Teaching Introduction to Theatrical Design

Table of contents

1. Cover
2. Title
3. Copyright
4. Contents
5. Figures
6. Preface
7. Acknowledgments
8. Introduction
   1. The Organization of This Book
   2. Our Formula
   3. Creativity and Evaluation
   4. Selecting Plays for Use in Class
   5. The Classroom
   6. Portfolio Development
   7. Books We Want to Share With You
9. Section I Costume Design
   1. Chapter 1 Organizing Principles of the Class and Week 1
      1. Session by Session Framework
      2. Section by Section Framework
      3. Supplies Needed
      4. Introducing Design Elements
      5. Exploring Design Elements
      6. Hands-on Projects with Design Elements
      7. Concept and Design Metaphor
      8. Hands-on Projects with Metaphor
      9. Read the Plays
      10. Building a Student Portfolio
   2. Chapter 2 Week 2
      1. Supplies Needed
      2. Introduction of the Costume Design Final Project
      3. Script Analysis
      4. Hands-on Projects with Script Analysis
      5. Unpacking the Play
      6. Combining Metaphor and Design Elements to Create a Metaphor Statement
      7. Using French Scenes to Dig Deeper into Detail
      8. The Costume Plot
      9. Script Analysis by Character
      10. Costume Plot and Script Analysis by Character
      11. Drawing Clothing on the Human Body
      12. Assigning Professional Designer Presentations
      13. Portfolio Development Projects
   3. Chapter 3 Week 3
      1. Supplies Needed
      2. Costume Renderings
      3. Hands-On Exercises with Costume Renderings and Computer Software
      4. Introduction to Color Media
      5. Homework Follow-up: ‘Twenty-One Black Dresses’
      6. ‘Twenty-One Black Dresses,’ Exercise Variations
      7. Further Research for Designers
      8. Where Do Designers Go to Do Research?
      9. Combining the Pieces to Build a Design
      10. Portfolio Development Projects
   4. Chapter 4 Week 4
      1. Supplies Needed
      2. Swatching
      3. The Color Palettes of Master Painters
      4. Costume Design Final Project
      5. Portfolio Development Projects
   5. Chapter 5 Week 5
      1. Costume Designer Presentations
      2. Presentation by a Guest Artist
      3. The Costume Design Final Project
      4. The Costume Design Final Project’s Continuation
      5. Portfolio Development
10. Section II Scenic Design
    1. Chapter 6 Week 6
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. The Purpose of Scenery
       3. Describing Environment
       4. Composition Influences Perception
       5. Detail Contributes Meaning
       6. Detail Informs Character
       7. The Intentional Environment
       8. Script Analysis for Scenic Designers
       9. External Influences on the Scenic Environment
       10. Minimum Necessary Physical Requirements
       11. Learning to Read and Draw in Scale
       12. The Sizes of Real Things
       13. Laying Out and Building the Small Stage House for ‘Your First Set Design’
       14. ‘Your First Set Design’
       15. Portfolio Development Projects
    2. Chapter 7 Week 7
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. The Human Figure as Baseline of Proportion
       3. Making Scale Things for the Model
       4. The Function of Models
       5. Pros and Cons of Model Formats
       6. Using Footprints to Explore Space
       7. The Groundplan is a Plan of Action
       8. The Scenic Design Final Project
       9. Portfolio Development Project
    3. Chapter 8 Week 8
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. Introduction to Drafting
       3. What Exactly IS a Groundplan?
       4. Graphics Standards
       5. Prep for Final Scenic Project
       6. Portfolio Development Projects
    4. Chapter 9 Week 9
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. Thumbnails and Essential Gestures
       3. Rough Groundplan for the Scenic Final Project
       4. In-Class Work Day
       5. Portfolio Development Projects
    5. Chapter 10 Week 10
       1. Scenic Designer Presentations
       2. The Scenic Design Final Project
       3. Presentation by a Guest Artist
       4. Portfolio Development
11. Section III Lighting Design
    1. Chapter 11 Week 11
       1. Instructor Supplies Needed
       2. Our Approach to Lighting Design
       3. Thinking about Light
       4. The Functions of Stage Lighting
       5. Standard Lighting Angles
       6. The Controllable Properties of Light
       7. Review Moment
       8. Standard Angles in the Light Lab
       9. Analyzing the Lit Environment
       10. Portfolio Development
    2. Chapter 12 Week 12
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. The Cue Synopsis
       3. Storyboarding a Lighting Design
       4. Six Categories of Purposes
       5. The Lighting Design Final Project
       6. Portfolio Development
    3. Chapter 13 Week 13
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. Building a Look in the Light Lab
       3. Magic Sheets (or, Lighting Diagrams)
       4. Color
       5. Subtractive and Additive Mixing
       6. How Light Sources Can Change Gel Color
       7. How Gel Works
       8. Using the Swatchbook
       9. The Primary Colors of Light
       10. Portfolio Development
    4. Chapter 14 Week 14
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. The Final Session before Presentations
       3. Portfolio Development
    5. Chapter 15 Week 15
       1. Lighting Designer Presentations
       2. The Lighting Design Final Project
       3. Portfolio Development
    6. Chapter 16 An Extra Chapter of Introductory Steps in Developing a Lighting Design
       1. Supplies Needed
       2. Why We Break the Stage into Areas of Control
       3. The Section
       4. The Preliminary Hook-Up
12. Section IV Sound Design
    1. Chapter 17 Introduction to Sound Design
       1. Instructor Supplies Needed
       2. Learning to Talk About Sound
       3. Vocabulary for Sound
       4. More Controllable Properties of Sound
       5. Categories of Sound Cues
       6. The Sound Plot and Script Analysis
       7. Assembling a Preliminary Sound Design
       8. Portfolio Development
13. Appendix A Our Current Syllabus
14. Appendix B Materials for Introduction to Design
15. Appendix C Two Short Plays by Eric Appleton, Used for Design Exercises
16. Appendix D Sample Cue Synopses
17. Appendix E Standard Lighting Positions and Unit Numbering
18. Appendix F Design Timelines
19. Glossary
20. Index