1. Theatre Design
Bosley

2. Roles and Responsibilities

3. Director Stage Manager Actors Costume Designer Scenic Designer
The Director is the artistic manager and inspirational leader of the production team. She/he coordinates the work of the actors, designers, and crews to express the production concept
There are LOTS of other jobs in the theatre unrelated to design and productions such as ticket sales, marketing, fundraising, education, and management.
Director
Stage Manager
Actors
Costume Designer
Scenic Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
The Stage Manager assists the director during rehearsals AND is responsible for all backstage activity – THEY ARE EVERYONE’S MOM (including the director…)

4. Costume Shop Supervisor
Costume Designer
Responsible for the visual appearance of the actors. Includes clothes, accessories, hair, and makeup
Costume Shop Supervisor
Builds or supervises the building of the costumes (reads the designers sketches)
Cutter/Draper
Creates patterns and cuts the fabric
Stitchers
Sew the costumes
Dyer/Painter
Dye and paint fabric
Milliner
Makes hats
Wigmaster
Makes, styles, and arranges wigs
Craftsperson
Specialized work
Wardrobe supervisor
Responsible for costumes and accessories during production

6. Scenic Designer
Responsible for the visual appearance and function of the scenic and property elements.
Scenic Artist
Paints the scenery (cool techniques)
Paint Crew
Property Master
Responsible for the design and construction of decorative and functional props (welding, upholstery, electronics, painting, sculpting…)
Property Crew
Technical Director/ Scene Shop Foreman/ Master Carpenter oversees the construction, mounting, and rigging scenery
Construction Crew
Stage Crew (answers to the STAGE MANAGER)
Move and shift the sets during production

8. Assistant Lighting Designer Lots of paperwork Master Electrician
Responsible for the visual appearance responsible for the design, installation, and operation of the lighting and special electrical effects
Assistant Lighting Designer
Lots of paperwork
Master Electrician
Acquires, installs and maintains lighting equipment
Electricians
Hanging, focusing, and running the lighting instruments

10. Sound Designer
Responsible for the design, recording, equipment setup, and playback of any sound or music used in the play
Sound crew
Recording, editing, and playback of sound during rehearsals and performances

12. The Design Process
How do they do that?

13. 1. Read the script… duh
Scripts are meant to be read in one sitting – try not to spread it out.
1st Read: Get the general storyline, characters, and feel of the play. Read for enjoyment!
2nd Read: Look for strong visual inspirations – stuff that sticks out to you. Make some notes in the margins about that stuff – let your brain be swirly
3rd Read: Look for specific technical and mechanical demands like number of sets, required pieces, etc.

14. 2. Questioning
Just what it sounds like: ask a bunch of questions of yourself, your team, and the director. Write these questions in your script!

15. 3. Research Read about/look up: Previous productions
** DON’T copy another production: you lose the playwright’s intention (script = god) and you cheat yourself out of the artistic process (also illegal and unethical)… Won’t look as good when you do it, either.
Background information
Geography and climate
Historical context
CONCEPT RESEARCH: How many ways can you solve a problem:
Example A character ends the scene in a beautiful gown and begins the next scene in the same gown but tattered and distressed.

16. 4. Incubation think eggs hatching – takes time
Let your ideas simmer and stew. Walk away from it.

17. 5. Selection
Start to narrow down your thoughts and ideas into more formed concepts
THUMBNAIL SKETCHES
Small, quick, rough drawing, usually done in pencil, that shows the major outline, character, and feeling of the object but doesn’t have much detail

18. 6. Implementation Solidify SPECIFICS
Costumes: Color renderings (detailed drawing of a character’s costumes) and swatches (small pieces of fabric to show color and texture) for all characters (detailed drawing of a character’s costumes)
Scenic: Color rendering and production model (scale model fully painted and complete with furniture and props) and details for how the set will be built
Light Plot
Scale diagram of all of the lighting instruments and the cues (a directive for action, for example a change in lighting or a character’s entrance)
Sound Plot
List describing each sound cue in the production
Gathers and records various musical and effects cues and assembles necessary equipment

19. 7. Evaluation
Takes place during EACH step of the design process and when it is finished
Not a back-patting session – objectively look at how things worked
Post Mortem is a meeting among the production designers and crew to reflect and discuss what went well, what didn’t, and how to improve for the next show
DESIGN PROCESS IS NOT LINEAR…