Scenic Design Chapter 15

1. Scenography
and
Scenic Design

2. Scene Design
•Functions of scene design:
•Defines performance space
•Creates a floor plan
•Characterizes the acting space visually
•Makes a strong interpretational
statement
•Creates mood and atmosphere

3. Scene Design
• Floor plan provides opportunities for:
• Movement
• Composition
• Character Interaction
• Stage Business
It should also be noted that the scenic designer essentially
“blocks” the play. All the action in the play must work around,
the architecture established by the design team. So care
forethought can resolve artistic and directional problems later.

4. 4 - Physical Arrangements
STAGE
AUDIENCE
Proscenium
AUDIENCE
STAGE

AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE
Thrust

5. The Influence of Theatrical Space
AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE
STAGE

AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE
Arena
AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE
STAGE AREA
Flexible

6. Kinds of Kinds of SETSSETS
BoxBox
UnitUnit
SuggestedSuggested

7. BOX SETBOX SET
•Usually involves walls that enclose the playing space
• Sets are usually realistic and detailed
• Most modern sit-coms you see are TV are box sets

8. UNIT SETUNIT SET
•Composed of units that can be moved on and off stage
•Most musicals are considered “unit” sets.
•Most unit sets are aesthetically supported by drops, lit backgrounds, or projections.

9. SUGGESTED SETSUGGESTED SET
Just as the name says, these are
suggested Environments.
These characters are all from different
Time periods, however they all waiting in
The same doctor’s office.
Ideal design for non-realistic plays that
May be concept and theme driven.
All theatre mixes and matches these
essential approaches to scenic design.

10. The Scene Designer’s Assistants and Coworkers
•Design assistants: may make working drawings,
construct models, search for furniture and properties
•Technical director: often independent of designer
and of equal status; responsible for building,
assembling, and painting scenery

11. Working Plans and Procedures
•Design process varies from designer to designer, but
generally includes:
•Working on Proof
•Working on Elephant Man
•Preliminary designs
•Sketches
•Scale model
•Final designs
•Perspective color renderings
•Floor plan
•3-D scale model

12. Basic Scenic Elements
•Soft-Scenery Units:
•Made of unframed cloth, suspended
•Drops: may enclose setting; may be painted with scenes
•Draperies: may mask the sides of the stage, may be painted
and hung to create stylized backgrounds
•Scrim: specialized curtain made of gauze; opaque when
lighted from front; transparent when lighted from behind
•Cyclorama: any arrangement of curtains that surround the
stage area on 3 sides

13. Basic Scenic Elements
•Framed Units:
•Flats: basic framed units; wooden or metal frame covered by
a relatively flat surface of cloth or thin wood; painted or
treated texturally
•Screens: typical framed units since 1960s; rest on floor or
are suspended; any shape or size; any material; used for
projection

14. Innovative Materials and Methods
•Use of nontraditional materials and unconventional
structural methods
•Styrofoam
•Thermoplastics
•Molded Plexiglas
•Wood substitutes
•Steel, aluminum, other metal alloys
•Fiberglass
•Styrofoam and urethane
•Vacuform molds

15. Shifting Scenery on Stage
•When using multiple settings, units must be shifted
•Methods used in shifting scenery include:
•Manual: scenic units moved by stagehands
•Flying: suspending scenic elements above the stage
and raising or lowering them as needed

16. Shifting Scenery on Stage
•Methods used in shifting scenery include:
•Wagon: a platform on casters
•Revolve: revolving stage turned by electric motors
•Elevator Stage: raises and lowers segments of the
stage
•Combination of methods used frequently

17. Set Decoration and Properties
•2 types of properties:
•Set Props = attached to setting or function
as part of scenic design
•Hand props = used by actors in stage
business

18. Technical Rehearsals, Dress Rehearsals, and
Performances
•Technical rehearsals = focus on technical
elements; ensure elements are functioning
properly
•Dress rehearsals = allow scene designer to
see settings in relation to all elements of
production