Chapter 9 The Art of Design

What designers say: “Design is an act of transformation.” “Design is an act of transformation.” Ming Cho Lee, Theatre Designer “In the last analysis the designing of stage scenery is not the problem of an architect or a painter or a sculptor or even a musician, but of a poet.” Robert Edmond Jones, Theatre Designer

From Page to Stage: Doing the Homework Designers must often do detailed investigation into locations and historical periods. Some questions to ask: How does the play’s environment affect and reflect the story and characters? How does the play’s environment affect and reflect the story and characters? How do the characters feel about their environment? How do the characters feel about their environment? How does the environment relate to the play’s theme? How does the environment relate to the play’s theme? What is the time period of the play? What is the time period of the play? What are the budgetary limitations? What are the budgetary limitations? What are the physical limitations of the stage? What are the physical limitations of the stage?

From Page to Stage: Design Team Meetings The purpose of these meetings is to The purpose of these meetings is to Define a central metaphor for the play Accommodate the physical limits of the theatre in which the play will be performed Determine and set the budget Work out scheduling for each aspect of the production Address possible safety concerns

Types of Stages Found space Proscenium Arch Apron, or lip Fly system Borders and wings Thrust Stage Arena Black box Courtesy of The Stratford Festival of Canada

Theatrical Styles Realism Realism Simplified Selective Expressionism Expressionism Surrealism Surrealism Symbolism Symbolism Michal Daniel/Proofsheet

Filling the Empty Space Basic Elements of Design Line Line Dimension Dimension Balance Balance Movement Movement Harmony Harmony Color Color Texture Texture Billy Rose Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations

Filling the Empty Space: Designing the Set Set Designers take the words of the playwright and the ideas of the director and turn them into visual imagery. Michael Earl/University of Wyoming Archives

Filling the Empty Space: Designing the Set Designers who draw their designs by hand often make numerous thumbnail sketches. Designers who draw their designs by hand often make numerous thumbnail sketches. Designers often use Computer Aided Design (CAD), which includes elevations and floor plans. Designers often use Computer Aided Design (CAD), which includes elevations and floor plans. Michael Earl/University of Wyoming Archives

Filling the Empty Space: Designing the Lights A lighting designer creates different moods with light Larry Hazlett/University of Wyoming Archives

Filling the Empty Space: Designing the Lights The first indoor form of lighting was the use of candles during the Renaissance The first indoor form of lighting was the use of candles during the Renaissance See Sebastiano Serlio’s Architettura See Sebastiano Serlio’s Architettura The second major shift occurred in the 1840s with gas-lit theatres The second major shift occurred in the 1840s with gas-lit theatres Sources of the term “limelight” Sources of the term “limelight” The third major shift occurred in the 1890s with the addition of electricity The third major shift occurred in the 1890s with the addition of electricity Adolph Appia ( ) – the first modern lighting designer Adolph Appia ( ) – the first modern lighting designer

Filling the Empty Space: Designing with Lights: Terminology Lighting plot Lighting plot Gels Gels Gobos Gobos Motivated light Motivated light Nonmotivated light Nonmotivated light Richard Finkelstein Photography

Filling the Empty Space: Designing with Sound Sound Designers must have a detailed knowledge: Acoustics Electronics Digital music editing programs Audio mixing boards Microphones Effects processors Amplifiers

Filling the Empty Space: Designing with Costumes The costume designer is an expert at play analysis, especially character analysis. This is why most costume designers begin with the words the characters say. Robbie Jack Photography

Filling the Empty Space: Designing with Costumes Costumes reflect a character’s: Social and economic status Social and economic status Lifestyle Lifestyle Age Age Country Country Occupation Occupation Education Education Geographical origin Geographical origin Historical period Historical period Lee Hodgson/University of Wyoming Archives

Filling the Empty Space: Designing with Props Set props Hand props Set decorations University of Wyoming Archives

Filling the Space: Preparing Makeup, Wigs, and False Noses Straight makeup Straight makeup Character makeup Character makeup Reuters /Corb is

Curtain Call Although the designers aren’t part of the curtain call, their work is onstage for all to applaud. Michael Earl/University of Wyoming Archives