Collaborative Artistic Process Jobs & Production skills Exploring the Collaborative Artistic Process in Drama through Jobs & Production skills ©2006 EvaMedia

What are some of the jobs / careers in theatre?

playwright person who writes a play also called a dramatist

producer arranges for funding hires director & production staff sets budget pays bills & salaries

director brings together all the artistic elements of a play casts actors develops a ‘vision’ for the production

cast a group of actors selected to portray characters

crew a group of people selected to do the technical work of the production (lighting, sound, props, etc.)

designer makes sketches, builds models, describes concepts instructs technical crew collaborates with director

How is a play or film created?

It is a Collaborative Artistic Process that takes a long time & a great deal of effort from many people.

First, arrangements must be made for use of a script First, arrangements must be made for use of a script. This includes financial considerations.

royalties money paid to playwright or publisher for permission to stage a particular play

script printed copy of a play

Then, the director analyzes the script & casts actors in roles Then, the director analyzes the script & casts actors in roles. Together they begin to rehearse for upcoming performances.

act a major unit or division of a play

scene a small section of a play within an act

language lines in a script also: words, stage directions, & movements (body language) used to tell the story

dialogue two or more people talking

(called a soliloquy in Shakespearean drama) monologue one person speaking (called a soliloquy in Shakespearean drama)

action what happens onstage to hold the attention of the audience

plot story sometimes called ‘action’

conflict dramatic opposition (internal or external) also called ‘suspense’

theme message, meaning, moral or lesson of the story basic idea of the play not the same as plot

character a person or an animal occasionally, an object or a place

characterization putting together all aspects of a character

motivation reasons for a character behaving in a certain way includes character’s past, present & future

empathy the ability to relate to the feelings of another person or character

discovery a revelation something that is revealed about a character or situation in a play

The designers & production crew take care of the show’s physical & technical needs.

spectacle visual elements: sets, lights, makeup, costumes, props the “look” of the production

designers & crew design/build sets hang & focus lights find or make costumes & props design & create sound create make-up

A tech rehearsal is necessary before the show opens to the public A tech rehearsal is necessary before the show opens to the public. Things like lighting cues must be tested.

During performances, technicians & stage managers make sure everything runs smoothly. When the run ends …

strike to remove props from the set to dismantle the set after the production closes

After the PLANNING, PLAYING (performing) & RESPONDING … those involved EVALUATE to determine whether the show ‘worked.’

But most of the time, the Audience is the best judge of a show’s success!