DRAMA 210 Stagecraft/ DRAMA 290 Technical Practice Syllabus Winter Quarter 2018 T/TH 11:30am – 12:45pm; Room E104 T or TH 12:50pm –2:30pm; Room E104

Instructor: Michael Brandt Email: [email protected] Phone: 402-676-1439 or Ext. 2416 Office Hours: T & TH 10:30am – 11:30am, E120 By appointment

Course Information

Course Objectives: Upon completing DRMA 210, students will be able to: ➢ Identify the four types of theatre space, and describe the stage systems found there, with emphasis on the differences between them. ➢ Describe the historic practice and evolution of Stage Technologies. ➢ Lay out a production schedule from design through concept to opening night, including activities of all production team and the theatre shop. ➢ Accurately produce scenery and properties from design and technical drawings. ➢ Operate with introductory proficiency scene shop tools used in carpentry, welding and painting. ➢ Identify rigging techniques. ➢ Apply paint and texture to scenery. Upon completing DRMA 290, students will be able to: ➢ Working in one of the specialty areas of theatrical production (scenery construction, costume construction, properties procurement, lighting design and execution, sound design and execution), prepare for and present a production. ➢ Perform assigned tasks in the above areas with proficiency, working within parameters set by the production and supervisors.

How to achieve these Objectives:

DRMA 210 is a theatre design and technology class composed of two components: lecture/discussion and lab. Lecture/discussion meets Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30am – 12:45am. The lab follows immediately after class and lasts till 2:30pm on the day you registered for (T or TH). The primary goal of this class is to help students learn to understand the basic tools of scenic technology and to articulately express and discuss scenery, shop tasks, and tools. Students will gain hands-on experience hanging and focusing lighting, building scenery and props, working with numerous power tools, designing props and scenery, and painting.

DRMA 290 is a practicum designed to provide hands-on experience under actual production conditions. You will be required to attend load-in, hang, focus, and strike for our production this quarter Antigone. For Drama 290: ➢ Students will be scheduled to work for 3 hours each week beginning the second week of class; they are expected to work a total of 33 hours over the course of the quarter. You must schedule your lab hours with the Technical Director at the beginning of the quarter. Typically, these hours should be scheduled in a single shift each week (normally 2:30- 5:30pm). ➢ Students are expected to be present and on time for their hours. Our shop work plan is usually mapped out a week in advance, with the thought that everyone scheduled to work in the shop will be there. Even if we are not in lecture on a particular day, the lab will still meet unless you are informed otherwise by the Technical Director. ➢ If you are not present and dressed for work at your start time you are considered late. Students will only accrue hours for the time that they are present and working on projects in the shop or on stage. ➢ With prior permission from the Technical Director lab hours can be temporarily re- scheduled. Barring any extreme and unforeseen circumstances these arrangements should occur a week in advance. Days off will be granted only if you call or e-mail the Technical Director/ prior to your starting time. Time missed will need to be made up by the end of the quarter in order to receive full points. Lab hours missed without prior notice given (except extreme/unforeseen circumstances) CANNOT be made up! ➢ Alternatively to doing weekly hours, you may choose to be a crew member for the quarter’s production of Antigone. If you are interested in being a crew Antigone, please notify the Technical Director as soon as possible so they can get you a schedule for the dates you will be required to be at the theater.

Strike: Strike will be from 1-10pm on Sunday, March 11th. You must attend the entire strike!

Quizzes: Through the quarter, small quizzes will be given to check on students’ retention of the material covered in previous classes. A warning will be given the class period before the quiz to give students a chance to review the information on the appropriate lecture. Quizzes cannot be made up if it is missed.

Project #1, Drafting: Students will be doing a hands on drafting project by transferring a paper drawing to a digital form. You will be practicing reading a scale ruler, marking dimensions, and drafting digitally in the Vectorworks software.

Project #2, Flats: Students will get hands on experience building and painting a stage flat. You will go from raw materials to a painted flat complete with texture. This will be done following a drafted drawing and a paint elevation.

Project #3, Properties: Students will get hands on experience creating a food prop of their choice. Students will research, design, and create their food prop using the skills and techniques they have learned over the quarter.

The Great Tool Test: This is a test of the knowledge and skills we have learned so far in this course. There is a written and a practical section of the test. Students will be tested on safety, tools, hardware, and basic construction techniques.

Final Project: Students will be creating a small scene using the skills and techniques they have learned during this class. This project will include flat and platform construction, drafting, and painting. Creativity and challenging designs are encouraged.

Grading DRMA 212 % of Grade Attendance/Participation 20% Quizzes 15% Project #1: Drafting 10% Project #2: Flats 10% Project #3: Properties 10% The Great Tool Test 15% Final: Design 20% = 100%

DRMA 290 % of Grade Weekly Hours 75% Strike 25% = 100%

The link to the College Grading Policy is located on page 10 of the Course Catalog: Grading Policy

Late Work All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Any late assignment will be deducted a full letter grade. After that, for every day an assignment is late, another half-letter grade will be deducted.

Attendance We learn a lot by doing, so it is important to come to class and to do your lab hours. You and your peers will learn from each other and the challenges we discover together. I understand that unexpected things happen that may prevent you from attending class. Students will be allowed 2 unexcused absences before being absent begins to affect their your grade. You will lose a half- letter grade for every additional absence. Any makeup opportunities will be created at the instructor’s discretion, and the instructor reserves the right to not allow for makeup work in the case of excessive absences. If you need more information on college attendance policies, please follow this link: Student Procedures and Expectations

Participation Collaboration is key in the theatre process and so will be true in our class. Please turn off your cellphones before the start of class. Some keys to being successful in this class are: being curious, asking questions, being a part of the conversations, pushing yourself on your projects, turning your assignments in completed and on time, and doing your part in group activities.

Safety Safety is of utmost importance in the theatre especially when working with heavy equipment and fast/sharp tools. Please come to class and lab ready to work. You must obey all instructions, especially if you are asked to stop and take another look at what you are doing or are about to do. If you do not feel comfortable completing a task or doing a task alone, ask for help and we will get someone to assist you or you can be given a new task. It is not worth risking your life or someone else’s just to get something done.

Appropriate Clothing Wear appropriate clothing when you are in the shop environment or the theatre to work on the set and your projects. Proper dress includes: Closed toed shoes, long pants, no dangly jewelry, and gloves if desired. There is always a chance you will be getting dirty so please wear clothes that can get torn or painted. Please let the Technical Director know if you would like to reserve a locker to store work clothes, shoes, or tools in. Students with shoulder length hair should be prepared to tie their hair back.

Required Texts and Materials Required Texts: No required Texts (Any required readings will be posted on Canvas) Recommended texts for curious people: Backstage Handbook by Paul Carter, Second Ed., Broadway Press, 1994. ISBN: 0-91174-739-7 The Stagecraft Handbook by Ionazzi Daniel A., Betterway Books, 1996 ISBN: 1-55870-404-3 Required Supplies and Safety Equipment: Free Vectorworks software (https://student.myvectorworks.net/) Safety Glasses – Ansi 87.1 (Z87) Rated A 2” or 3” chip brush An Architects Scale Ruler

Help with Canvas? Students can find help with Canvas by following the link here: Student Canvas Help

Accessibility The online elements of this course are designed to be welcoming to, accessible to, and usable by everyone, including students who are English-language learners, have a variety of learning styles, have disabilities, or are new to online learning. Be sure to let me know immediately if you encounter a required element or resource in the course that is not accessible to you. Also, let me know of changes I can make to the course so that it is more welcoming to, accessible to, or usable by students who take this course in the future.

Affirmation of Inclusion Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect. Affirmation of Inclusion (https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/inclusion/)

Religious Holidays Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or any other assignments because of their religious observance should be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent, preferably at the beginning of the term. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments should be offered an opportunity to make up the work without penalty (if they have previously arranged to be absent), unless it can be demonstrated that a makeup opportunity would constitute an unreasonable burden on a member of the faculty. Should disagreement arise over what constitutes an unreasonable burden or any element of this policy, parties involved should consult the department chair, or Dean. Policy 2950 Accommodations for Reasons of Faith or Conscience (http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/policies/id-2950p-2/).

College Anti-Discrimination Statement Bellevue College does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity; creed; color; national origin; sex; marital status; sexual orientation; age; religion; genetic information; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; or veteran status in educational programs and activities which it operates. Bellevue College is prohibited from discriminating in such a manner by college policy and by state and federal law. All college personnel and persons, vendors, and organizations with whom the college does business are required to comply with applicable federal and state statutes and regulations designed to promote affirmative action and equal opportunity. Equal Opportunity (http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/equal/)

Division Statement The Theatre Arts Department of Drama and Dance expands and enriches the learning, life and culture of all students and faculty of Bellevue College by introducing audiences to a variety of current, historical and cultural perspectives, providing students opportunities to experience performance through a breadth of program offerings in the art and craft of acting, design, and dance, and advancing students’ learning goals through exploration of dramatic literature and advancement toward degree attainment in pre-major courses or training in advanced in acting, dance, musical theatre, playwriting, and directing.

A&H Attendance expectations for hybrid and in-person classes: Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings whenever possible. While attendance requirements are up to individual faculty members in the Arts & Humanities Division, active participation and regular attendance are essential to students’ success. Unless students have accommodations regarding attendance that have been approved through the Disability Resource Center, they should not be absent more than 20% of the total class time scheduled. When absences go beyond 20%, instructors’ policies may result in one of the following: • Students may earn a grade of "F" for the course. • Students may earn a lower final grade.

Students should carefully review each instructor’s syllabus to make sure they understand the attendance policy and the consequences for missing class. In some classes, even a small number of absences (less than 20%) can affect students’ grades, undermine their progress, and make it difficult to catch up. In cases of legitimate hardship, students may also request that instructors grant a “HW” (hardship withdrawal), which is a non-credit grade. Students with accommodations regarding attendance must actively communicate with the instructor (and consult with the DRC) about each absence to determine if the accommodation applies.

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share with the Title IX Coordinator any and all information regarding sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct (e.g. dating violence, domestic violence, stalking) that may have occurred on campus or that impacts someone on campus. Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the BC Counseling Center at (425) 564-2212. The Title IX Office can be contacted at 425-564-2641 and more information can be found at Title IX

(http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/titleix/). If you have any concerns, you may report to: Report Concerns (https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/reportconcerns/)

Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity Any act of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source), and fabrication and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Dean of Student Success for investigation. Specific student rights, responsibilities, and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct at: Student Code Information about Bellevue College's copyright guidelines can be found at: College Copyright Policy This link provides a good, short summary of how to avoid plagiarism: Avoiding Plagiarism

Public Safety and Emergencies Public Safety is located in building D, room 171 and can be reached at 425-564-2400 (easy to remember because it’s the only office on campus open 24 hours a day—2400). Among other things, Public Safety serves as our Parking Permits, Lost and Found, and Emergency Notification center. Please ensure you are signed up to receive alerts through our campus alerting system by registering at RAVE Alert Registration

If you work late and are uneasy about going to your car, Public Safety will escort you to your vehicle. To coordinate this, please phone ahead and let Public Safety know when and where you will need an escort.

Please familiarize yourself with the emergency postings by the door of every classroom and know where to go in the event of an evacuation. Your instructor will be asked if anyone might still be in the building, so check in before you do anything else. Emergency responders will search for anyone unaccounted for.

If a major emergency occurs, please follow these three rules: 1) Take directions from those in charge of the response -We all need to be working together. 2) Do not get in your car and leave campus (unless directed to) - Doing so will clog streets and prevent emergency vehicles from entering the scene. Instead, follow directions from those in charge. 3) In an emergency, call 911 first, then Public Safety.

Please do not hesitate to call Public Safety if you have safety questions or concerns at any time. You may also visit the Public Safety web page for answers to your questions.

DRMA 210 Course Calendar (Remember - This is a tentative calendar that could and will change) Day Date Topic of Discussion Assign Due M 1/2 Welcome to Stagecraft W 1/4 Safety M 1/9 Tools W 1/11 Hardware M 1/16 Materials W 1/18 Drawings & Drafting Project #1 Drawings M 1/23 Drafting W 1/25 Flats Project #2 Flats M 1/30 Platforms W 2/1 Painting Project #1 M 2/6 !!!The Great Tool Test!!!! Tool Test Tool Test W 2/8 No Class, College Issues Day M 2/13 Load in Antigone W 2/15 Load in Antigone M 2/20 Painting Antigone (KCACTF) W 2/22 Painting Antigone (KCACTF) M 2/27 Production Organization Final Project #2 W 3/1 Rigging & Stage Mechanics M 3/6 No Class, Professional Development Day W 3/8 Properties Project #3 Props M 3/13 Work on Finals (USITT) W 3/15 Work on Finals (USITT) Tuesday, 3/20 Final, 11:30am – 1:20pm Final Project Presentations Project #3

Day Date Lab Topics 1 1/ 2-4 Scenic Safety and Tool Orientation 2 1/ 9-11 Tools 3 1/ 16-18 Hardware & Materials 4 1/ 23-25 Project 1 Drafting 5 1/30 - 2/1 Project 2 Flats 6 2/ 6-8 Antigone Work 7 2/ 13-15 Antigone Work 8 2/ 20-22 Painting 9 2/27 – 3/1 Welding 10 3/ 6-8 Properties 11 3/ 13-15 Finals Work