Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Twelve Angry Men

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n2drama
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Player

Joined: 4/08/08
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 24

Topic: Twelve Angry Men
Posted: 1/18/11 at 3:41pm

Afternoon,

Our CT is planning to do Twelve Angry Men at the end of February. Looking for suggestions for setting up the stage.

I'm considering two tables in an inverted "V" to keep everyone facing the audience.

Any ideas would be welcomed.

TIA,

Bill

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pdavis69
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Joined: 3/26/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 437

Posted: 1/18/11 at 10:00pm

When our theatre did this show they actually built a new decking for the stage raking the stage 18 inches from rear to front. The table was specially made for the set; wider at the rear. It was a very effective set and everyone was visible.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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bmiller025
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Joined: 10/06/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 82

Posted: 1/19/11 at 6:39pm

Hmmm. I don't think sightlines are a terribly big concern. Almost all of the action that matters takes place when people are standing, and not seated at the table. You need to put the foreman in a place where he is facing downstage, and you likely need to put the architect in a place where a good portion of the audience can see him pretty well, but I think the magic of the piece is how each character moves (stands up, turns away from the others, etc.) to command the audience's attention as needed. Not everyone's face needs to be seen at all times!

When I did it a couple years ago, we had a single long table lined up with the center line, and there was never any time when the audience couldn't see what was going on. The foreman was way upstage between the door and the window, and Juror #12 (I think that is his number!) was the second from the end, downstage.

Pictures from our production:
http://www.brianmiller.biz/Twelve.htm

http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm

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didj1028
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Joined: 1/25/11
Location: United States
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Posts: 54

Posted: 3/20/11 at 3:58pm

i agree with bmiller. not everyone has to be visible at all times. i did it with a table perpendicular to the center line and packed more chairs on the US side, so I only had four jurors on the DS side, and I gave them shorter chairs. Nonetheless the actors had to move around and be active to be seen well by the audience, which to me is what makes good theater.

Geoff Ehrendreich
Waterloo Community Playhouse
Waterloo IA

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

Author	Message
n2drama Player Joined: 4/08/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Topic: Twelve Angry Men Posted: 1/18/11 at 3:41pm
	Afternoon, Our CT is planning to do Twelve Angry Men at the end of February. Looking for suggestions for setting up the stage. I'm considering two tables in an inverted "V" to keep everyone facing the audience. Any ideas would be welcomed. TIA, Bill

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pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 1/18/11 at 10:00pm
	When our theatre did this show they actually built a new decking for the stage raking the stage 18 inches from rear to front. The table was specially made for the set; wider at the rear. It was a very effective set and everyone was visible.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 1/19/11 at 6:39pm
	Hmmm. I don't think sightlines are a terribly big concern. Almost all of the action that matters takes place when people are standing, and not seated at the table. You need to put the foreman in a place where he is facing downstage, and you likely need to put the architect in a place where a good portion of the audience can see him pretty well, but I think the magic of the piece is how each character moves (stands up, turns away from the others, etc.) to command the audience's attention as needed. Not everyone's face needs to be seen at all times! When I did it a couple years ago, we had a single long table lined up with the center line, and there was never any time when the audience couldn't see what was going on. The foreman was way upstage between the door and the window, and Juror #12 (I think that is his number!) was the second from the end, downstage. Pictures from our production: http://www.brianmiller.biz/Twelve.htm
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
	IP Logged

didj1028 Star Joined: 1/25/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 54	Posted: 3/20/11 at 3:58pm
	i agree with bmiller. not everyone has to be visible at all times. i did it with a table perpendicular to the center line and packed more chairs on the US side, so I only had four jurors on the DS side, and I gave them shorter chairs. Nonetheless the actors had to move around and be active to be seen well by the audience, which to me is what makes good theater.
	Geoff Ehrendreich Waterloo Community Playhouse Waterloo IA
	IP Logged