Twelve Angry Men
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4929
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 5:40pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Twelve Angry Men
Posted By: n2drama
Subject: Twelve Angry Men
Date 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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Replies:
Posted By: pdavis69
Date 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.
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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse
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Posted By: bmiller025
Date 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
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http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
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Posted By: didj1028
Date 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.
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Geoff Ehrendreich
Waterloo Community Playhouse
Waterloo IA
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