Directing: Promptbook Project The Basics

Step 1 Choose your play (scene) and interpret it – What is this play about? – What is the mood? – What do I want my audience to get out of the performance? – What is your vision? How do you see the characters, costumes, set, etc.?

Step 2 Block your show – Write in your script when and where the actors move in your head! This can always be changed later, but you must have a plan!

Step 3 Act it out! – Things to look at: Stage pictures – If I took a picture at any moment, would it be interesting to look at? In most cases there needs to be movement – if you find the stage picture is the same for a long period of time, find a way to change it. Angles (cheat out – with your set, too!) Levels (high/low) Planes

SET DESIGN

Proscenium Arch Audience sits in front of the stage

Thrust stage Audience on three sides

Arena stage / In the round Audience all around the stage

Traverse stage Audience on two sides

RENDERINGS / PERSPECTIVES A sketch of what the set will look like from the audience’s point of view.

Photo of set

Preliminary pencil sketch rendering

Rendering of Cut-out Set

Photo of set

Computer Rendering of H.M.S Pinafore a musical by Gilbert & Sullivan

Stage Diagram / Floor Plan / Ground Plan A scale drawing of the overhead view of a set showing the exact location of all entrances, walls and furniture

Angles

Levels (Height) When possible, have your actors at different levels (sitting, standing, leaning, on platforms, etc.)

Planes (Depth) DRDCDL RCL URUCUL

Planes NO!  YES!  And look! We magically created an ANGLE!

How many levels? How many planes?

Ready? LET’S PRACTICE! Levels/Planes/Angles

Stage Picture Practice Remember: Levels, Angles, Planes! In your journals, create a stage diagram for each of the following scenes (feel free to use Xs to mark the position of the actors: – Scenario 1: Students hanging out talking outside after school – Scenario 2: Family at dinner – parent grounds child for bad grades on report card – Scenario 3: Students behaving badly while a substitute teacher’s back is turned – Scenario 4: Students trying to make their friend feel better after a bad breakup

Promptbook Project: How It Will Work You will choose any play you’d like to analyze and direct a scene from (No musicals – sorry  ) Then once you’ve read and gone through the Given Circumstance WS (analyzed the play as a whole), pick a scene you’d like to design and direct – make sure the scene has at least 2-3 characters in it. Once you’ve done that, you may begin compiling your promptbook following the format on your assignment sheet.

Step 1 Choose your play (scene) and interpret it – What is this play about? – What is the mood? – What do I want my audience to get out of the performance? – What is your vision? How do you see the characters, costumes, set, etc.?

Step 2 Block a scene from the play – Write in your script when and where the actors move in your head! This can always be changed later, but you must have a plan!

Step 3 Act it out! – Things to look at: Stage pictures – If I took a picture at any moment, would it be interesting to look at? In most cases there needs to be movement – if you find the stage picture is the same for a long period of time, find a way to change it. Angles (cheat out – with your set, too!) Levels (high/low) Planes

Step 4 Design the scene – Things to look at: Costumes– Create a list of costume needs for each character in the scene Props – Create a prop list for the scene (both set and character).

Step 5 Advanced Design for scene – Pick a design element Lights – Create a lighting concept board and lighting cue sheet for the scene you selected and write a minimum of one paragraph justifying your light cues

Step 5 continued Advanced Design for scene Sound – Create a soundscape and sound cue sheet for the scene you selected and write a minimum of one paragraph justifying your sound cues

Step 5 continued Advanced Design for scene Makeup – Create makeup rendering for at least 4 characters from the play and write a small blurb explaining each one. (Will need colored pencils and see Mr. Byron for makeup charts)

Step 5 continued Advanced Design for scene Costumes – Create a colored, costume rendering for at least 3 characters from the play and write a small blurb explaining each one.

Step 6 Turn in your work – Due Date: 3/7 Present promptbook to class – Create a short 2-5 minute presentation of work in which you discuss your designs, play, and anything you’d like to share.