Fundamentals of Theatrical Design : A Guide to the Basics of Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Design

**"Focusing on the analytical, intellectual, and artistic 'how and why' of the design process, Brewster and Shafer have written a wonderful, insightful text for young designers "—Vickie J. Scott, Dept. of Theatre and Dance, UC Santa Barbara**__Fundamentals of Theatrical Design__* Script Analysis for Designers * The Objectives of Theatrical Design * Researching the Design * Collaboration * Design Elements * Design Principles and Visual Composition * Scenic Design * Costume Design * Lighting Design * Building a Career in Theater Design Title page 2 Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgements 16 Introduction 18 PART ONE鈥擳HE PRELIMINARY DESIGN PROCESS 22 Chapter 1鈥擲cript Analysis for Designers 22 How to Read a Play 22 Script Formatting 23 Dialogue 23 Reading Plays鈥擫anguage and Subtext 26 The Structure of a Play 29 Plot 32 Imaginative Engagement 32 Identifying the Given Circumstances 34 Visual Metaphor 35 Summary 36 Exercises 37 Chapter 2鈥擳he Objectives of Theatrical Design 39 Immersion in the Play 39 Determine the Objectives 40 Time 40 Period 41 Place 42 Locale 43 Theme 45 Mood 46 Revealing Character 47 Style 48 Solving Practical Problems 51 Conclusion 53 Exercises 53 Chapter 3鈥擱esearching the Design 56 What to Research鈥擳he Process of Investigation 56 The Playwright and the Play 57 Researching the Given Circumstances and the Design Objectives 59 How to Research鈥擫ibraries and Online Searches 63 Tertiary Sources for Research 65 Primary Sources for Research 65 Secondary Sources for Research 65 Visual Sources for Research 66 Developing a Research Storehouse 68 Plagiarism 69 Informed Intuition 70 Why We Research鈥擳he Enjoyment of Data Collection 70 Exercises 71 Chapter 4鈥擟ollaboration 73 The Society and Culture of Theater 75 Design Team Collaboration鈥擳he Process 75 Idea Development 75 Execute Unified Designs 83 Budget, Labor, Time 85 Tell the Story 86 Exercises 88 PART TWO鈥擴NDERSTANDING THE VISUAL COMPONENTS OF THEATRICAL DESIGN 89 Chapter 5鈥擠esign Elements 89 Point 89 Line 90 Shape 92 Mass 93 Color 95 The Color Wheel 96 Value鈥擳he Use of Black and White 96 The Psychology of Color 97 Texture 97 Summary 103 Exercises 104 Chapter 6鈥擠esign Principles and Visual Composition 110 Balance 111 Proportion 114 Rhythm 115 Variation 117 Contrast, a Subcategory of Variation 117 Unity 118 Harmony, a Subcategory of Unity 119 Visual Composition 120 Summary 124 Exercises 124 PART THREE鈥擳HE ARTISTIC AND PRACTICAL PROCESSES OF THEATRICAL DESIGN 127 Chapter 7鈥擲cenic Design 127 The Design Objectives and Scenic Design 128 Place, Locale, Time, and Period 128 Mood 129 Theme 130 Revealing Character 132 Style 132 Practical Problems 133 Practical Considerations 134 Types of Performance Spaces 134 The Physical Impact of the Theater Space on Scenic Design 136 Traditional Types of Scenery 137 The Scenic Designer鈥檚 Process 140 The Designer鈥檚 Punch List 140 Idea Development 140 Visual Metaphor 141 Thumbnail Sketches 142 The Scene Design Package鈥擟ommunicating Design Ideas 146 Technical Drawings 146 Perspective Rendering 151 The Presentational Model 152 Finalizing the Design 16 Implementing the Design 155 Summary 155 Exercises 156 Chapter 8鈥擟ostume Design 157 The Given Circumstances and Costume Design 158 The Design Objectives and Costume Design 159 Time and Period 159 Place and Locale 160 Mood 161 Theme 162 Style 164 Revealing Character 167 Solving Practical Problems 170 The Costume Designer鈥檚 Process 173 Collaboration with Actors 173 Costume Research 174 Communication 175 Design Implementation 181 Pulling 182 Renting 183 Borrowing 184 Building 185 Buying 186 Budget 188 Summary 188 Exercises 189 Chapter 9鈥擫ighting Design 192 The Lighting Designer 192 The Design Objectives 193 Motivated Lighting 193 Nonmotivated Lighting 194 Revealing Character and Solving Practical Problems 195 Functions of Stage Light 197 Visibility 197 Modeling 197 Mood 198 Selective Focus 198 Controllable Qualities of Light 198 Intensity 199 Distribution 199 Color 201 Movement 202 The Physical Impact of the Theater Space on Lighting Design鈥擫ight Hanging Positions 202 The Lighting Designer鈥檚 Process 204 Idea Development 204 Designer鈥檚 Punch List 205 Visualizing the Design鈥擫ighting Storyboards 206 Methods of Stage Lighting 208 Single Source Lighting 208 Key and Fill 208 Area Lighting 209 Wash Lighting 210 Specials 212 Lighting Scenery 212 Lighting Control 213 Circuits 213 Dimmers 214 Control Consoles 215 Finalizing the Design 216 The Light Plot 217 Instrument Schedule 218 Channel Schedule 219 Magic Sheet 219 Cue List 220 Design Deadlines 220 Implementing the Design 221 Cueing a Show 221 Technical Rehearsals 222 Summary 222 Exercises 222 PART FOUR鈥擡PILOGUE 225 Chapter 10鈥擝uilding a Career in Theater Design 225 Training 226 Applying for Design and Production Work 227 Cover Letter 228 The R茅sum茅 229 The Portfolio 233 The Job Interview 236 Interview Steps 237 General Guidelines for the Job Interview 238 Conclusion 238 Exercises 239 Appendices 240 Color 240 Fabric 242 Genre 247 Glossary 250 Light Cue List 257 Lighting Fixtures 259 Presentation Samples: 262 Cover Letter 262 R茅sum茅 263 Design Statement 264 Step-by-Step Process for Designing 265 Style 267 USITT 270 Recommended Practice for Theatrical Lighting Design Graphics 270 Lighting Design Commission Portfolio Guidelines for Designers 270 Scenic Design and Technical Production Graphic Standard 281 Index 284 1. Script Analysis for Designers. How to Read a Play. Script Formatting -- Dialogue -- Reading Plays: Language and Subtext -- Structure of a Play -- Plot -- Imaginative Engagement -- Identifying the Given Circumstances -- Visual Metaphor -- Summary -- Exercises -- 2. Objectives of Theatrical Design. Immersion in the Play -- Determine the Objectives. Time -- Period -- Place -- Locale -- Theme -- Mood -- Revealing Character -- Style -- Solving Practical Problems -- Conclusion -- Exercises -- 3. Researching the Design. What to Research: Process of Investigation. Playwright and the Play -- Researching the Given Circumstances and the Design Objectives -- How to Research: Libraries and Online Searches. Tertiary Sources for Research -- Primary Sources for Research -- Secondary Sources for Research -- Visual Sources for Research -- Developing a Research Storehouse -- Plagiarism -- Informed Intuition -- Why We Research: Enjoyment of Data Collection -- Exercises -- 4. Collaboration. Society and Culture of Theater -- Design Team Collaboration: Process. Idea Development -- Execute Unified Designs -- Budget, Labor, Time -- Exercises -- 5. Design Elements. Point -- Line -- Shape -- Mass -- Color -- Texture -- Summary -- Exercises -- 6. Design Principles and Visual Composition. Balance -- Proportion -- Rhythm -- Variation -- Unity -- Visual Composition -- Summary -- Exercises -- 7. Scenic Design. Design Objectives and Scenic Design -- Place, Locale, Time, and Period -- Mood -- Theme -- Revealing Character -- Practical Considerations -- Scenic Designers Process -- Scene Design Package: Communicating Design Ideas -- Finalizing the Design -- Implementing the Design -- Summary -- Exercises -- 8. Costume Design. Given Circumstances and Costume Design -- Design Objectives and Costume Design. Time and Period -- Place and Locale -- Mood -- Theme -- Style -- Revealing Character -- Solving Practical Problems -- Costume Designers Process. Collaboration with Actors -- Costume Research -- Communication -- Design Implementation. Pulling -- Renting -- Borrowing -- Building -- Buying -- Budget -- Summary -- Exercises -- 9. Lighting Design. Lighting Designer -- Design Objectives. Motivated Lighting -- Nonmotivated Lighting -- Revealing Character and Solving Practical Problems -- Functions of Stage Light. Visibility -- Modeling -- Mood -- Selective Focus -- Controllable Qualities of Light. Intensity -- Distribution -- Color -- Movement -- Physical Impact of the Theater Space on Lighting Design: Light Hanging Positions -- Lighting Designers Process. Idea Development -- Designers Punch List -- Visualizing the Design: Lighting Storyboards -- Methods of Stage Lighting. Single Source Lighting -- Key and Fill -- Area Lighting -- Wash Lighting -- Specials -- Lighting Scenery -- Lighting Control. Circuits -- Dimmers -- Control Consoles -- Finalizing the Design. Light Plot -- Instrument Schedule -- Channel Schedule -- Magic Sheet -- Cue List -- Design Deadlines -- Implementing the Design. Cueing a Show -- Technical Rehearsals -- Summary -- Exercises -- 10. Building a Career in Theater Design. Training -- Applying for Design and Production Work. Cover Letter -- Résumé -- Portfolio -- Job Interview -- Conclusion -- Exercises. Appendices. Color -- Fabric -- Genre -- Glossary -- Light Cue List -- Lighting Fixtures -- Presentation Samples -- Step-by-Step Process for Designing -- Style -- USITT. Recommended Practice for Theatrical Lighting Design Graphics -- Lighting Design Commission Portfolio Guidelines for Designers -- Scenic Design and Technical Production Graphic Standard. "Focusing on the analytical, intellectual, and artistic 'how and why' of the design process, Brewster and Shafer have written a wonderful, insightful text for young designers "Vickie J. Scott, Dept. of Theatre and Dance, UC Santa Barbara Veteran theater designers Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer have consulted with a broad range of seasoned theater industry professionals to provide an exhaustive guide full of sound advice and insight. With clear examples and hands-on exercises, Fundamentals of Theatrical Design illustrates the way in which the three major areas of theatrical designscenery, costumes, and lightingare intrinsically linked. Chapters Attractively priced and designed for classroom use, this is a comprehensive resource for all levels of designers and directors. With clear and concise examples and hands-on exercises, Fundamentals of Theatrical Design illustrates the way in which the three major areas of theatrical design--scenery, costumes, and lighting--are intrinsically linked. Veteran theater designers Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer have consulted with a broad range of seasoned theater industry professionals--playwrights, actors, directors, producers, stage managers--to provide an exhaustive guide full of sound advice and insightful approaches to design. Form beginning designers just starting out to experienced directors looking to gain exposure and advance their careers, anyone with an interest in theatrical design is sure to appreciate this book's unique approach Veteran theater designers Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer have consulted with a broad range of seasoned theater industry professionals to provide an exhaustive guide full of sound advice and insight. With clear examples and hands-on exercises, Fundamentals of Theatrical Design illustrates the way in which the three major areas of theatrical design—scenery, costumes, and lighting—are intrinsically linked. Attractively priced for use as a classroom text, this is a comprehensive resource for all levels of designers and directors. "Veteran theater designers Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer have consulted with a broad range of seasoned theater industry professionals to provide an exhaustive guide full of sound advice and insight. With clear examples and hands-on exercises, Fundamentals of Theatrical Design illustrates the way in which the three major areas of theatrical design--scenery, costumes, and lighting--are intrinsically linked."--Provided by publisher The authors, both veteran theater designers, have consulted with a broad range of seasoned theater industry professionals to provide a guide full of advice and insight. With clear examples and hands-on exercises, this book illustrates the way in which the three major areas of theatrical design, scenery, costumes, and lighting, are intrinsically linked.