This week we will start our unit on Scenic Design. One of the main goals of the scenic designer is to help tell the story of the play with the set. In this weeks blog I have posted pictures from three different "un-named" plays. I want you to choose one of the pictures (please indicate which picture you are writing about) and tell us what you see. What kind of play is it? Where is the play taking place? When is the play taking place(1955? 2045?)? Go into detail to tell us what you see and what is the "story" the scenic designer is trying to tell. Write AT LEAST three paragraphs!
As always if there is an issue please email me at robert.kennedy@reg5.k12.ct.us
Lyndsay Lockhart
ReplyDeleteI chose to write about the second picture, it caught my attention because it is so brightly light and had a warm inviting color theme. The play is being preformed on a thrust sage so the audience feels more a part of it, but being a thrust stage it also has its drawbacks. The scenic designer had to keep the larger bulkier props and set pieces towards the back of the stage as to not obscure the view of the audience.
I think the play is taking place in the future because the set design looks sort of futuristic. There are a lot of geometric shapes, and circle lights on the stage, which look more modern. Across the top of the stage there is a curved metal piping stricture with circles in it, this structure adds to the futuristic theme, it could be only a few years into the future, or a few decades into the future.
This play is about bowling, there are lanes painted onto the ground and ball returns with benches in the background. The stage also has a lot of shelves with bowling trophies on them. Upstage there are some couches and what appears to be a bar, the setting has the elements of both a bowling alley and a bar. Thus the story has many different directions it can pan out to.
I chose the last picture. I think this is a musical. I think this kind of play is a cross between the Lion King and the Wizard Of Oz. The actors are dressed like they’re from the future. That’s why I think it’s a cross between the two plays.
ReplyDeleteThe stage looks like it's outside. I think this play is taking place in the future.
I think the story that the scenic designer is trying to tell is that the actors are workers that are cleaning. Also they are singing while they clean.
I chose to write about the first picture. In this set, you see a lot of stairs and platforms. It is all metal and wood and there are empty metal cans lying around, indicating that it is probably supposed to look like a warehouse, or some other run-down sort of building. The railings look patched, the wood is not finished, and the metal hanging from the ceiling is crooked (maybe it used to be a chandelier, or some sort of decoration).
ReplyDeleteI think that this play might be a musical, or something with a lot of dancing in it. The set is fixed, with lots of platforms and stairs that are probably meant for walking (or dancing) on because they are set so far downstage. It is also set in front of a neutral backdrop, and I'm pretty sure it's a proscenium theater (it's a little hard to tell for sure).
The show is most likely taking place, like I mentioned before, in a warehouse, or similar type of building. It is an indoor setting, and sort of dingy, and gives the viewer no indication as to what part of the world it is set in. It could even be space. As for the time period, it could be any one of a large span of years ranging from the early 1900s to anywhere in the future. The materials used (wood and metal) are very versatile, as is the warehouse look. It is clearly a modern or futuristic set.
I chose the last picture because its my favorite design out of the three. I like the design of the sage because its not a circle or a square its wavey and almost looks like a spiral. Also I love all the colors on the stage and also in the colthing on the actors. It looks like they are outside because of the background looks like a sky and there are a bunch of it looks like street lights around the people on the stage.
ReplyDeleteThis play remines me of Cirus De Solei and also the Lion King. The actors outfits look like they are in the future but in like a african tribe.
I think its neat that they are using the thrust stage so that the audience feel like they are in the show. Also i noticed that all the people are not on the stage so this shows you that you always dont need a stage to put on a great show.
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ReplyDeleteI picked the middle picture because it was the first one to grab my attention. Unlike the other two pictures this one is has very bright lights and also because of the way the room is designed it makes it look like it is from the 1950’s. The different shapes like the circle lights and the piping at the top of the set make it look like it is from a different time. I also think it is from the 1950’s because it has light colors.
ReplyDeleteThis play is being done on a thrust stage because as you can see in the picture the audience can see the stage from three sides. Also because of the way the set is set up it would be easy for the audience to see the actors as they move around the stage.
This play might have something to do about bowling because as you can see on the floor it looks like there are lanes and there are also ball returns. On the walls there are trophies, there are also booths, tables, a small bar, couches, and a coat rack in the back of the room.
I chose the first picture. This photo caught my eye because it contrasted with the other two options. While the 2nd and 3rd picture have bright lighting and colors, this one consists of mostly grays and browns, giving it the look of a worn down building or poor neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI would guess that this stage is a proscenium even though the whole stage is not shown. The set layout is pretty basic, but the construction of the objects themselves are very intricate.
This set could easily be used for a musical, seeing as there is plenty of room for dancing, and the set is very versatile for different moods if just the lighting is changed.
I would say that this musical takes place in the past in a rundown warehouse or something (because of the big cans scattered under stairways, etc.)
I know this is late but hopefully you count it! Thanks
The picture I choose to write about is the 3 one because it almost looks like the stage is outside Vs the other two which look very bland and generic. This picture reminds me of A Midsummer Night's Dream because the people on stage almost look like they could be fairies. They actor’s clothes look more futuristic then modern but at the same time have a very olden day look to. The woman in the pink dress to the left side of the stage looks like she could be there queen because she is just standing there look over them while they work.
ReplyDeleteI think the story that the scenic designer is trying to tell is the queen is watching over her people very carefully while they are working.
Sorry this is coming to you so late I am hoping you will count it and it won’t happen again.
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ReplyDeleteI picked to write about the first picture. The play seems dark and scary. The play seems to be taking place in dungeon of some sorts. The place seems to be taking place in the medieval period.
ReplyDeleteI see very strange door ways and multiple stairways. Also there is a large object hanging from the roof. The colors are very dark and dull. The lighting is not very bright and it continues the dullt theme.
The scenic designer must be trying to set the stage for a very scary and dark play. Because of the dark lighting and overall scary staging, it is clear that the play is going to be about something scary and dark.
I will be talking about the second stage. I think the stage is one that might be from a musical, with alot of room to move about and sing. The type of stage appears to be a thrust stage, as it pushes into the audience and is surrounded by three sides.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to have a retro modern design, so its probably from the 40s or 50s.
It also has alot of trophies on the wall, so it probably is about a sports player.
I chose picture number 2. The set looks kinda futuristic. I feel like its set in modern times at an expensive club or a very modern diner or resturant of some sort. The scene looks as if it were designed professionaly and alot of time and money were spent on it.
ReplyDeleteI think that this set could be used for a play like grease ( a very futuristic version of it). Or maybe it could be used for a big party scene. Im guessing that this set maybe took at least a few months to build and seeing as it looks really big the auditorium its in is meant to seat alot of people so its a pretty big play.
THis set could probably be used for different scenes, maybe dimming the lights to focous on a table to make it look like a diner table or maybe removing the tables by the chairs and using it as part of a bedroom.
I chose the second picture because i found it interesting. It has a really retro vibe, kind of like in Grease. It looks like this production took place in the 1950's, because of the decor. There are lots of wood panelled walls and such.
ReplyDeleteThis set was built on a thrust stage, and goes into the audience. This way, they feel more like a part of the production. There also isn't a whole lot of furniture and props on stage, so the audience can clearly see the actors.
There appears to be three ways onto the stage for the actors. Once dead center, and two off to the sides. I feel like this production would be something very livley, such as Grease. Lots of music, jokes, dancing- a happy enjoyable performance.
Im picking the last picture its hard to describe from my perspective but it looks like a tribal play maybe taking place in africa or north america before the white settlers came in. This play looks like it takes place in the 1700s maybe even earlier by the costumes they are wearing. When i look deep into the play i see a tribl dance with family and friends. This could also be a tradition of this certain tribe where singing and dancing is a part of their culture. It also looks like a tree canopy at the very top of the set so this tribe obviously lives deep into the woods so north america would probably be the most accurate setting for this play. The director is influencial when designed the set because there are many colors involved in the play and it really opens ones eyes when looked upon
ReplyDeleteI chose the second picture to blog about. I believe that this play is taking place in a dinner, most likely the 50's because it looks like a set from the play Greece. The sceanery looks like a box set because there seems to be to main focus points on the stage. The scenary in the backround seems to be a presentational set because of the multipule levels
ReplyDeletei choose the last picture because it grabbed my attention.It's different from the others because it's very colorful and i like the costumes that their wearing. this picture looks like it's taking place outside. this play looks like its taking place in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis play reminds me of a circus because of there outfits, and the colors on the stage.
Also this play is being done on a thrust stage because the audience can see from the 3 sides, and it makes the audience feel like your in the play.
I chose the first picture, the one on the top. This picture i thought really went into depth about how the play is supposed to look and it gives the audience a definite state of reality in the sense that, the world isnt always so glamorous. To me the stage is set up to look like a shanty town from derelict places around the world, Sierra Leone, or parts of Jamaica. Yet this could also be a foreshadow to the future where man destroys itself and brings itself up anew and has to start over with available resources. It could be either a box set or a presentation. It seems to take place really anywhere the writer determines. it could be downtown New York, or a futuristic Beverly Hills. When is a tricky question because amongst today's craziness any town in the world could look like this, cities in Europe, Americas, Russia, Africa, Australia, and Asia, it all depends on how the director and writer see the play, personally i cannot say what the scene director was thinking or what the play is for i have not seen it nor looked into it. but yet i can say that from the looks of it, it would definitely fit a poverty stricken community, or just how it is.... That is my two cents.
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