Text: The Stagecraft Handbook, by Daniel Ionazzi
Professor: Tap R. Payne HFA m105a phone: 6266
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00 TTh 8:30-10:00
Objectives of the Class
To teach a knowledge and appreciation of the history, theory, tools, materials and techniques employed in the construction, painting, and shifting of stage scenery. This will be accomplished through classroom instruction, scene shop participation, and student projects.
Shop Hours
Students will be required to spend 45 hours (3 hours per week) in the studio environment of the scene shop. The scene shop is open from 2 until 5 PM Monday through Thursday. You may not schedule your regular shop hours on Friday. Fridays are for make up hours, and theatre major volunteers. I strongly suggest you schedule which day of the week you will work, and work those hours regularly.
Hours will be calculated three times during the semester. You must have 15 hours each grading period, Feb. 16, March 23, and May 4. A practicum grade will be assigned for each grading period.
Serving as a member of the running crew on one of the shows produced this semester by the Theatre Discipline (The Laramie Project or The Little Prince) may satisfy 20 hours of this requirement. Some restrictions must necessarily apply and crew positions are limited. See me immediately if you wish to pursue this option.
Each shop hour is worth .66 % of your final grade in this course. Regardless of your other grades, if you do not complete at least 75% of your shop hours (34 hours, or 11 hours each grading period) you will receive a failing grade for the course.
There will be a qualitative adjustment to your shop hours.
Excellent work......……….... Full credit
Not as excellent..................-10%
You are a pain……….........-20%
Shop hours begin this week.
If you cannot accomplish the practicum you must drop this course. Please do not expect me to change the format of the class to suit your schedule.
Projects
Specific instructions and due dates for each of the following projects will be distributed later and must be observed. Many of these projects must necessarily be due near the end of the semester when you have enough knowledge to complete them. Projects will be accepted late only with severe penalty.
a. Construction Drawing and Computer Projection
Complete a groundplan view of the Greenroom, HFA 105. This drawing must be too scale, drawn with a straight edge or on a computer, and must include dimensions and furniture. Do not include the office areas, except for the doors.
b. Scenery Construction
Using construction drawings, build an
element of scenery in the scene shop.
This project must have prior approval from the instructor. You must build all or most of it by yourself, and it must be evaluated.
c. Color Wheel
This is a conventional paint mixing exercise. You must use liquid paints.
d. Scene Painting
Using a photograph or illustration you will provide as part of the assignment, paint a flat using one or more of the scene painting techniques you learn in class.
e. Scene Design
Design a simple set, produce a model or a color rendering, and a groundplan.
Examinations
Four regular and one cumulative final exam will cover topics as organized under the lecture sequence and include questions from class lectures, from the text, from shop demonstrations, from class handouts and from the Safety Guide. The examination format will be short answer. I find it very difficult to arrange for make-up exams. My policy is to give them only with a Chancellor's or medical excuse and then only if I have not returned the test to the class. The final exam for this course is scheduled for 1:30-3:30 PM, Wednesday, May 8.
Grading
Exams ..................................35%
Final Exam...........................10%
Projects.................................25%
Practicum.............................30%
Note: If you are taking this course for S-N grading, your final grade must be at least a "C" to receive credit. I do not give plus or minus grades.
Lecture Sequence
Introduction Safety Guide
Functions of Scenery
History of Stagecraft Chpt 1, A Brief History of Western Scenic Practices
Organization of a Production Chpt 3, Pages 62-66, Staff Organization
Planning the Production Chpt 4, Construction Documents
Scene Design
The Stage and Its Equipment Chpt 2, The Stage
Shop Safety Chpt 3 Pages 61-62, Shop Safety, Safety Guide
Tools and Materials Chpt 3 Pages 39-60, Chpt 5, Scenic Materials
Scenic Production Techniques Chpt 6, Construction Techniques Chpt 7, Installation and Rigging
Scene Painting
Shop Demonstrations
Shop demonstrations will be conducted in the scene shop as announced:
Tour of Theatre Facilities
The Shop and Its Equipment
Tools
Safety
Traditional Materials
Non-traditional Materials
Scene Painting