Teaching Introduction to Theatrical Design: A Process Based Syllabus in Costumes, Scenery, and Lighting 1st edition by Eric Appleton and Tracey Lyons from Focal Press is a week-by-week guide that helps instructors who are new to teaching design, teaching outside of their fields of expertise, or looking for better ways to integrate and encourage non-designers in the design classroom. This book provides a syllabus to teach foundational theatrical design by illustrating process and application of the principals of design in costumes, sets, lights, and sound.
Organization of This Book
Our Formula
Creativity and Evaluation
Selecting Plays for Use in Class
The Classroom
Portfolio Development
Books We Want to Share With You
Section One: Costume Design
Chapter One: Organizing Principles of the Class and Week One
Session by Session Framework
Supplies Needed
Design Elements
Concept and Design Metaphor
Building a Student Portfolio: First Steps
Chapter Two Week Two
Supplies Needed
Introduction of the Costume Design Final Project
Script Analysis
Quiz: Reading Comprehension
Unpacking the Play
Creating a Metaphor Statement
Using French Scenes to Dig Deeper into Detail
The Costume Plot
Script Analysis by Character
Drawing Clothing on the Human Body
Assigning Professional Designer Presentations
Portfolio Development
Chapter Three
Supplies Needed
Costume Renderings
Creating Costume Rendering Templates
Color and Watercolors
"Twenty-One Black Dresses"
Further Research for Designers
Library Fundamentals
Combining the Pieces to Build a Design
Portfolio Development
Chapter Four
Supplies Needed
Swatching
Depicting Fabric with Paint
Developing Color Palettes
In Class Work Session
Portfolio Development
Chapter Five
Professional Costume Designer Presentations
Presentation by a Guest Artist
Final Costume Design Project Presentations
Portfolio Development
Part Two: Scenic Design
Chapter Six
Supplies Needed
The Purpose of Scenery
Describing Environment
Script Analysis for Scenic Designers
Minimum Necessary Physical Requirements
Reading, Measuring, and Drawing in Scale
The Sizes of Real Things
Building the Small Stage House for "Your First Set Design"
Portfolio Development
Chapter Seven
Supplies Needed
The Human Figure as Baseline of Proportion
Making Scale Things for the Model
The Function of Models
Using Footprints to Explore Space
The Groundplan is a Plan of Action
The Scenic Design Final Project
Portfolio Development
Chapter Eight
Supplies Needed
Introduction to Drafting
What Exactly IS a Groundplan?
Graphics Standards
The Larger Stage House for the Scenic Design Final Project
Portfolio Development
Chapter Nine
Supplies Needed
Thumbnails and Essential Gestures
In Class Work Session
Portfolio Development
Professional Scenic Designer Presentations
Final Scenic Design Project Presentations
Guest Presenters
Portfolio Development
Section Three: Lighting Design
Chapter Eleven
Supplies Needed
Our Approach to Lighting Design
Thinking About Light
The Functions of Stage Light
Standard Lighting Angles
The Controllable Properties of Light
Demonstrating the Standard Angles of Light in the Light Lab
Analyzing the Lit Environment
Portfolio Development
Chapter Twelve
Supplies Needed
The Cue Synopsis
Storyboarding a Lighting Design
Six Categories of Purposes
Building a Look in the Light Lab, Part One
Portfolio Development
Chapter Thirteen
Supplies Needed
Building a Look in the Light Lab, Part Two
Applying Research Information to the Light Lab Look
Magic Sheets (Diagramming Purposes)Color for Lighting
The Gel Swatchbook
Mixing Colors in the Light Lab
Portfolio Development
Chapter Fourteen
Supplies Needed
Sketching Light in Color
In Class Work Session
Portfolio Development
Chapter Fifteen
Professional Lighting Designer Presentations
Final Lighting Design Project Presentations
Portfolio Development
Chapter Sixteen: An Extra Chapter of Introductory Steps in Developing a Lighting Design
Supplies Needed
Breaking the Stage into Areas of Control
The Lighting Section
Creating Beam Throw Templates
Using Beam Throw Templates to Guide Instrument Choices
The Preliminary Hook-Up
Chapter Seventeen: Introduction to Sound Design
Supplies Needed
Learning to Talk About Sound
The Controllable Properties of Sound
Categories of Sound Cues
The Sound Plot and Script Analysis
Assembling a Preliminary Sound Design
Portfolio Development
Appendix A: Our Current Syllabus
Appendix B: Materials for Introduction to Design
Appendix C: Two Short Plays Used for Design Exercises
Appendix D: Sample Cue Synopses
Appendix E: Standard Lighting Positions and Unit Numbering
Appendix F: Design Timelines
Glossary