Technical requirements resource?
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Topic: Technical requirements resource?
Posted By: sethnic
Subject: Technical requirements resource?
Date Posted: 10/09/07 at 4:21pm
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Hi all, is there an online site that lists the technical requirements (set, props, etc) for each show? We'd like to browse shows to make a final decision on our spring production, but need to know the specs. Thanks. ------------- Creating a new company! |
Replies:
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/09/07 at 9:01pm
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I've never heard of such a thing. Some older scripts have prop lists in the back...and you can get the instrument requirements for musicals. But every production/stage is different, with different designers who have a different vision. Nobody could tell you what technical requirements you would have for your stage in your theatre. I think you have to read scripts you're interested in and get the input from your set/lighting/costume designers as to what would be needed for each one. Good luck. |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/10/07 at 3:18am
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I agree with tristranrobin.
But there are a number of sites that would give you a lot of info on the shows specs. such as cast size, genre & a in most cases a
synopsis. Also the venue it was first performed & info on the
script.
This should be enough to be able to select out what
shows might suit you venue & resources;- http://www.doollee.com/ - http://www.doollee.com/
I think It is pushing it up hill to expect the show tech specs of the
froduction as well, that may suit your venue. When it was probably produced
at a Broadway or West End theatre in the first place.
As suggested by just reading the script or synopsis, would give a menral
picture of the show. Then let it incubate & use imagination to see how it
can be done in our venue.
Is this not what we are about? [as the black bits are the authours. This
leaves all the white spaces in the script, in our domain to create, engineer
& produce.
I realise this is not the expectations of this press 'Go show' age, but
would it not be better as previously suggested, to read the script or even the
synopsis & imagine how to mount the show.
One of the better resources is forums like this, where you can seek quite
easily a vast amount of differing tech specs, for various shows, which others
have done.
This may assist you in your chioce & even what aspects of the shows
requirements that may be needed. Which I think is more interesting than
pressing a button to find out next to useless info from a show specs
site.
A lot ,even some of the moden scripts. As suggested, have props, ground
plan & lighting cue or colour lists provided.
Which will help & still allow the gray matter to function, putting
the complex into the simplex - which is a lot more fun & might even add that
magical X factor.
 ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: Lazy Bee
Date Posted: 10/10/07 at 10:52am
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As an alternative approach, you could try listing your potential shows here and asking if anyone had technical issues to report from previous performances. What sort of specifications are you looking for? What particular issues will be make or break for you? ------------- Stuart Lazy Bee Scripts http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line |
Posted By: sethnic
Date Posted: 10/19/07 at 7:51am
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Well we are thinking of Man of La Mancha. I know that scripts often have a props list of sorts. I was wondering if someone culled them and put them on line.
------------- Creating a new company! |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/19/07 at 11:11am
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I don't know, but I have directed twice, as well as designing the set & lighting, along with working on the national tour. the only props that come tp mind, not readily available & you probably have to make yourselves is;- Quixote The golden helmet of Mandrino [shaving bowl] 2 Lances [1 broken] 2 swords [1 with a corkscrew twist] Rusted armour pieces [bresat plate & armlets] Props/costume wicker Basket Manuscript Make up box wig & goaty Cast Captain of guard garb [Sword & hat] Tin plates & beer mugs Bread various dresses Priest garb Knights cloak, sword & msk helmet. The best set I did had desending staircase droped in on stage, fom above the boarder on th OP side with the legs landing RofDSR, & the head of them masked by the boader at the top on the OP side. we only had ab 'A' frame roof viod & used 2 ropers for the end of the legs, with the staicase being lowered side on to the punters. The cable dropers were dressed with black plastic chain, running thru pulleys to off stage PS & counterweighted. Flaming hard to descibe, but it gave the impression that Cervantes, sancho & the gaurds entertered thru the roof, in fact there was a scaffolding tower which had a platform to give acess to off stage. Also a scaf pipe on the tower was the bearing for the sides of the staircase at the top. The staicase legs landed on to two boxes of four set up as stone plillars, which a board was placed on for a table, with two wooden forms. With the staicase out the two DS boxes were used for Quiote & Sancho to stand on, while two risoners acted as the horse & donkey in front as they were riding then thru the plains of La Manchha. We had flats painted as the dubgeon stone walls, a fire place & a black scrim DS of the cyc. There was various bundles of sacking & odd boxes strewn around the edge of the acting area on stage. The only lighting effects were the windmill & a church stainglass window gobo, the fire, along with a night sky stars laced US of the scrim. 90% of the costumes came from charity shops, so it was a cheap budget wardrobe. The set was stock flats & the staicase nade up from wooden we got at a salvage yard. But really it can be done in a blak box set that looks like the holding crll of the prison. as all the rest is improvised as part of Cervantes tale of Don Quixote, which all comes out of the props basket, supposedly. I hope I have not confused you. But the National had a 20 piece orchestra behind the scrim on the OP side, for when Cwevantes became Quote during the telling & acting out the story. Because it pops in & out of reality, ensure you have a standard lighting state for the prison. Prisooners garb Various dresses ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |