Transcript Drama Notes
Chapters 18-23
3 Types of stages:
Proscenium
Thrust
Arena
Stage Elements: act curtain, apron, back wall,
battens, cyclorama, drop/backdrop, flies, fly
gallery, grid, ground cloth, leg, pin rail,
proscenium arch, teaser, tormentors, trap,
wings
6 Different Types of Sets
1. Box Set- two/three walls and a ceiling
2. Unit Set- several pieces that can be rearranged
3. Permanent Set- all structures are fixed
4. Minimal Set- two or three-fold flats that
disguise other props/set pieces
5. Prism Set- flats that can be moved/turned
6. Curtain Set- uses the curtain as part of the
background and has many architectural elements
Functions of lighting:
See the onstage action
Create emphasis and mood
Logical
4 Main Types of Stage Lights
1. spotlights
2. floodlights
3. strip/border lights
4. followspots
3 Uses of Sound
1. amplify the actors’ voices
Supply dramatic music/underscoring
Provide special, realistic sound effects
Reveal the character’s personality to the
audience
Appropriate to the theatre
Reflect the mood and style of the production
Unify the production
Acceptable to the actor
4 ways costumes are effective:
Line
▪ “fitted”
▪ Vertical lines add height to an actor
Fabric
▪ “weight”/texture determines how the costume will hang on
the actor
Color
▪ Color choices should harmonize or contrast with one another,
the set, and the furniture
Decoration- trim, accessories, jewelry
5 Aspects
Actor: bone structure, eyes, coloring
Character: age, health, occupation, attitude
Play’s Style: realistic, fantasy, symbolic, etc
Theatre: distance from the actors to the audience
Stage lighting: the amount, color, & source of
light play a part
Types of Makeup:
foundation
liner
rouge
powder
pencils
brushes
creams
How to Apply:
Clean your face
Apply foundation
Apply rouge
Shade & highlight facial features
Accent eyes and eyebrows
Accent lips
Apply powder
“Decorative props”/”set dressing”- props used
to help set the scene, like visual aids
“Hand props”- items used directly by actors
“Prop plot”- a written breakdown of the
required props for a production
“Props master”- person in charge of
organizing all of the props
“pull”- props you already own
“set props”- furniture, carpeting, etc