Theatrical Design and Musical Theatre Essentials

Scenic Design Essentials

Scenic Designer Script Analysis

A scenic designer's script analysis focuses on these five key elements:

• Plot
• Setting
  • Environment
  • Character
• Special effects

Four Key Theatrical Styles

Scenic designers utilize four primary theatrical styles:

• Realism
• Naturalism
• Expressionism
• Surrealism

Designing "The Empty Space"

To address "the empty space," a scenic designer works through three stages:

• Filling empty space
  • Thumbnail drawings and models
    • Bird's-eye view

Stage Lighting Design

Five Elements of Lighting Design

A lighting designer works with these five core components:

• Lighting plot
• Gels
• Gobos
• Motivated light
• Non-motivational light

Motivated vs. Non-Motivated Light

• Motivated Light: A lighting style in which the light sources imitate existing, logical sources on stage.
• Unmotivated Light: Light that does not mimic a natural source, often coming from large lights off-camera or off-stage.

Three Fun Ways to Light the Stage

• Wiggle lights
• Specials
• Spotlights

Costume and Makeup Design

Nine Elements of Costume Design

Costume design involves analyzing and implementing these nine elements:

• Character analysis
  • Environment
  • Class
  • Time
  • Period
  • Function
• Style
  • SBH line
  • Mass
  • Harmony

Three Aspects of the Costumer's Vision

• Renderings: Basic drawings of the costume concepts.
• Costume Plates: Detailed designs showing the addition of individual pieces.
• Dress Parade: The final review of costumes on stage for last-minute changes.

Three Elements of Makeup Design

Makeup design encompasses two primary kinds of makeup:

• Straight makeup
• Character makeup

Properties and Sound Design

Properties Design Essentials

A properties designer manages set and hand props, requiring these seven elements and skills:

• Set props
• Hand props
• Skills needed:
  • Welding
  • Sewing
  • Painting
  • Sculpting

Difference Between Set and Hand Props

• Set Props: Mounted or stationary props on the stage.
• Hand Props: Small objects handled and used directly by the actors.

Five Elements of Sound Design

A sound designer is responsible for these five components:

• Music
• Sound effects
• Environmental sound
• Amplification
• Sound source

The History and Structure of Musical Theatre

What is Broadway?

Broadway is famously known as "The Great White Way."

Two Features of a Beacon of Light

• Electrically lighted
• Brush arc lamp

Six Traits of the Era of Good Feelings

During this theatrical era, the audience was characterized by these six traits:

• Cordial and unsophisticated
• Lively and exuberant
• Talked
• Hissed
• Cheered

Where is Broadway Located?

The traditional Broadway theatre district is located from 42nd Street to 53rd Street in New York City.

Four Main Broadway Theatres

• Eugene O'Neill Theatre
• Neil Simon Theatre
• Richard Rodgers Theatre
• Booth Theatre

Defining Musical Theatre

Musical theatre is recognized as our own indigenous American art form.

Three Categories of Musical Theatre

• Book Musicals: Exemplified by the works of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
• Dance Musicals: Exemplified by the choreography and style of Bob Fosse.
• Operatic Musicals: Exemplified by the compositions of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim.

Two Key Musical Components

• Music: Created by the composer and lyricist.
• Book: Written by the librettist, who crafts the spoken dialogue and words for the songs.

Six Types of Musical Numbers

A standard musical features these six types of musical numbers:

• Overture
• Ballad
• Up-tempo
• Comedy number
• Showstopper
• Reprise