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Learn how to direct a play from start to finish, including choosing the play, blocking scenes, designing sets, costumes, sound, and makeup, and presenting your work to the class.
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Directing: Promptbook Project The Basics
Step 1 • Choose your play (scene) and interpret it • What is this play about? • What is the mood? • What do I want my audience to get out of the performance? • What is your vision? How do you see the characters, costumes, set, etc.?
Step 2 • Block your show • Write in your script when and where the actors move in your head! This can always be changed later, but you must have a plan!
Step 3 • Act it out! • Things to look at: • Stage pictures – If I took a picture at any moment, would it be interesting to look at? • In most cases there needs to be movement – if you find the stage picture is the same for a long period of time, find a way to change it. • Angles (cheat out – with your set, too!) • Levels (high/low) • Planes
Proscenium Arch • Audience sits in front of the stage
Thrust stage Audience on three sides
Arena stage / In the round Audience all around the stage
Traverse stage Audience on two sides
RENDERINGS / PERSPECTIVES • A sketch of what the set will look like from the audience’s point of view.
Computer Rendering of H.M.S Pinaforea musical by Gilbert & Sullivan
Stage Diagram / Floor Plan / Ground Plan • A scale drawing of the overhead view of a set showing the exact location of all entrances, walls and furniture
Levels (Height) • When possible, have your actors at different levels (sitting, standing, leaning, on platforms, etc.)
Planes NO! YES! And look! We magically created an ANGLE!
Ready?LET’S PRACTICE! Levels/Planes/Angles
Stage Picture PracticeRemember: Levels, Angles, Planes! • In your journals, create a stage diagram for each of the following scenes (feel free to use Xs to mark the position of the actors: • Scenario 1: Students hanging out talking outside after school • Scenario 2: Family at dinner – parent grounds child for bad grades on report card • Scenario 3: Students behaving badly while a substitute teacher’s back is turned • Scenario 4: Students trying to make their friend feel better after a bad breakup
Promptbook Project:How It Will Work • You will choose any play you’d like to analyze and direct a scene from (No musicals – sorry ) • Then once you’ve read and gone through the Given Circumstance WS (analyzed the play as a whole), pick a scene you’d like to design and direct – make sure the scene has at least 2-3 characters in it. • Once you’ve done that, you may begin compiling your promptbook following the format on your assignment sheet.
Step 1 • Choose your play (scene) and interpret it • What is this play about? • What is the mood? • What do I want my audience to get out of the performance? • What is your vision? How do you see the characters, costumes, set, etc.?
Step 2 • Block a scene from the play • Write in your script when and where the actors move in your head! This can always be changed later, but you must have a plan!
Step 3 • Act it out! • Things to look at: • Stage pictures – If I took a picture at any moment, would it be interesting to look at? • In most cases there needs to be movement – if you find the stage picture is the same for a long period of time, find a way to change it. • Angles (cheat out – with your set, too!) • Levels (high/low) • Planes
Step 4 • Design the scene • Things to look at: • Costumes– Create a list of costume needs for each character in the scene • Props – Create a prop list for the scene (both set and character).
Step 5 • Advanced Design for scene • Pick a design element • Lights – Create a lighting concept board and lighting cue sheet for the scene you selected and write a minimum of one paragraph justifying your light cues
Step 5 continued • Advanced Design for scene • Sound – Create a soundscape and sound cue sheet for the scene you selected and write a minimum of one paragraph justifying your sound cues
Step 5 continued • Advanced Design for scene • Makeup – Create makeup rendering for at least 4 characters from the play and write a small blurb explaining each one. (Will need colored pencils and see Mr. Byron for makeup charts)
Step 5 continued • Advanced Design for scene • Costumes – Create a colored, costume rendering for at least 3 characters from the play and write a small blurb explaining each one.
Step 6 • Turn in your work • Due Date: 3/7 • Present promptbook to class • Create a short 2-5 minute presentation of work in which you discuss your designs, play, and anything you’d like to share.