventually replace both ellipsoidal and PAR cans. Benefits: Change color without changing gels Add and remove gobos Not stationary, can be moved around One Intelligent light can do the same job as 10 of the older models. Most Intelligent lighting is used these days in concerts, on Broadway, and even some DJs.

PAR Can lighting example

Elipsoidal example

Gobos

Gobo example

Gobo example (intelligent lighting)

Popular gobo example What’s wrong with this picture? Name the 2 reasons this is not a real gobo.

Gels

Gel example

Gel example

Haze example Haze is used in concerts and in theatre so you can see the beam of light. Otherwise it would just be the light on stage.

Fog example Fog stays low to the ground to help create a creepy atmosphere.

More fun lighting examples

More fun lighting examples

Sound Sound designer vs. sound board “op.” Sound designer decides placement of speakers, what songs to play, what sound effects to use, and use of microphones. Sound board op runs the sound during rehearsals and the show. They not only have to play the music and SFX, but also turn on and off people’s mics, and can even change the way their voice sounds. Real sounds vs. Sound effects (Crash box- real, cat meowing- effect) Sound cue

Sound cues

The Audio signal chain Source Processing Speaker Amplification Examples: Mixing with a sound board, adjusting volume, audio special effects (Chipmunk voices pitch, reverb). Examples: Making the sound louder: Some speakers have amplifiers in them, usually you need to have an outboard specifically made for amplifying. Examples: Self explanatory! Examples: Anything that makes sound: Radio, I-pod, computer, microphones, etc.

Microphones Lavalier / Lapel Mic Condenser Mic Dynamic Mic These are the most popular mics. They can be handheld or on stands, but the actor or singer needs to be directly in front of it to pick up the sound. These mics can be several feet away from the actors and still pick up all the sound. It picks up all sorts of noise besides the one actor’s voice. These mics can be hidden on actors. The battery is attached to the actor’s back

Sound board

Costumes Costume designer vs. stichers/dressers/builders Pull (& alter) Buy Build Rent Swatch Measurements

How to design a costume: There are certain things you need to know about your character and the play before you can design: Gender Age Status Location Season/weather Time Period Job Personality Other things to keep in mind- color of the set and lights, logistics

Animal costume designs and masks

And now you know EVERYTHING there is to know about technical theatre And now you know EVERYTHING there is to know about technical theatre! (ok, so maybe not everything…)