Oct. 3 Notes

ART OF DESIGN Design is an act of transformation. ?ming cho lee Stage-designing should be addressed to this eye of the mind. There is an outer eye that observes and there is an inner eye that sees. Robert Edmond jones By the middle 19th century, most theatres were lit with gas!!! A lot of theatres burned down because of it Designer Has to study the script to understand the main concepts of the play Plot character environment theme style special effects Design team meetings: -define a central metaphor for the play -accommodate the physical limits of theatre in which the play will be performed -determine and set budget -work out scheduling for each aspect of the production address possible safety concerns types of stages: -porscenium arch -raised platform framed by an arch -marks division between stage and auditorium clearly -sometimes includes apron= extension of acting platform slightly beyond proscenium arch into auditorium -seats on one level or raked upwards toward back of auditorium; may include one or more balconies -stage designed to be seen from front only -overhead system for movements scenery= fly system -offstage spaces at sides= wings -usually the furthest from audience -thrust stage -raised platform surrounded on 2 or 3 sides by seating -brings spectators closer to the action -discourages realistic spectacle due to sightlines -most do not have fly systems, although lighting instruments may be hung overhead -scenic units shifted by hand -arena stage -no platform: open space at floor level -seating usually a stepped arrangement on 4 sides of acting area -fully 3 dimensional playing area -very restricted scenery due to sightlines -generally no fly system -secne changes are made in full view or in semi-darkness usually by hand -passageways running under seating and opening onto the acting area= vomitoria- to spew out -actors would run off the stage through the audience -theatre in the round- arena stage -black box -no defined rules about the audience/ actor relationship -arrangement changes from production to production or even during the same performance -in modern times, flexible space has been used since the 1960s -when indoors: often referred to as black box since it is basically a bare room with black walls -indoor or outdoor: small or large - intermingled arrangement may use multiple focus points -environmental theatre