Historical Seasons Time of day Changes in time during a play Climate or geography Cultural setting Interior or exterior Real or imaginary Create mood

Rooms are not real- stir the imagination All furniture faces the audience Exterior doors to stage right Interior doors usually upstage or stage left Living and dining rooms in one room Use the least to say the most Design helps the play never hinders or

overshadows Works with the actors, lights, sound,

makeup, and costumes to create a unified effect

Box set- realistic, interior setting made of flats

to simulate the three interior walls, and sometimes a ceiling. The audience views the play through the imaginary fourth wall.

Unit Set- uses flats, screens, curtains, platforms,

and stairs that can be rearranged to change locales

Curtain Set- uses the back curtains as the

backdrop with platforms and columns. Very stylized

Permanent Set- set does not change during the play.

One setting is used

Skeleton Set- set consists of frames and openings

that can be left empty or filled with drapes, backings or doors.

Unity- all elements of the set work together to create

the main theme

Emphasis- focuses audience attention on what is important - placement - color - focus as actors speak - special lighting

Proportion- the set is scaled to the people so that it

looks realistic- if play is realistic

Balance- equal distribution of emphasis from one side

of the stage to the other

Line- gives proportion to the set and can create

the psychology on the set

Existing set/stage

Budget

The audience