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Essentials of Stagecraft: Creating Impactful Theatre Productions

This guide delves into the essential elements of staging and directing, emphasizing the importance of a unified vision for set design, sound, costumes, and props. Discover how to creatively utilize stage space with effective sightlines, masking, and transitions. Learn about the significant role of lighting and sound in enhancing the mood of performances. Understand the fundamentals of acting, from projecting your voice to maintaining energy on stage. Whether you’re working with published scripts or writing your own, this resource equips you with practical tools for a successful production.

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Essentials of Stagecraft: Creating Impactful Theatre Productions

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  1. SCRIPTED PLAYS • THE BASICS

  2. BASICS OF STAGING • TIE IT ALL TOGETHER • Director’s “vision”: set, sound, costumes, props, etc should all match the vision and the theme (visualization exercise) • Get creative! (flashbacks, choral movement, songs, mask, etc) • SET & STAGING • Sets should establish “areas” and be functional (a couch should be used for sitting; a door should open close; etc) • Sightlines, Masking, “Cheating Out” • Using your stage space wisely • Fill the space (no dead space) • Use the downstage area

  3. BASICS OF STAGING • PROFESSIONALISM • Be ORGANISED: have lists of props, costumes, cues, and set designs ready to go; know who’s setting what and who’s striking what to be quick, clean, and efficient; use a props table & actor bins backstage • Consider and rehearse transitions (changes between scenes); try to do something creative, and ALWAYS use appropriate music for the mood (ie: a monologue during a transition; starting the next scene right away; music when the lights fades for a set change; etc) • TECH • Use lighting! A gobo (patterns) to create a forest; blue gel (colours) to create nightime; a spotlight for a monologue; etc • Sound effects and music should enhance the mood of the play (intense moment--use intense music); avoid using music while talking; always fade music in and out, lights up and down (or blackout) • ACTING • Project your voice! • Be in the moment! Reaction, energy (YES!) • Always be doing something onstage (stage business; move with purpose; no “dead” time)

  4. SCRIPTS • Published Scripts: add your SND (sound) & LX (lighting) cues in the margins • ie) LX1: Fade up spotlight to 80%; • ie) SND1: Fade in track 1 to volume 30. • ie) LX2: Fade down spotlight to 2%. • Writing your own script: see your handout for formatting; make sure you include stage directions (clues for the actors), SND and LX cues, and dialogue.

  5. SAMPLE THE GRASS ON THE OTHER SIDE Tom Gladders..................................................George Habib Sue Gladders...................................................Noha Shakir All actors are standing downstage right, looking across the stage. The stage is bare, except for a large sign that reads THE OTHER SIDEin bold letters, hanging from stage left. SND1: Fade in track 1 to volume 50. LX1: Fade up full wash to 80%. SND2: Slowly fade out track 1 as lights fade up. Sue: Look Tom, over there, there it is, that’s where we want to go! Isn’t it awesome over there? Tom: Well, yes, looks very nice Sue. But really, nothing wrong over here either when you think of it. I mean, we have a great life; things are going great right where we are. Sue: Well, yes, but it’s that final step, that final victory. Tom: Sue, sweetheart, I don’t understand, what more could we hope for? I mean, we have a great life an awesome marriage, some of the best kids around, good and challenging job, the whole nine yards. What is the reason for us taking that extra step? Sue: Oh but Tom, just think of how much better . . . (gazes out into space). Tom: (Interrupting her daydream) And also think of the danger we face. I mean, what if we fall flat on our face, what will our friends say if they see us? I mean, won’t they wonder why we aren’t satisfied with what we have? Sue: But look at the others who have crossed that bridge, see how much happier they are..(desperately) Like the Nelsons! SND3: fade in nostalgia track 2. LX3: Lights shift to stage left.

  6. Backstage USR US USL SR CS SL LW RW DSR DS DSL Apron REMEMBER: STAGE AREAS ARE ALWAYS FROM THE ACTOR’S PERSPECTIVE! House STAGE AREAS

  7. STAGE POSITIONS • One quarter left=1/4L • One quarter right=1/4R • Three quarters left=3/4L • Three quarters right=3/4R • Profile left=PL • Profile right=PR • Full Front=FF • Full Back=FB

  8. BASIC VOICE & BODY EXERCISES • BREATH FROM YOUR DIAPHRAGM (candle exercise; floor breathing) • ANNUNCIATE: The tip of the tongue the teeth the lips; many men; ping pong • YES! • BODY CENTRES: finding how your character moves • POSITIONING: creating relationships/stories through interesting positions

  9. SOME SITES TO CHECK OUT • dramashare.org • christianscripts.com • dramatix.org • skitguys.com • CHOOSE CAREFULLY WITH YOUR SERVANTS AND MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT FOR APPROVAL BY THE DEADLINE

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