Chapter 9Chapter 9

The Art of DesignThe Art of Design

What designers say:What designers say:

““Design is an act of transformation.”Design is an act of transformation.”Ming Cho Lee, Theatre DesignerMing Cho Lee, Theatre Designer

“In the last analysis the designing of stage scenery is not the problem of an architect or a painter or a sculptor or even a musician, but of a poet.”

Robert Edmond Jones, Theatre DesignerRobert Edmond Jones, Theatre Designer

From Page to Stage:From Page to Stage:Doing the HomeworkDoing the Homework

Designers must often do detailed investigation into Designers must often do detailed investigation into locations and historical periods. Some questions to ask:locations and historical periods. Some questions to ask:

• How does the play’s environment affect and reflect the How does the play’s environment affect and reflect the story and characters?story and characters?

• How do the characters feel about their environment?How do the characters feel about their environment?• How does the environment relate to the play’s theme?How does the environment relate to the play’s theme?• What is the time period of the play?What is the time period of the play?• What are the budgetary limitations?What are the budgetary limitations?• What are the physical limitations of the stage?What are the physical limitations of the stage?

From Page to Stage:From Page to Stage:Design Team MeetingsDesign Team Meetings

The purpose of these meetings is toThe purpose of these meetings is to•Define a central metaphor for the play

•Accommodate the physical limits of the theatre in which the play will be performed

•Determine and set the budget

•Work out scheduling for each aspect of the production

•Address possible safety concerns

Types of StagesTypes of Stages

Found space Proscenium Arch

Apron, or lipFly systemBorders and wings

Thrust Stage Arena Black box

Courtesy of The Stratford Festival of Canada

Theatrical StylesTheatrical Styles

RealismRealismSimplifiedSelective

ExpressionismExpressionismSurrealismSurrealismSymbolismSymbolism

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Filling the Empty SpaceFilling the Empty Space

Basic Elements of DesignBasic Elements of Design• LineLine• DimensionDimension• BalanceBalance• MovementMovement• HarmonyHarmony• ColorColor• TextureTexture Billy Rose Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts,

Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations

Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing the SetDesigning the Set

Set Designers take the words of the Set Designers take the words of the playwright and the ideas of the director playwright and the ideas of the director and turn them into visual imagery. and turn them into visual imagery.

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Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing the SetDesigning the Set

Designers who draw their designs by hand often Designers who draw their designs by hand often make numerous thumbnail sketches.make numerous thumbnail sketches.

Designers often use Computer Aided Design Designers often use Computer Aided Design (CAD), which includes elevations and floor plans.(CAD), which includes elevations and floor plans.

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Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing the LightsDesigning the Lights

A lighting designer creates different moods with light

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Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing the LightsDesigning the Lights

The first indoor form of lighting was the The first indoor form of lighting was the use of candles during the Renaissanceuse of candles during the Renaissance See Sebastiano Serlio’s See Sebastiano Serlio’s ArchitetturaArchitettura

The second major shift occurred in the The second major shift occurred in the 1840s with gas-lit theatres1840s with gas-lit theatres Sources of the term “limelight”Sources of the term “limelight”

The third major shift occurred in the 1890s The third major shift occurred in the 1890s with the addition of electricitywith the addition of electricity Adolph Appia (1862-1928) – the first modern Adolph Appia (1862-1928) – the first modern

lighting designerlighting designer

Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing with Lights: Designing with Lights:

TerminologyTerminology

Lighting plotLighting plotGelsGelsGobosGobosMotivated lightMotivated lightNonmotivated lightNonmotivated light

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Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing with SoundDesigning with Sound

Sound Designers must have a detailed knowledge:Sound Designers must have a detailed knowledge:

•Acoustics

•Electronics

•Digital music editing

programs

•Audio mixing boards

•Microphones

•Effects processors

•Amplifiers

Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing with CostumesDesigning with Costumes

The costume designer is an expert at play analysis, The costume designer is an expert at play analysis, especially character analysis. This is why most costume especially character analysis. This is why most costume designers begin with the words the characters say. designers begin with the words the characters say.

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Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing with CostumesDesigning with Costumes

Costumes reflect a Costumes reflect a character’s:character’s:

Social and economic Social and economic statusstatus

LifestyleLifestyle AgeAge CountryCountry OccupationOccupation EducationEducation Geographical originGeographical origin Historical period Historical period

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Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:Designing with PropsDesigning with Props

Set props

Hand props

Set decorations

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Filling the Space:Filling the Space:Preparing Makeup, Wigs, and False Preparing Makeup, Wigs, and False

NosesNoses

Straight makeupStraight makeup Character makeupCharacter makeup

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Curtain CallCurtain Call

Although the designers aren’t part of the Although the designers aren’t part of the curtain call, their work is onstage for all to curtain call, their work is onstage for all to applaud.applaud.

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