Theatre Resources for Students and Educators
It’s 1913 and the Women’s Movement is taking shape in America, anchored by the suffragists — “Suffs,” as they call themselves — and their relentless pursuit of the right to vote. Reaching across and against generational, racial, and class divides,
This highly imaginative musical features a fine book by Winnie Holzman and music and lyrics by one of Broadway’s most accomplished composers, Stephen Schwartz. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked will fill you with wonder as it takes
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five-hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power! This
This video demonstrates briefly how safety expectations differ between a stage and public spaces. The full transcript is available here: https://scenicandlighting.com/article/managing-risk-in-the-theater-space/
The word “limelight” began as a bit of technical jargon two hundred years ago. The original meaning is long gone, but the word developed gravity . The metaphor has replaced the original meaning. “I’ve spent years when I’ve not been
This video is not an official part of the Projections on Stage sequence, but it is an excellent additional resource. It is intended to help people who are working their way into the use of scenic projections and might have only
In 2013, I posted a Theatre Hierarchy Handout. It has been very popular because in addition to showing lines of reporting (like a tree), it also shows lines of communication. It is also arranged to demonstrate performance vs. running
An Alphabet of Celebrities was written and illustrated in 1899 by Oliver Herford, an American humorist. It is almost forgotten today, but it contains a wealth of names and characters worth exploring. There are about 83 names or characters mentioned
We use a lot of ice-breaker activities in theatre classrooms. These often included revealing information about one’s self or emoting in some way. You can surprise your students with either of the following two activities that do not require any
This ten-minute video demonstrates the basics of lighting design. Washes, specials, distance, field angle, and other considerations are demonstrated in a virtual theatre space in a simple and conversational manner.
This is an open-education resource, like everything else on this site. It is a step-by-step lighting design project packaged as a PowerPoint file. The PowerPoint file can be downloaded here: https://scenicandlighting.com/downloads/Light_Plot_Assignment.pptx Your students are instructed to edit the PowerPoint slides.
This article follows Part III in this series, Projections on Stage Part III: Choices about Screens Projections on stage can be more than just a big square image behind the actors. They can be broken up, spread around, and appear
From Rhett Ellis: DRAMAGLOM is the acting game. You draw three cards– Cue, Expression, and Intensity. You read the Cue card with the feeling of the Expression card at the Level (1-5) of the intensity card. Your team mate guesses
Much of what we see is the result of complex processes happening in our brains. I had a discussion online yesterday with someone who thought that projectors might be used to darken a screen down by projecting black at it.
This is part three of a series. The previous part is Projections on Stage Part II: Making Good Use of Ordinary Projectors Anything that reflects light – even just a little bit – can be a screen. The bigger question
We use lots of different cables in the theatre. We have speaker cables, microphone cables, and electrical cables. We use DMX cables, ethernet, DVI, extension cords, VGA, HDMI, and displayport cables. Every single one of these has one thing in
This is part two of a series. The first part is Projections on Stage Part I: How do I make them brighter? Design the set around the screens It is easy to think of projections as being just the background
The Butter Gun I’m not saying I do, but I am not saying that I do not. In my home, on my breakfast table, I may, or I may not have a gun that shoots butter. If I did have
Demonstrating theatrical lighting in an educational environment takes a lot of setup. I have some standard lectures where I take my entire class down to one of our theatres and spend the class powering different instruments on and off while
In 2002, I created a set of browser-based light labs. These demonstrated the principals of lighting design, as well as creating an accessible place where people can experiment with light. There are some pros and cons to a browser-based lab.
In the spring of 2014, I was working as a guest designer at Auburn, University in Alabama. As a part of a fairly casual conversation during a work-call onstage, an undergraduate set-design student by the name of Sarah asked me
Broadway Educators is hosted and maintained by All Tickets, Inc., which specializes in group experiences and educational theatre experiences in New York City. One of the services offered by All Tickets, Inc. is access to a huge range of workshops
Behold, The Drama Machine. This is an interactive application that demonstrates the variables that we always deal with in production. It randomly combines factors: Script, Director’s Concept, Venue, Budget, and Time. It churns out the circumstances for a hypothetical production
The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a true arts complex, offering performances in a range of disciplines including music, dance and theatre. The Center, which is also a rich resource for theatre historians, offers daily tours that include special group
Often in the theatre as designers we’re given challenges to create a scenic element that at first glance may appear to be too expensive, time consuming or unwieldy. In the summer of 2012, I designed Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for Papermill
I am positive that every scenic designer in the U.S. reading this blog understands the drill: Carefully read the script. Discuss it with the director. Do your research. Take time to conceptualize. Repeat. The process involves engaging in these steps
Nothing glamorous about this; it’s just a one-page Word Doc calendar. You can print it, photocopy it, and fill it out to suit the current month. Download Blank Calendar Exercise Contributed by Matt Kizer Matt Kizer is the webmaster for
Lighting Design course projects typically need a set design to be provided for the project to go forward. Included in this compressed folder are JPEG rendering of the set. PDF groundplan of the set. PDF section view of the set.
This is a graphic showing the theatre hierarchy. This version of the theatre hierarchy is a tree like most others, but it also shows lines of communication in addition to lines of creative oversight. It is arranged to
This is a role-playing exercise for a mock production meeting. The class is divided into groups of six. Each student is assigned a title (director, lighting designer, stage manager, etc.). Each student is also assigned a list of personality traits
The Light Lab is for use in the classroom. You can use it to demonstrate color, direction, gobos, and instrumentation without setting up equipment in another space. These pages are not a full-fledge virtual lighting system. However, they run with
Television is a part of our everyday lives and NBC continues to be a major player in the market with the long running Today Show, the unpredictable Saturday Night Live and the groundbreaking Dr.Oz Show. NBC Studio Tours started in 1933. Today’s
The Metropolitan Opera has a history that reaches back almost 130 years. This impressive cultural resource attracts some of the finest singers, directors and designers from around the globe. The Met, which offers world-class productions of new and classic operas,
A time-honored joke asks: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? The answer…practice, practice, practice. Indeed, the luminaries who have graced Carnegie’s stage have ascribed to such advice. However, if you want to get to Carnegie Hall without engaging in any practice
Various wonderful touring experiences are available through Broadway Up Close. Their original tour, which was created five years ago, takes you along The Great White Way where your group will discover exciting and interesting facts about Broadway theatres, artists, producers,
Perhaps no other single venue in New York City is more responsible for introducing the artistry and culture of African-American and Latino musicians and performers than the Apollo Theater. A tour of the Apollo offers insights into individual artists and
Talk Backs are wonderful educational experiences where you can connect with a performance and show on an entirely different level. An engaging post-performance Talk Back for your group after a Broadway or Off-Broadway show offers insights, inspiration and food for
Known as “The Showplace of the Nation” Radio City Music Hall is a wondrous venue. For more than 70 years it has served as one of the world’s premiere showcases. Take the Radio City Backstage Tour and bask in its
Wicked: Behind the Emerald Curtain offers groups an insightful, informative backstage sojourn through an enchanted land. Perfect for Wicked fans, musical lovers and those who want to be in the know. How does the magic work? Find out as you
Behind the Magic: New Amsterdam Theatre Tour Experience a wonderful tour of Disney’s New Amsterdam Theatre. You’ll go behind the main curtain for an unforgettable view of the magic that defines Disney Theatrical Productions. Located in the midst of
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