Props and Costumes

            If you went to see a show and all the actors were in their underwear, talking about invisible newspapers and eating invisible cereal you have ether bought tickets to a very progressive and artistic show to the point where the show is awful or you live in a dream land where props and costumes are not thought of. Costumes and props have a lot to add to a show. They can represent social and economic status as well as personality and the settings of the times. Just like almost every other aspect of a show they are essential.

            The Costume design process is very similar to the process used by set designers. After initial meetings about the productions the costume designer will draw up sketches of costume ideas for each person and time of the production and present them. The designer must take into consideration the character's background in order to get a sense of what they think they would wear. After this the designer will need to finalize colors fabrics and lengths of the costume. Ever actor will need to have their measurements takes multiple times through out the costuming process in order to insure that the costumes will continue to fit.

Sketches

            After this actual costume construction begins. Through this process the costumes will be changed and modified and altered many times almost as if the costume makers are sculpting the costume. This process can be the longest construction element of a production depending on how many actors and costumes are need.

           Props however is a very different area. Depending on the production, the theater and who is working on the show props can be bought, borrowed, rented or in some cases made. Many props that you will see on stage are the real thing unless they need to fulfill some special function. It is simply easiest to simply find the props you need are ready made. To determine what props are needed involves close work between the set designer, props man, director, and the script. Depending on the set design some props will work and others wont. Some point in the script call for a certain action and the director needs to decide if the prop is essential to the production and whether to add a prop or scrap one. Props by far can be the simplest of all the elements, however it can become the most complex. For instance in the show Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street the show class for a chair which can drop people through the floor. This requires a close collaboration between props and set design. It also complicates things props wise because there aren't chairs like that just laying around everywhere. This is a prime example of a prop which must be manufactured here things can go wrong. The chair soon becomes very mechanical and with that things can break and repairs must be made sometimes with in the 5 mins that the prop is of stage. Depending on the show props can be a very hard job.

Chair

Set Design and Construction

            The set of any show is an integral part of the production. Even if the chosen set is no set at all it is done for a reason. Set design can have many variations and styles and it truly is a skill that not everyone can do well. It is difficult to go into set design its self due to the numerous styles in which sets as well as other objects and places can be designed from Victorian to deconstruction styles of design are as numerous as decades it seems. However something that is consistent is the process in which sets are designed. In the beginning most productions begin with a meeting of the director the producers and the designers and they discuss how the production is to be brought to life as well as what style and direction the production wishes to go in. This gives the set designer a basis to go off of and they can begin to draft their ideas.

Drafting

 

            Set design is similar to architecture in that the same drafting techniques used to show ideas on paper for a new building are generally the same as that of a set design. Once ideas have been put on paper the designer can then start working on a model of the set. Models allow for a scaled down version of a set design as a visual aid when explaining a set design to others. After this highly detailed drawings of the set design can be made which include all measurements and handed off to the set crew for construction.

Set Model

            Set construction is different from the construction of a house. Unlike a house a set piece must be movable which involves putting stress on connection points. A set piece is also up for a very shot period of time however must still be safe and stable. All of these things must be taken into consideration when constructing the set. For example in a house nails are used to hold the house together, this works because the house is a non moving object however for a set piece nails do no provide a enough grip to hold the piece together. To fix this problem screws and nuts and bolts are use. Screws uses threading in order to hold pieces together with more grip. Nuts and Bolts somewhat dig into the wooden pieces and will not come apart unless loosened or broken.


Screw vs Nail


           Material wise there are three very common materials used in set construction: 2x4, plywood, luan. 2x4's are very common and are used to create the frame, the skeleton of the set piece. An interesting fact about 2x4s is that their actual measurements are 1 1/2 x 3 1/2. Plywood an luan on the other hand are used as the walls which cover up the skeleton of the set piece.

Luan

2x4

Plywood

             Plywood and Luan are similar in that plywood is very much like layered luan, because of this it is a very sturdy material which can take a lot of force with out breaking. These materials are used in order to take the designer's plans from paper to reality. This process can take anywhere from several months to a few weeks depending on how much work is done everyday. Set design and construction are very important because these set the the areas in which the story is to take place and there for they must be done right.

Lighting

           Lighting is an area of theater which is essential for the success of a production. Without good Lighting how is a production to be seen? That is why it is important to under stand the different components of lighting in order to use them properly to show off a production. The most basic place to start are types of lighting fixtures.

            There are five main types of lighting fixtures in lighting: ERS, Fresnel, Par Can, Cyc Light, and Smart light. The most popular ERS is the ETC Brand Source 4. This type of light has a circular beam and is focus able and shape able. This light is generally used to light areas where actors will be standing.


ERS

            The Fersnel also has a circular beam how ever the light from this fixture is softer than that of an ERS. This light is there for used manly to light areas of the stage to add color to the scenery and less to light actors on stage.

Fersnel

            The Par Can unlike the ERS and Fresnel gives off an Oval shaped beam however like the Fresnel it has soft beam good for area lighting. The Cyc light is a light which does not have a beam shape.

Par Can

            The ultimate back ground of an theater is typically called the Cyc. It is typically a large off white curtain that runs along the back. The Cyc lights are used to light up this large area and when set up with Red Blue and Green color Gels they can create any color. Color gels are sheets of color which can be added to lighting instruments. As for color Red Blue and Green are the primary colors of light and there for different combinations of the 3 can be used to create any color.

Cyc Light

            The last most common type of light used in theater is the smart light. Smart lights come in a wide variety of types and all have outstanding capabilities. Smart lights have the ability to change color, shape, focus, image, and direction all from remote programing. Smartlights are used a lot when there is a desire for large variances in lighting.


Studio Spot

            The way in which these lights are hung is very important. Lighting fixtures are hung on pipes in various places through out the theater. Some of these pipe positions are fixed however typically piping above the stage is apart of the fly system if the theater is equipped with one. The fly system is a system used to fly in objects from op out of view down into view. This can be used for scenery however it is also used to fly in the pipes to hang lights to ground level. An important factor in using the fly system is to follow these 2 general rules: keep the two ends in balance or keep the heavy side down. This is because fly systems are a counter weight system. If the two sides are out of balance and the heavy side is up in the air it has a high risk of falling and slamming to the ground. This can prove very dangerous for either lights will come down where people are working or the weights will come down which can cause weights to be flung about the area. The fly system is no joke and it is important to get proper training.


Fly System

Sound

           Sound is an interesting element of a production. Some productions choose to go in depth with their sound design while others treat it as an after thought. However sound can add a lot to a production, unfortunately it can also take away a lot.

            Sound has the ability to cause many subconscious reactions with in people. Wither that be the reaction of fear or joy. The job of a sound designer is create a mood through the use of music, tones, and sound effects. In cases like the show Avenue Q, a comedy musical, the mood set should be that of joy unlike the mood set for Macbeth, a tragedy, which should be fear and unrest. This process is done by multiple read troughs of the script as well as meetings with the director to determine the direction of the production and it's interpretation of the script.

            To create these sounds various computer programs can be use. A very popular program is ProTools. This program is considered to be the industry standard in audio production. ProTools has the capabilities to record, edit, and mix audio. Once the creation process is complete a program such as QLab can be used to play back the audio through the sound system. QLab can give the user many options in fades, timing, which speakers the sound should come from and much much more.



ProTools 10

QLab

            The sound system is the combination of devices which allows sound to be projected to the intended audience. The main components of a sound system consist of a mixer, amplifier, speaker, and a source.The audio signal to be altered by the sound system originates are the source. The source is typically a microphone however an iPod, CD, or computer can all be sources. The job of a microphone is to take the physical sound waves produced from a human voice, musical instrument, or other object into an electrical signal. It a achieves this through a diaphragm which vibrates a metal coil and magnet to produce the electrical signals. The electrical signals are then sent to the mixer either through hard wire connection or wireless means depending on the application.

Inside a Microphone

            The mixer is the brains of the sound system. The mixer takes the audio signals and modifies them, changing them, telling them where to go, how much, how long, whats good and whats bad. The mixer is a very capable piece of equipment and requires extensive training and experience to utilize it's full potential.

Allen and Heath Mixer

            After the electrical signals have been processed by the mixer, and other processing devices if desired, the signals are sent to the amplifier. The amplifiers job is to take in these signals and add power to them. Up until this point the electrical signals them selves have been relatively weak. However after they have been amplified they can be very powerful depending on the amplifier. Amplifiers are very power full in electricity to the point where if one wishes to service one or repair it it is required to wait a minute for extra power in the amplifier to wear off after being unplugged. This is to insure that the person servicing the equipment does not get electrocuted.

            After amplification the signals are sent to the speakers. This is where the electrical signals are converted back into physical sound waves for our ears to hear. There are many different types of speakers for all types of applications, from small classroom settings, to huge amphitheater events. Sound is something that is very important in the entertainment world, even when the silent film was the only film entertainment there was still music and still sound.

Personal Readiness

            Before one begins any form of stage work it is important to understand one's limitations, both mentally and physically. If you have a good grasp on your mental and physical limitations it can make the job you are doing a whole lot easier and safer.

            Mental limitations have to do with what you know and what you do not know. In theater if you do not know how to do something it is important to ask. Do not be afraid to ask either. Theater people love it when people ask how something works or how it is done. Not only does it give us a chance to look smart, it is also a whole lot easier to explain it to you and have you do it right the first time or ask questions the whole way through than for you to guess at how its done, and do it improperly, we having to undo all your work and start over. It is also a lot safer and eliminates the possibility for accidents.

            While in theater there is nothing to be terrified of there are many ways to get seriously injured. This fact comes with any form of manual labor. Many times in theater work must be done up high or with heavy equipment. For example, many times lighting fixtures are required to be hung above the audience seating. This can be a mental and physical hazard. Mentally if you do not know how to hang it properly it could fall off and come down on someone below. Physically if you are not strong enough to carry the fixture up the ladder and you try to, you run the risk of over straining your self and possibly dropping the fixture, breaking it and potentially hurting someone below. This is where knowing your physical limitations is important. If you can only lift about 30 pounds of weight, do not try and lift something that weighs 45 pounds, because you are only increasing a chance of injury.



A Rigger hanging light

            Another example of mental and physical danger is with the counter weight system. In the counter weight system 25 pound bricks are loaded on to one end of the scale in order to equalize it with the weight on the other end. (I will talk about counter weight/fly systems on my blog post on lighting) The problem is that these bricks must be loaded and unloaded about 30-40 feet above ground. So if you are assigned to go up and load the bricks and your mental and physical limitations do not pass the needs of the counter weight system then you run the risk of dropping on of the bricks. And you do not want to be around when a 25 pound brick is falling 30 feet to the ground. So know your limitations and ask for help.



A old Fly System

            Theater can be a fun and a dangerous place. However the danger can be eliminated by asking for help and helping others. Not only does helping others reduce the danger but it also adds to the fun through the people that you get to meet and interact with. Half of the fun of doing theater in the first place is the people that you meet and interact with on a day to day basis. Understanding your mental and physical limitations and enhance that experience of the people and make it safe and fun and interesting for everyone.

The Empty Stage

            There are hundreds of thousands of theaters out in the world. In this vast number of buildings and spaces that offer live performance no two are exactly the same. For starters there are four main types of theater: Proscenium, Thrust, Flexible/Black Box, and Arena Stage. All of these types of theaters have advantages and dis advantages. For example a Black Box theater is completely customizable with where the stage can go in the space, the size and shape of the stage, and where the seats will go. It also allows for the possibility for a more intimate experience with the audience. However a disadvantage is that while the ideas and concepts around a Black Box are truly creative and interesting it can be hard to figure out scene entrances, lighting fixture location and other technical data.


Black Box Theater © Tom Rossiter

            Another example is the vastly popular Proscenium Theater. This theater is what most people will think of when theaters are mentioned. This theater has the ability to produce huge productions unlike the Black Box. However in a Proscenium there is a definite line between audience and stage so it can be a little more difficult to create a sense of intimacy with the audience.

           In order to navigate these stages it is important to understand stage direction. The stage itself (sometimes referred to as the deck) is divided into a grid of 9 sections. These sections are named using of the two words from each list of Up Center Down and Right Center Left. These terms are used in stage direction along with In and Out and On and Off. Some important things to know are that the direction of stage left and right are taken from the on stage point if view. If you are in the audience to your left is Stage Right and to your right is Stage Left. This makes it easy for actors and tech crews who are working in stage to receive direction.
           As for Up and Down stage, Down stage is near the audience and Up is away. This is because from ancient Roman times up until the 1900s the audience was set in flat ground and the stage was tilted at the audience so that the people in the back could still see the stage. This creates a literal up and down stage. In modern day this has been flipped so that the audience is now built on an up ward slope.
           The In and Out directions refer to objects being flown in from above the stage by the fly system. "In" is to bring something in to view and "Out" is to bring something out of view. On and Off refer to set pieces being brought On stage or Off stage by either actors or the tech crew.
            This also refers to curtains on stage.



Austrian Drape

             When people think about theater many times they will begin to think about that red curtain (referred to as house or front curtain) which many Proscenium theaters have. However there are 4 different types of common house curtains. The most common is the Traveler which opens and closes horizontally to and from the sides of the theater. The other three types open vertically from top to bottom. The Austrian curtain is raised in sections along the stage. The Venetian is a single piece that can be lifted to different heights in different places similar to the Austrian. And The Tableau is two pieces one on top of the other where the centers are pulled to the upper corners of the stage.

            This is the basic knowledge that a crew member should understand and know when beginning stage work. It is important to understand stage directions and the unique elements of an empty theater, square one. 
 

A Contextualization of My Curiostiy

In this blog I will be explaining and informing on my topic with is the technical side of live theater. I have enjoyed theater since the first day that I did it in high school. From that day to now I hold about 5 years off experience working in theater and I have learned much about it and other things in life through my experiences. Although this does not mean in anyway that I know everything about theater.Every day that I am in a theater is everyday that I learn something new, even if that new knowledge is only a small amount.

Theater is one of the oldest forms of entertainment and with thousands of years of changes and development behind it there is so much to learn and understand. Many of these develepments are thanks to technology and science. Because of this much of todays current theater technology is thanks to an understanding of physics and electronics. So learning about theater is close to learning about science.