Open Forum

A few weeks ago Cory Wilkerson asked me if I'd like to participate in one of this year's projects, where professional designers would visit schools via Zoom and talk about what they do and how they do it. I immediately agreed, and Cory sent me the lesson plans for the Scenic Design module. I then began working with Cheryl Williams to finalize the schools and dates I would "visit."

And all I can say is "WOW!"

Although it is impossible to teach how to design sets in one week (most of us spend years in design school and then more years getting the hang of it in the real world), this lesson plan does a fantastic job of summarizing the main steps we use and getting the students actively involved. I was especially impressed that research is emphasized, as it is a very important step that is too often skipped under the guise of "we don't have enough time."

I was also pleased that flats (and scenery in general) were not mentioned. The lesson plan focuses on creating a set - an environment - instead of getting right into scenery: again, the way it's done in professional theatre.

We like to think that students are being taught school subjects the way they "are" in the real world: history as it really was, math and science as they really are, along with English, music, sports, and others. I think this program goes a long way not only to introduce theatre design (sets, lights, costumes, and sound) as it works in the professional world, but also to help students understand how it all fits together. And, for those that are not interested in acting or directing (which a lot of people aren't), it also introduces other areas of theatre that might just grab them.

So, to everyone who put this program together: a standing ovation!

A few weeks ago Cory Wilkerson asked me if I'd like to participate in one of this year's projects, where professional designers would visit schools via Zoom and talk about what they do and how they do it. I immediately agreed, and Cory sent me the lesson plans for the Scenic Design module. I then began working with Cheryl Williams to finalize the schools and dates I would "visit."

And all I can say is "WOW!"

Although it is impossible to teach how to design sets in one week (most of us spend years in design school and then more years getting the hang of it in the real world), this lesson plan does a fantastic job of summarizing the main steps we use and getting the students actively involved. I was especially impressed that research is emphasized, as it is a very important step that is too often skipped under the guise of "we don't have enough time."

I was also pleased that flats (and scenery in general) were not mentioned. The lesson plan focuses on creating a set - an environment - instead of getting right into scenery: again, the way it's done in professional theatre.

We like to think that students are being taught school subjects the way they "are" in the real world: history as it really was, math and science as they really are, along with English, music, sports, and others. I think this program goes a long way not only to introduce theatre design (sets, lights, costumes, and sound) as it works in the professional world, but also to help students understand how it all fits together. And, for those that are not interested in acting or directing (which a lot of people aren't), it also introduces other areas of theatre that might just grab them.

So, to everyone who put this program together: a standing ovation!

A few weeks ago Cory Wilkerson asked me if I'd like to participate in one of this year's projects, where professional designers would visit schools via Zoom and talk about what they do and how they do it. I immediately agreed, and Cory sent me the lesson plans for the Scenic Design module. I then began working with Cheryl Williams to finalize the schools and dates I would "visit."

And all I can say is "WOW!"

Although it is impossible to teach how to design sets in one week (most of us spend years in design school and then more years getting the hang of it in the real world), this lesson plan does a fantastic job of summarizing the main steps we use and getting the students actively involved. I was especially impressed that research is emphasized, as it is a very important step that is too often skipped under the guise of "we don't have enough time."

I was also pleased that flats (and scenery in general) were not mentioned. The lesson plan focuses on creating a set - an environment - instead of getting right into scenery: again, the way it's done in professional theatre.

We like to think that students are being taught school subjects the way they "are" in the real world: history as it really was, math and science as they really are, along with English, music, sports, and others. I think this program goes a long way not only to introduce theatre design (sets, lights, costumes, and sound) as it works in the professional world, but also to help students understand how it all fits together. And, for those that are not interested in acting or directing (which a lot of people aren't), it also introduces other areas of theatre that might just grab them.

So, to everyone who put this program together: a standing ovation!

A few weeks ago Cory Wilkerson asked me if I'd like to participate in one of this year's projects, where professional designers would visit schools via Zoom and talk about what they do and how they do it. I immediately agreed, and Cory sent me the lesson plans for the Scenic Design module. I then began working with Cheryl Williams to finalize the schools and dates I would "visit."

And all I can say is "WOW!"

Although it is impossible to teach how to design sets in one week (most of us spend years in design school and then more years getting the hang of it in the real world), this lesson plan does a fantastic job of summarizing the main steps we use and getting the students actively involved. I was especially impressed that research is emphasized, as it is a very important step that is too often skipped under the guise of "we don't have enough time."

I was also pleased that flats (and scenery in general) were not mentioned. The lesson plan focuses on creating a set - an environment - instead of getting right into scenery: again, the way it's done in professional theatre.

We like to think that students are being taught school subjects the way they "are" in the real world: history as it really was, math and science as they really are, along with English, music, sports, and others. I think this program goes a long way not only to introduce theatre design (sets, lights, costumes, and sound) as it works in the professional world, but also to help students understand how it all fits together. And, for those that are not interested in acting or directing (which a lot of people aren't), it also introduces other areas of theatre that might just grab them.

So, to everyone who put this program together: a standing ovation!

A few weeks ago Cory Wilkerson asked me if I'd like to participate in one of this year's projects, where professional designers would visit schools via Zoom and talk about what they do and how they do it. I immediately agreed, and Cory sent me the lesson plans for the Scenic Design module. I then began working with Cheryl Williams to finalize the schools and dates I would "visit."

And all I can say is "WOW!"

Although it is impossible to teach how to design sets in one week (most of us spend years in design school and then more years getting the hang of it in the real world), this lesson plan does a fantastic job of summarizing the main steps we use and getting the students actively involved. I was especially impressed that research is emphasized, as it is a very important step that is too often skipped under the guise of "we don't have enough time."

I was also pleased that flats (and scenery in general) were not mentioned. The lesson plan focuses on creating a set - an environment - instead of getting right into scenery: again, the way it's done in professional theatre.

We like to think that students are being taught school subjects the way they "are" in the real world: history as it really was, math and science as they really are, along with English, music, sports, and others. I think this program goes a long way not only to introduce theatre design (sets, lights, costumes, and sound) as it works in the professional world, but also to help students understand how it all fits together. And, for those that are not interested in acting or directing (which a lot of people aren't), it also introduces other areas of theatre that might just grab them.

So, to everyone who put this program together: a standing ovation!

A few weeks ago Cory Wilkerson asked me if I'd like to participate in one of this year's projects, where professional designers would visit schools via Zoom and talk about what they do and how they do it. I immediately agreed, and Cory sent me the lesson plans for the Scenic Design module. I then began working with Cheryl Williams to finalize the schools and dates I would "visit."

And all I can say is "WOW!"

Although it is impossible to teach how to design sets in one week (most of us spend years in design school and then more years getting the hang of it in the real world), this lesson plan does a fantastic job of summarizing the main steps we use and getting the students actively involved. I was especially impressed that research is emphasized, as it is a very important step that is too often skipped under the guise of "we don't have enough time."

I was also pleased that flats (and scenery in general) were not mentioned. The lesson plan focuses on creating a set - an environment - instead of getting right into scenery: again, the way it's done in professional theatre.

We like to think that students are being taught school subjects the way they "are" in the real world: history as it really was, math and science as they really are, along with English, music, sports, and others. I think this program goes a long way not only to introduce theatre design (sets, lights, costumes, and sound) as it works in the professional world, but also to help students understand how it all fits together. And, for those that are not interested in acting or directing (which a lot of people aren't), it also introduces other areas of theatre that might just grab them.

So, to everyone who put this program together: a standing ovation!