Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: what would you include in a set design class?

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concretejello
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Joined: 8/26/08
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Topic: what would you include in a set design class?
Posted: 8/26/08 at 5:46pm

i'm a high school teacher, and will be teaching a set design course this year. have a considerable amount of mural painting experience, and experience on music video shoots, but no set designs...

what would you recommend to include in a foundation set design class, for high school students? we'll be working on the designs and scale model, but another construction class will later construct it.
any tips and direction would be really helpful and appreciated

by the way, we're doing Cyrano de Bergerac (which i love!)

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JoeMc
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Joined: 3/13/06
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Posted: 8/26/08 at 9:38pm

These sites may help;-

http://www.artslynx.org/theatre/design.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenic_design

Besides the different styles of theatre stages from the Proscenium, introduction by Inigo Jones of the Prscenium used in Italian architecture of theatrons. To theatre in the round & so on.

Set & Scenoligy & the mechanics of presentation from script, concept & functionality.

History of stage design thru to the more modern & even off the wall designs.

Mise enscene covering the complete picture, including costumes, scenery, props & lighting palettes.

The process from concept to the finished product, budgeting, management & operation.

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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whitebat
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Posted: 8/27/08 at 7:14pm

Well... here's some things I would like to get out of a set design class

1. How to design sets so they'll work with the lighting in our theatre (colors, shadows, etc.)

2. Different ways to build flats, advantages & disadvantages (cost, durability, etc.)

3. Building other "standard" set items (platforms, stairs, furniture)

4. Building "non-standard" set elements (e.g. a "cave", rocks, organic objects)

5. Durability vs. Movability in scenic elements

Can you fly in sets, use wagons, etc. at your theater?

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KEB54
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Posted: 9/02/08 at 2:58pm

That's a tough one. For HS kids I guess I'd start with ensuring they understood theatre basics (upstage, downstage, theatre terms, role of the dirtector, role of the set designer, ...)

Then I'd talk to them about reading the script and getting the clues from it. Breaking the script into scenes and what is required set-wise in that scene.

Then working with the director about common vision/style/period. Is Cyrano going to be modern or period; realistic or representational, etc.? Maybe just basically touching on color and texture.

Then discuss limitations of budget, skills, time, and facility plant, that is, you can't be too fancy without the budget; can't make intrucate things your builders don't know how to build; can't make a huge set without the time; can't fly scenery without a fly system; etc.

It may be that a Cyrano set is nothing more than set unit boxes and wall pieces that are moved around and then dressed with furniture, etc.

KEB

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avcastner
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Joined: 12/21/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 10/01/08 at 7:33pm

I would look for a good textbook, like Parker and Smith's Scene Design and Stage Lighting. It's pricey but worth it.

Other ideas . . . stress designing with a small budget in mind. In hard economic times, many people don't have money to see a play, so you're ticket sales will be down. Also, if you get a budget from the school, it will be cut to ensure that teachers still have jobs.

Teach them how to analyze a script and draw symbolic images from it before putting anything to paper. Visual brainstorming sessions resulting in collages are also great to start them.

Make them really read the script!

When checking their work, check the internet for images of the same play and youtube to make sure they haven't just recreated someone else's design. (High schooler are notorious for these types of shortcuts.)

If your background is in painting, spend time teaching them the techniques of going from a small image to painting on a backdrop or flat. Many times in amateur and educational theatre, the designer is depended upon to be the lead scenic painter.

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Topic: what would you include in a set design class?( Topic Closed)

Author	Message
concretejello Walk-On Joined: 8/26/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: what would you include in a set design class? Posted: 8/26/08 at 5:46pm
	i'm a high school teacher, and will be teaching a set design course this year. have a considerable amount of mural painting experience, and experience on music video shoots, but no set designs... what would you recommend to include in a foundation set design class, for high school students? we'll be working on the designs and scale model, but another construction class will later construct it. any tips and direction would be really helpful and appreciated by the way, we're doing Cyrano de Bergerac (which i love!)

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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 8/26/08 at 9:38pm
	These sites may help;- http://www.artslynx.org/theatre/design.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenic_design Besides the different styles of theatre stages from the Proscenium, introduction by Inigo Jones of the Prscenium used in Italian architecture of theatrons. To theatre in the round & so on. Set & Scenoligy & the mechanics of presentation from script, concept & functionality. History of stage design thru to the more modern & even off the wall designs. Mise enscene covering the complete picture, including costumes, scenery, props & lighting palettes. The process from concept to the finished product, budgeting, management & operation.
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 8/27/08 at 7:14pm
	Well... here's some things I would like to get out of a set design class 1. How to design sets so they'll work with the lighting in our theatre (colors, shadows, etc.) 2. Different ways to build flats, advantages & disadvantages (cost, durability, etc.) 3. Building other "standard" set items (platforms, stairs, furniture) 4. Building "non-standard" set elements (e.g. a "cave", rocks, organic objects) 5. Durability vs. Movability in scenic elements Can you fly in sets, use wagons, etc. at your theater?
	IP Logged

KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 9/02/08 at 2:58pm
	That's a tough one. For HS kids I guess I'd start with ensuring they understood theatre basics (upstage, downstage, theatre terms, role of the dirtector, role of the set designer, ...) Then I'd talk to them about reading the script and getting the clues from it. Breaking the script into scenes and what is required set-wise in that scene. Then working with the director about common vision/style/period. Is Cyrano going to be modern or period; realistic or representational, etc.? Maybe just basically touching on color and texture. Then discuss limitations of budget, skills, time, and facility plant, that is, you can't be too fancy without the budget; can't make intrucate things your builders don't know how to build; can't make a huge set without the time; can't fly scenery without a fly system; etc. It may be that a Cyrano set is nothing more than set unit boxes and wall pieces that are moved around and then dressed with furniture, etc.
	KEB
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avcastner Star Joined: 12/21/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 85	Posted: 10/01/08 at 7:33pm
	I would look for a good textbook, like Parker and Smith's Scene Design and Stage Lighting. It's pricey but worth it. Other ideas . . . stress designing with a small budget in mind. In hard economic times, many people don't have money to see a play, so you're ticket sales will be down. Also, if you get a budget from the school, it will be cut to ensure that teachers still have jobs. Teach them how to analyze a script and draw symbolic images from it before putting anything to paper. Visual brainstorming sessions resulting in collages are also great to start them. Make them really read the script! When checking their work, check the internet for images of the same play and youtube to make sure they haven't just recreated someone else's design. (High schooler are notorious for these types of shortcuts.) If your background is in painting, spend time teaching them the techniques of going from a small image to painting on a backdrop or flat. Many times in amateur and educational theatre, the designer is depended upon to be the lead scenic painter.
	IP Logged