Scene Design: Final Project, W08

Your Final Project will be the scenic design for Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's Fiddler on the Roof. The work will be presented on the MainStage of the Johnson Fine Arts Center on an educational theatre's budget.

Your Stage Space (JFAC MainStage)
See the Run Sheet Form.

• Width of the Acting Area: 40'
• Depth of Acting Area (Front edge of stage to Cyc): 36'
• Location of Masking Drapes:
  • Act Curtain: 4' from the front edge of the stage
  • First Leg and In One traveler track: 11'
  • Second Leg: 19'
  • Third Leg: 29'
  • Cyc: 36'

Presentation #1: Scenic Breakdown
Prepare a Scenic Breakdown. Include for each scene...

1. The location of the action
2. The time of day
3. The light source
4. The specific units of scenery needed by the actors
5. The required set props,
6. A list of the musical numbers in the scene, and
7. A note indicating how much stage space will be needed: full stage, half stage, scene in-one.

MY FAIR LADY SCENIC BREAKDOWN
SETTING: London, 1912
ACT ONE
Scene 1:  Outside The Opera House, Covent Garden -- 11pm (?)
Nite. Gas lights, fire under smudge pots, moon.
Entrance from Opera House.
Props: Smudge Pots, orange crates, flower carts w/ flowers, large laundry
 baskets w/flowers.
Full Stage.
Songs:
   1) Overture and Opening 
   2) Why Can't The English?
   3) Wouldn't It Be Loverly?

Presentation #2: Research

"RESEARCH continues to be the secret to all design. Research loads the intuition and provides possibilities. Your research should include general emotional responses to the play like mood paintings, perhaps a landscape or seascape, lighting, perhaps a campfire in full blaze, and anything else which speaks to you about the spirit of the play. It must include specific research,... location pictures (inside and out), period drawings or photos, specific furniture pieces, props, lighting [fixtures], doors, windows, items called for in the script, and some costume research. I look for interesting textures and colors in my research. Research "primes the pump". For me, the shows...I do start with research and end with research. I constantly refer to my pictures for inspiration. When I get stuck, I go back to the text and my research. Often, I look at other people's designs. I look for videos in the same period or documentaries that render atmosphere. The library has ample texts on scene design and has a wonderful video collection. These resources will enrich your work. The Internet also has wonderful resources."
Steve Gillam, Design professor at Trinity University (San Antonio), Scenic designer for the St. Louis MUNY Opera.

Presentation #3: Preliminary "Run Sheets"
Develop and bring to class a rough, small scaled ground plan and sketch for each scene. Arrange them in the order of the show and tell how you will move from one scene to the next. Indicate where your units will be stored off stage. Please use the Run Sheet form (a PDF file) I have posted on the Web Page
      Will you be wanting to rent a drop/s or portal/s? If yes, determine which drop/s you want to use from the Tobins Lake or Charles Stewart catalogue and make a print/s to bring to class.
      Example: See Steve Gilliam's "Run Sheets" for the first act of MUNY Opera's 2001 production of Miss Saigon

Presentation #4
Your final presentation to the class should include...

1. A 1/4" scaled floor plan of the interior of Tevey's Cabin (Act I, scene 1),
2. A designer's elevation (or flat schedule) of the set, and
3. A colored rendering of your set showing how it will look under light. You may use any color media you wish.