Open Forum

Can't necessarily think of any books but I did this for The Crucible. 

The main thing is creating/working in diagonals with multiple characters and/or creating moments of two characters working in profile to the audience. I personally think it's okay (and sometimes even great!) for characters to have backs to the audience as long as they aren't the focal point and/or we need to hear them.

I'm enclosing some rehearsal and performance photos to show you what I mean. 


------------------------------
Joan Jubett
(she/her)
Director of High School Fall Play and Spring Festival of Plays
High School Theater Teacher
LREI
New York, NY
------------------------------

I don't know of any books or articles, but I really like this type of staging. I think it provides so much intimacy and immediacy for the audience. The key thing I think about is how much the audience is part of the action. You cannot help but look at what is happening on stage and see the reaction from the audience members on the other side. That makes for a very communal experience.

I am by no means an expert and I have written nothing about it, but I have a few ideas I keep in mind when directing with this type of staging:
1. Levels. Keep it taller in the upstage area and in the direct center line of the playing area.
2. Angles and diagonals are so important. The tension you can create is so powerful and meaningful.
3. Increase the amount of moving you have actors do on stage. Theatrical reality says move frequently. For this type of staging, move even more!
4. Consider the power of actors having their backs to the audience while another actor directly addresses them. It is so cool how the two different sides of the audience see only one characters facial expression. 

Best of luck to you the show!  Hope it is a great time.

------------------------------
John Rutherford
Groves Performing Arts Company
W.E. Groves High School
Beverly Hills MI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12/29/2022 4:00:00 PM
From: John Rutherford
Subject: RE: Traverse or Alley Staging

I don't know of any books or articles, but I really like this type of staging. I think it provides so much intimacy and immediacy for the audience. The key thing I think about is how much the audience is part of the action. You cannot help but look at what is happening on stage and see the reaction from the audience members on the other side. That makes for a very communal experience.

I am by no means an expert and I have written nothing about it, but I have a few ideas I keep in mind when directing with this type of staging:
1. Levels. Keep it taller in the upstage area and in the direct center line of the playing area.
2. Angles and diagonals are so important. The tension you can create is so powerful and meaningful.
3. Increase the amount of moving you have actors do on stage. Theatrical reality says move frequently. For this type of staging, move even more!
4. Consider the power of actors having their backs to the audience while another actor directly addresses them. It is so cool how the two different sides of the audience see only one characters facial expression. 

Best of luck to you the show!  Hope it is a great time.

------------------------------
John Rutherford
Groves Performing Arts Company
W.E. Groves High School
Beverly Hills MI
------------------------------

The first time I saw this was Perkin Warbeck in Stratford-on-Avon and I thought it was fascinating.

Then, a few years ago, a high school hired me to do Macbeth this way. The director and I agreed to do it on the stage itself, with the runway running upstage and down. The seats were tiered on both sides. She wanted to do it in a "medieval/steampunk" style which was really fun, and the upstage end of the runway had a large tapestry and the downstage end had a rear-projection screen since we had all that room in the house for the projector throw.

I'll post some photos if I can find them.

------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-30-2022 11:32
From: Stanley Coleman
Subject: Traverse or Alley Staging

Thank you, John, for some great suggestions. This is so encouraging. I'll put your suggestions to work.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stan Coleman (he/his)                             

494 West 10th Avenue                             

Apt. 406

Eugene, OR 97401

Mobile: 541-300-9600

"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him." 

Bayard Rustin  

Original Message:
Sent: 12/29/2022 4:00:00 PM
From: John Rutherford
Subject: RE: Traverse or Alley Staging

I don't know of any books or articles, but I really like this type of staging. I think it provides so much intimacy and immediacy for the audience. The key thing I think about is how much the audience is part of the action. You cannot help but look at what is happening on stage and see the reaction from the audience members on the other side. That makes for a very communal experience.

I am by no means an expert and I have written nothing about it, but I have a few ideas I keep in mind when directing with this type of staging:
1. Levels. Keep it taller in the upstage area and in the direct center line of the playing area.
2. Angles and diagonals are so important. The tension you can create is so powerful and meaningful.
3. Increase the amount of moving you have actors do on stage. Theatrical reality says move frequently. For this type of staging, move even more!
4. Consider the power of actors having their backs to the audience while another actor directly addresses them. It is so cool how the two different sides of the audience see only one characters facial expression. 

Best of luck to you the show!  Hope it is a great time.

------------------------------
John Rutherford
Groves Performing Arts Company
W.E. Groves High School
Beverly Hills MI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12/30/2022 12:21:00 PM
From: George Ledo
Subject: RE: Traverse or Alley Staging

The first time I saw this was Perkin Warbeck in Stratford-on-Avon and I thought it was fascinating.

Then, a few years ago, a high school hired me to do Macbeth this way. The director and I agreed to do it on the stage itself, with the runway running upstage and down. The seats were tiered on both sides. She wanted to do it in a "medieval/steampunk" style which was really fun, and the upstage end of the runway had a large tapestry and the downstage end had a rear-projection screen since we had all that room in the house for the projector throw.

I'll post some photos if I can find them.

------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 12-30-2022 11:32
From: Stanley Coleman
Subject: Traverse or Alley Staging

Thank you, John, for some great suggestions. This is so encouraging. I'll put your suggestions to work.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stan Coleman (he/his)                             

494 West 10th Avenue                             

Apt. 406

Eugene, OR 97401

Mobile: 541-300-9600

"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him." 

Bayard Rustin  

Here you go. I couldn't find any photos (maybe I didn't take any), so these are SketchUp models.

The (US) wall behind the tapestry was painted as rough planks and rusted metal panels. The sconces came from a place that sells steampunk lighting and accessories. The opposite (DS) end had a rear-projection screen, and they built an extension to the apron to accommodate a trap door.





------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-30-2022 12:28
From: Stanley Coleman
Subject: Traverse or Alley Staging

Thanks, George. Photos would be great! My email is scolem4@gmail.com

Stan Coleman

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stan Coleman (he/his)                             

494 West 10th Avenue                             

Apt. 406

Eugene, OR 97401

Mobile: 541-300-9600

"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him." 

Bayard Rustin  

Original Message:
Sent: 12/30/2022 12:21:00 PM
From: George Ledo
Subject: RE: Traverse or Alley Staging

The first time I saw this was Perkin Warbeck in Stratford-on-Avon and I thought it was fascinating.

Then, a few years ago, a high school hired me to do Macbeth this way. The director and I agreed to do it on the stage itself, with the runway running upstage and down. The seats were tiered on both sides. She wanted to do it in a "medieval/steampunk" style which was really fun, and the upstage end of the runway had a large tapestry and the downstage end had a rear-projection screen since we had all that room in the house for the projector throw.

I'll post some photos if I can find them.

------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 12-30-2022 11:32
From: Stanley Coleman
Subject: Traverse or Alley Staging

Thank you, John, for some great suggestions. This is so encouraging. I'll put your suggestions to work.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stan Coleman (he/his)                             

494 West 10th Avenue                             

Apt. 406

Eugene, OR 97401

Mobile: 541-300-9600

"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him." 

Bayard Rustin  

Original Message:
Sent: 12/29/2022 4:00:00 PM
From: John Rutherford
Subject: RE: Traverse or Alley Staging

I don't know of any books or articles, but I really like this type of staging. I think it provides so much intimacy and immediacy for the audience. The key thing I think about is how much the audience is part of the action. You cannot help but look at what is happening on stage and see the reaction from the audience members on the other side. That makes for a very communal experience.

I am by no means an expert and I have written nothing about it, but I have a few ideas I keep in mind when directing with this type of staging:
1. Levels. Keep it taller in the upstage area and in the direct center line of the playing area.
2. Angles and diagonals are so important. The tension you can create is so powerful and meaningful.
3. Increase the amount of moving you have actors do on stage. Theatrical reality says move frequently. For this type of staging, move even more!
4. Consider the power of actors having their backs to the audience while another actor directly addresses them. It is so cool how the two different sides of the audience see only one characters facial expression. 

Best of luck to you the show!  Hope it is a great time.

------------------------------
John Rutherford
Groves Performing Arts Company
W.E. Groves High School
Beverly Hills MI

Original Message:
Sent: 12/30/2022 7:42:00 PM
From: George Ledo
Subject: RE: Traverse or Alley Staging

Here you go. I couldn't find any photos (maybe I didn't take any), so these are SketchUp models.

The (US) wall behind the tapestry was painted as rough planks and rusted metal panels. The sconces came from a place that sells steampunk lighting and accessories. The opposite (DS) end had a rear-projection screen, and they built an extension to the apron to accommodate a trap door.





------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 12-30-2022 12:28
From: Stanley Coleman
Subject: Traverse or Alley Staging

Thanks, George. Photos would be great! My email is scolem4@gmail.com

Stan Coleman

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stan Coleman (he/his)                             

494 West 10th Avenue                             

Apt. 406

Eugene, OR 97401

Mobile: 541-300-9600

"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him." 

Bayard Rustin  

Original Message:
Sent: 12/30/2022 12:21:00 PM
From: George Ledo
Subject: RE: Traverse or Alley Staging

The first time I saw this was Perkin Warbeck in Stratford-on-Avon and I thought it was fascinating.

Then, a few years ago, a high school hired me to do Macbeth this way. The director and I agreed to do it on the stage itself, with the runway running upstage and down. The seats were tiered on both sides. She wanted to do it in a "medieval/steampunk" style which was really fun, and the upstage end of the runway had a large tapestry and the downstage end had a rear-projection screen since we had all that room in the house for the projector throw.

I'll post some photos if I can find them.

------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 12-30-2022 11:32
From: Stanley Coleman
Subject: Traverse or Alley Staging

Thank you, John, for some great suggestions. This is so encouraging. I'll put your suggestions to work.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stan Coleman (he/his)                             

494 West 10th Avenue                             

Apt. 406

Eugene, OR 97401

Mobile: 541-300-9600

"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him." 

Bayard Rustin