Course Syllabus Stagecraft 360 Fall, 2013

Instructor's Name, Office Address, and Telephone Number, E-Mail: Timothy Barrington, 163 Fine Arts Building, 881-7091, [email protected] Classroom: Fine Arts 258, Fine Arts 165 Scene Shop, and Fine Arts 269 Computer Lab Course Hours: 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM Monday & Wednesday. Required outside class hours are noted below. Credit Hours: 3 hours Prerequisites: None Textbook: Theatrical Design and Production, 6th ed., by J. Michael Gillette (Required) Course Description:

Welcome to Stagecraft! This is an introductory course designed to present you with an overview of the physical support systems and processes involved in technical production for live theatre. We're going to treat this as an introduction to physical theatre for actors and others who aren't professionally interested in the deep details of backstage support activities, but who need to know what's involved in those activities. Actors obviously need to understand how the technical areas work in order to collaborate well with those who provide the sets, lights, costumes, props, sound, and special effects that add to the environments in which they perform. Others may simply be people who either like to be involved in theatrical production, or who need to understand aspects of theatrical production as it applies to other media such as dance, film and television production.

Here are the requirements for the course. First: Attend lecture! Attendance is required. Second: Buy the text, which is Mike Gillette's Theatrical Design and Production. Read the assigned chapters by the date given on the Course Schedule. Some of these are very long, I know. Absorb as much as you can in the time available. Third: Participate! In order to gain direct experience, you are required to put in practicum hours in the scene shop during production time. Your experiences during your practicum hours should give you a basis to ask questions. Course Objectives:

The student will demonstrate:

1. The ability to interpret technical drawings for the construction of scenery and properties. 2. Proficiency in basic tools and equipment used in the scene shop. 3. Proficiency in basic scenery construction techniques. 4. A basic knowledge in rigging. 5. An understanding of stage painting. 6. An understanding of elemental electricity. Subject Matter/Content:

a. Production staff b. The function of scenery c. Construction drawings. 1. Orthographic projection 2. Scale 3. Ground Plans 4. Elevations 5. Conventions d. Tools and Materials. e. The stage and its equipment f. Woodworking. g. Two-dimensional scenery h. Three-dimensional scenery I. Electricity j. Painting

Course Activities:

1. Class Lecture on the above topics. 2. Reading in the assigned text related to the above material. 3. Practical application of the above through supervised projects. 4. Written assignments based on assigned readings.

Evaluation:

Attendance: Here is the attendance policy as it affects your grade. Attendance is required! Students are allowed two unexcused absences. Each subsequent unexcused absence will be penalized with a one point of your grade reduction in your final grade. Less than 75% attendance, the student will fail the course. Students should not be late for class; after 5 minutes they are marked absent. Three tardies will count as an unexcused absence.

Grading: There are four examinations in the course and they will be the major basis of your grade. Your conscientious participation in your practicum hours will also affect your grade. Here's the breakdown: Your three major tests provide 45% of the grade. Your Final equals 25% and 30% will come from assigned projects and the technical paper. Recall that your attendance is also factored into your grade average. There will be opportunities throughout the semester where you will be able to do extra credit work for points to be added to your final grade. The grading scale is as follows: 90 - 100 = A 80 - 89 = B 70 - 79 = C 60 - 69 = D Below 60 = F

Test Dates are as follows:

Test No. 1 Wednesday September 18 Test No. 2 Wednesday October 28 Test No. 3 Monday November 13 Test No. 4 Final Thursday December 12 12:45 PM The fourth test is the final and is comprehensive. Makeup tests are permitted only with a legitimate and documented excuse and at the instructor's discretion.

Technical Paper: Due November 18 A 5-page paper, with bib. on a designer. The paper must explore the creative process. You may explore the designers’ background, other designers that influenced your designer and other arts or productions that influenced your designer. You may use one of the designers’ works as an example or you may use several of the designers’ works. The designer can be for sound, sets or lights. The paper must be typed and double-spaced with a one-inch margin and a number 12 font.

Play Paper: Due Nov. 18 You are required to attend the Vanguard Theatre Production of Fools and to write a typed two page double spaced paper with a one-inch margin and a number 12 font on the stage and technical aspects of the play.

Production Hours: All students are required to log at least 20 hours working some technical aspect during the production time of the plays. They are Fools by Neil Simon and The Little Rose adapted by Leon Sciosca and Sheri Fink. No open toed shoes are allowed in the shop. These hours have to be completed by the last week of classes. All students are required to participate in the Show Load-In’s and Set Strikes. These will take place on Oct. 16 and December 2 after 4 pm that day. All students are required to participate in Set Strike. This will be after the final performance of the play production when all the scenery is dismantled and removed from the stage. The date for the first set strike is Sunday November 17 and the second is December 7 time TBA. If you do not complete your production hours, participate in the set load-in, attend the play and the set strikes your final grade will be dropped one full letter for each non-participation. This means you could lose up 6 letter grades even if you made an A in the regular class work you would still fail. Shop hours A. You may sign up for hours in advance. B. Extra hours need no advance warning. D. You must sign up for 20 hours and complete them by the Friday Nov. 20, unless you work on a running crew and will probably finish after the play. E. Running crews members will get all of their hours during the week of the show, but you must make all calls and work all hours that are needed. If you are taking Theatre Production or Theatre 150 those hours do not count No double dipping. F. Shop Hours (other hours may be added) Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00 am & from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm. Additional hours will be posted. Late work will be accepted but will not receive full credit. This includes shop hours. If you are not more than half way through your hours by Nov. 4 you will lose credit.

Please feel free to e-mail me or to come talk to me at any time.

Course Schedule: Subject to Change

DATE TOPIC READING ASSIGNMENT Aug. 26 Intro to Course & Safety Aug. 28 Safety & Production Organization Text: Chapter 1 Sept. 4 Theatre Architecture Text: Chapter 3 Sept. 9 The Stage & Its Equipment Text: Chapter 4 Sept. 11 The Stage & Its Equipment Sept. 16 Color Text Chapter 6 Sept. 18 Test No.1 Chapters 1, 3, 4 & 6 Sept. 23 Scene Shop - Tools, Materials, and Supplies Text: Chapter 10 Sept. 25 Scene Shop - Tools, Materials, and Supplies Sept. 30 Scenic Mounting and Rigging Oct. 2 Scenic Mounting and Rigging Oct. 7 Construction Drawings Text: Chapter 20 Oct. 9 Construction Drawings Oct. 14 HAVE A GREAT FALL BREAK!!! Oct. 16 Show Load IN Oct. 21 Construction Drawings Oct. 23 Orthographic Project Due Oct. 28 Test No. 2 Chapters 10 & 20 Oct. 30 Properties - Types and handling Text: Chapter 13 Nov. 4 Production Techniques Text: Chapter 11 Nov. 6 Production Techniques Nov. 11 Electricity in the Theatre Chapter 15 Nov. 13 Test # 3 Chapters 11, 13 & 15 Nov. 17 Set Strike Nov. 18 Flat Building Tech Paper Due Nov. 20 Flat Building Nov. 25 Scene Painting Dec. 4 Scene Painting Dec. 6 Scene Painting Flat Project Due Chapter 12 Dec. 12 12:45 pm FINAL EXAMINATION

Questions? Send E-mail: [email protected]

Disability Statement

Any student eligible for and requesting academic accommodations due to a disability is required to provide a letter of accommodation from the Student Success Center Office of Disabilities Services within the first two weeks of the semester.