Hi Ken,
Did a similar project, but with an Intro To Theatre class so it's much more basic. We took a play - "The Staggering Heartbreak of Jasmine Merriwether" using it to create a basic understanding of understanding/analyzing a play for performance. I find this an important concept as students are at least basically familiar with literary analysis that don't have a sense of how to create an understanding of the play for performance. I used readings and checklists/forms from James Rodgers "Play Director's Survival Kit". I use this a lot so I don't have to reinvent the wheel. It's easy to understand, provides great checklists and forms and it's easy to take what's there and go deeper if you and your students are ready for that.
Steps
- Read play aloud in class
- Readings from Rodgers book on how to unravel and play's meanings. Discuss characters and meaning of play (short writing assignment)
- Casting - Reading from Rodgers book. Discuss how the meaning of the play and understanding of play provides a basis for casting (director).
- Discuss and do cold readings from an actor viewpoint (evaluation of cold reading)
- Do short project on theatre roles - watch and/or read descriptions of Kentuckians in Theatre (PBS Learning Media or KET Drama Toolkit)
- Small group project. Each group is assigned a theatre role. Using the play and other materials (some supplied from Rodger's book) create 2 - 3 basic components that would come from the group's assigned roles. Basic requirements for each group:
Scenic Design – Due Fri. 10/18 End of Class
- Make list of all locations
- Make list of all needed furniture props
- Do a rough draft (thumbnail) sketch of what your set looks like
Costume Design – Due Fri. 10/18 End of Class
- Complete costume chart for all major characters include whether the costume will be purchased, borrowed or made.
- Create a color sketch of all costumes for two characters (include any changes).
Props Design – Due Fri. 10/18 End of Class
- Do attached props chart for all actor props and set dressing
- Choose two actor props and two pieces of set dressing. Write a plan for creating or procuring these items. Reminder you can't make getting these items someone else's problem, i.e. you can't say "the actor will find that prop."
Producer - Due Fri. 10/18 End of Class
- Do Budget Checklist (you will need to do research to find many of the answers. The play is published by Playscripts)
- Do poster info Checklist
Sound Design – Due Fri. 10/18 End of Class
- Identify the mood of the play
- Make a list of any sound effects
- Describe and list: songs/artists for 30 minutes of pre-show music; music for interpretative dancers and page numbers.
- Curtain call music.
Hope this helps. - Jane
------------------------------
Jane Dewey
Director of Arts Education
Lexington KY
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2020 11:51
From: Ken Buswell
Subject: Productions roles project
My tech theater class has spent a little bit of time going over the production roles, but I'd like each student to choose a role and learn in depth what that person does. Ideally the unit would end with some kind of related project – a producer might choose a season of plays and a budget, lighting designer would take a one act and create the lighting look, stage manager a prompt book, technical director a construction budget for a show. Before I reinvent the wheel, does anyone have a similar project that you would be willing to share?
------------------------------
Ken Buswell
Drama Teacher
Peachtree City, GA
http://mcintoshtheater.org/
Theater kills ignorance
------------------------------