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Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

  • 1.  Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-02-2019 11:11
    Does anyone know of well-known plays that have open staging? These are plays with many locales but very little scenery or almost none at all. I'm looking for some examples of the diverse blocking that such plays use. I'm directing IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE in Community Theatre this season, and I'm looking for staging ideas.

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    Stanley Coleman
    Eugene OR
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  • 2.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-03-2019 07:15
    The first ones that come to mind for me-- Our Town and All the works of Shakespeare--

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    Michael Johnson
    Trinity NC
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  • 3.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 08:04
    Peter and the Starcatcher is a great example of creative open staging. 

    --
    Mr. Benjamin Cossitor
    English/Gifted Support/Drama
    Altoona Area High School
    1415 6th Ave
    Altoona, PA 16602
    (814) 505-1510 ext. 8822





  • 4.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 10:26
    Thanks. I will check out Peter and the Starcatcher.

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    Stanley Coleman
    Eugene OR
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  • 5.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 08:48
    I use open staging concepts a lot.  I focus on using levels and then drops/flying flats or pieces of furniture to suggest where we are in each scene. I only get two weeks of "auditorium blockout" before each show, where outside groups cannot book the theater.  So, I have to be creative if I want to create enough space for the size of cast I need to maintain.  Each pic should be labelled with the show name.  Feel free to email me if you have questions or want to see something in more detail.Mobile Stairs--on casters, can be configured and locked in different positionsPierettePlatform and changing furniture/drops

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    Kristen Hoch
    Thunderhawk Theater Director
    Lakota East High School
    Liberty Twp, OH
    Kristen.hoch@lakotaonline.com
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  • 6.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 10:31
    Kristen, these are great ideas and photos. This does look like the kind of style I'm hoping to use.

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    Stanley Coleman
    Eugene OR
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  • 7.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-03-2019 10:04
    Fun Home has open staging. Great play!

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    Douglas "Chip" Rome
    Theatre Consultant
    Educational Stages
    Burke VA
    http://bit.ly/EdStages
    http://bit.ly/RWTEOview
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  • 8.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-03-2019 17:59
    Inventive and imaginative staging is the trend in theatre today. We are moving away (thankfully) from the losing battle with film. Hopefully we will continue to embrace  theatricality which is theatre's strength rather than just psychological realism.

    Try these titles:
    • Peter and the Starcatchers
    • She Kills Monsters
    • Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
    • 39 Steps
    • One Man, Two Guvnors
    Or musicals like:
    • Lion King
    • title of show
    • Avenue Q
    • Urinetown
    • A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder
    • Next to Normal


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    James Van Leishout
    Olympia WA
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  • 9.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 03:18
    Some great suggestions from others. I am always a fan of Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphosis & Argonautika) for fluid staging. And his plays are fairly adult in terms of themes but anything by Charles Mee celebrates the full possibilities of fluidity in theatre in my opinion. Big Love is probably his most produced and it's great...

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    Colleen Mylott
    Lafayette CO
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  • 10.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 10:36
    Thank you, Colleen. I'd forgotten about Metamorphosis. I like that play.

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    Stanley Coleman
    Eugene OR
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  • 11.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 11:28
    Current touring staging of Pippin matches this concept as well.

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  • 12.  RE: Plays With Fluid and Open Staging

    Posted 06-04-2019 10:33
    Great list of shows. Thank you.

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    Stanley Coleman
    Eugene OR
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