Set Design Set Requirements Set Requirements Must be practical and usable Must be practical and usable Aesthetically pleasing to the eye—LOOKS GOOD Aesthetically pleasing to the eye—LOOKS GOOD Provide a suitable background for play’s action Provide a suitable background for play’s action Space for movement Space for movement Several acting areas Several acting areas Doors, windows, levels, etc Doors, windows, levels, etc Communicates locale (time and place), the cultural, social, and economic status of characters Communicates locale (time and place), the cultural, social, and economic status of characters Suggest the play’s style and mood Suggest the play’s style and mood

Set Design First step in set design is creating a GROUND PLAN First step in set design is creating a GROUND PLAN Drawing of set from overhead view Drawing of set from overhead view Details the placement of Details the placement of Entrances/exits Entrances/exits Windows Windows Furniture Furniture Stairs, platforms, ramps Stairs, platforms, ramps Usually drawn to scale so that construction crew can build from it Usually drawn to scale so that construction crew can build from it

THE STAGE CREW Supervised by Technical Director Supervised by Technical Director Consists of groups of people working on set construction, props, lighting, sound, costumes and makeup Consists of groups of people working on set construction, props, lighting, sound, costumes and makeup Each individual crew is lead by a crew head, or lead designer Each individual crew is lead by a crew head, or lead designer

SET CONSTRUCTION CREW builds and paints the structures on which the actors perform builds and paints the structures on which the actors perform design is conceived by set designer design is conceived by set designer later becomes the shifting or running crew : later becomes the shifting or running crew : crew that changes the set from scene to scene during the production of the play crew that changes the set from scene to scene during the production of the play

PROPERTIES (PROPS) CREW in charge of gathering and organizing props in charge of gathering and organizing props prop: anything actors handle onstage, as well as furniture or any items used to enhance the set prop: anything actors handle onstage, as well as furniture or any items used to enhance the set 3 types 3 types Handheld: any prop handled by an actor during the course of the show Handheld: any prop handled by an actor during the course of the show Set props: large set pieces that do not move such as couches, chairs, tables, etc. Set props: large set pieces that do not move such as couches, chairs, tables, etc. Decorative: additions that enhance the set, add to the mood of the play; ex: pictures, curtains, knicknacks Decorative: additions that enhance the set, add to the mood of the play; ex: pictures, curtains, knicknacks crew is managed by the Prop master crew is managed by the Prop master Researches the time period of the play and socio-economic background of characters Researches the time period of the play and socio-economic background of characters Either buys or builds the necessary props for the show Either buys or builds the necessary props for the show Creates a Prop Table on which all props for a show are stored and organized by actor Creates a Prop Table on which all props for a show are stored and organized by actor

COSTUME CREW Responsible for sewing, repairing and cleaning costumes Responsible for sewing, repairing and cleaning costumes Costume designer chooses or designs costumes Costume designer chooses or designs costumes Designer must consider Designer must consider Time period Time period Character personality Character personality What is the character doing in each scene? What is the character doing in each scene? Designer first researches, then creates costume renderings Designer first researches, then creates costume renderings Colored drawing or painting of ideal costume Colored drawing or painting of ideal costume Includes a list of accessories with explanations Includes a list of accessories with explanations Sometimes includes fabric swatches Sometimes includes fabric swatches Renderings are used by the stitchers to build the costumes Renderings are used by the stitchers to build the costumes

Costume Design Considerations for costume design Considerations for costume design Appropriateness Appropriateness Costume silhouette: the distinctive line and form in dress from any given historical period Costume silhouette: the distinctive line and form in dress from any given historical period Color Color Reflects personality and character traits Reflects personality and character traits Color symbolism to consider (just a few—every color has meaning) Color symbolism to consider (just a few—every color has meaning) Purple—royalty Purple—royalty Red—lust or desire Red—lust or desire White—innocence White—innocence Can indicate character relationships Can indicate character relationships Couples in matching or complementary colors Couples in matching or complementary colors

MAKEUP CREW Refers to cosmetics, hairstyling, false hair and false features Refers to cosmetics, hairstyling, false hair and false features Traditionally in theatre, makeup is applied by the actors Traditionally in theatre, makeup is applied by the actors When makeup is complicated/specialized, a crew of makeup artists apply, supervised by makeup designer When makeup is complicated/specialized, a crew of makeup artists apply, supervised by makeup designer Designer creates renderings which are followed by actors or makeup artists in application Considerations for Make up Design Stage lights wash the color from an actor’s face—makeup must cover entire face, neck, ears Application involves using principles of chiaroscuro —highlight and shadow

Straight Makeup Straight Makeup refers to basic makeup needed by all actors on stage Straight Makeup refers to basic makeup needed by all actors on stage Procedure Procedure Start with a clean face! Start with a clean face! Step One: Foundation/base Step One: Foundation/base Provides a uniform color and canvas on which to apply all other makeup Provides a uniform color and canvas on which to apply all other makeup Step Two: Rouge/Blush Step Two: Rouge/Blush Apply to apples of cheeks and blend upward along cheekbones Apply to apples of cheeks and blend upward along cheekbones Step Three: Eyes and brows Step Three: Eyes and brows Shadow (applied to lids) and liner (brows and under eye) Shadow (applied to lids) and liner (brows and under eye) Step 4: Highlight and Shadow Step 4: Highlight and Shadow Brings out features (highlight) with a color 3 shades lighter than base Brings out features (highlight) with a color 3 shades lighter than base Corrects features (shadows) with a color 3 shades darker than base Corrects features (shadows) with a color 3 shades darker than base Step 5: Powdering Step 5: Powdering Sets the makeup and gives a matte finish Sets the makeup and gives a matte finish Step 6: Lipstick and finishing touches Step 6: Lipstick and finishing touches Includes application of mascara, false eye lashes, lip liner Includes application of mascara, false eye lashes, lip liner

Specialized Makeup Aging Aging Base color should be 1 shade lighter than normal since skin loses color with age Base color should be 1 shade lighter than normal since skin loses color with age Lines made with eye pencils create wrinkles Lines made with eye pencils create wrinkles Follow natural lines in the face Follow natural lines in the face Apply with a light hand Apply with a light hand Highlights and shadows create folds in skin which deepen the appearance of wrinkles Highlights and shadows create folds in skin which deepen the appearance of wrinkles Wigs and Facial Hair Wigs and Facial Hair Prosthetics—false features Prosthetics—false features

LIGHTING CREW Lighting crew places lights and runs light board during the show Lighting crew places lights and runs light board during the show Lighting is any illumination of the set and actors during the performance; needed Lighting is any illumination of the set and actors during the performance; needed to make actors visible (duh) to make actors visible (duh) to establish time, place and mood for play to establish time, place and mood for play Lighting designer decides Lighting designer decides what kind of lights and what color of lights are needed what kind of lights and what color of lights are needed Equipment—fresnels, scoops, strips, ellipsiodals, spotlights Equipment—fresnels, scoops, strips, ellipsiodals, spotlights Intensity of light beam Intensity of light beam Throw: distance the light travels Throw: distance the light travels Tragedies and dramas: cool colors—blues, purples, greens, whites Tragedies and dramas: cool colors—blues, purples, greens, whites Comedies: warmer colors—yellows, pinks, reds, oranges Comedies: warmer colors—yellows, pinks, reds, oranges where to focus the lights where to focus the lights The most important acting areas need a stronger concentration of light The most important acting areas need a stronger concentration of light when to turn the lights on/off when to turn the lights on/off

SOUND CREW Responsible for collecting, preparing and running the sound during a performance Responsible for collecting, preparing and running the sound during a performance Sound includes Sound includes Amplification of actors’ voices (microphones) Amplification of actors’ voices (microphones) Music Music Preshow—should reflect time period of play and mood of play; sets tone for the show (comedy, drama, tragedy) Preshow—should reflect time period of play and mood of play; sets tone for the show (comedy, drama, tragedy) Intermission—time period appropriate and fits mood at intermission Intermission—time period appropriate and fits mood at intermission Post-show/Bows—should be time period appropriate and fit final mood or feeling at end of the play Post-show/Bows—should be time period appropriate and fit final mood or feeling at end of the play Sound effects—phones, thunder, doorbell, car approaching, etc Sound effects—phones, thunder, doorbell, car approaching, etc Sound designer decides Sound designer decides Kinds of music and sound effects Kinds of music and sound effects Whether sound will be live or recorded Whether sound will be live or recorded