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21T.120

Fundamentals of Theater Design

3-0-9 units. HASS-A · Undergraduate

Introduces the fundamental skills and concepts of scenography through a series of individual design projects structured to explore the relationship of the performer to the environment, the interrelation of lighting and stage design, and the evolution of visual narrative. Develops a basic visual literacy for the theater by honing skills in drawing, model building, 3-D modeling, digital image manipulation, and color theory. Projects complimented by study of artworks and theories by Cindy Sherman, Sol LeWitt, Alan Kaprow, Robert Wilson, Bertolt Brecht, Caspar Neher, and others. Lab fee required. Enrollment may be limited.

Fall 2005 · Principles of Design

Topics

  • Period on Stage, Part 2: Entire Staff
  • Style on Stage, All the “isms”: Entire Staff
  • Script Analysis for “Little Red Riding Hood”: Entire Staff
  • Script Analysis for Lighting
  • Script Analysis for Costume
  • Script Analysis for Scenery
  • Costume 2
  • Scenery 2
  • Costume 3
  • Scenery 3
  • Project Presentation

Readings

  • Blumenthal, Eileen, and Julie Taymor. Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, 1995. ISBN: 9780810938793.
    Listed reading
  • Burdick, Elizabeth B., Peggy C. Hansen, and Brenda Zanger. Contemporary Stage Design U.S.A . New York, NY: International Theatre Institute of the United States, Inc., Distributed by Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press,1975. ISBN: 9780819580238.
    Listed reading
  • Courtney, Cathy. Jocelyn Herbert: A Theatre Workbook. London, UK: Art Books International, 1997. ISBN: 9781874044055.
    Listed reading
  • Calloway, Stephen. The Elements of Style . Edited by Elizabeth Cromley. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1991. ISBN: 9780671739812.
    Listed reading
  • Gloag, John. A Social History of Furniture Design . New York, NY: Crown, 1966.
    Listed reading
  • Fuerst, Walter René, and Samuel J. Hume. Twentieth-Century Stage Decoration . Vols. 1 and 2. New York, NY: Dover Publications, Inc., New York, NY: B. Blom, 1968. ISBN: 9780405085406.
    Listed reading
  • Henderson, Mary C. Theater in America: 200 Years of Plays, Players and Productions . New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991. ISBN: 9780810910843.
    Listed reading
  • Mielziner, Jo. Designing for the Theatre: A Memoir and a Portfolio . New York, NY: Bramhall House, 1965.
    Listed reading
  • Norwich, John Julius. ed. Great Architecture of the World . New York, NY: Random House, 1982. ISBN: 9780517256015.
    Listed reading
  • Pecktal, Lynn. Designing and Painting for the Theater . New York, NY: Harcourt School, 1975. ISBN: 9780030119019.
    Listed reading
  • Russell, Douglas A. Period Style for the Theatre . Newton, MA: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1987. ISBN: 9780205104888.
    Listed reading
  • Schouvaloff, Alexander. Theater on Paper . New York, NY: The Drawing Center, 1990.
    Listed reading
  • Speltz, Alexander. The Styles of Ornament . New York, NY: Dover Publications, Inc., 1959. ISBN: 9780486205571.
    Listed reading
  • Thornton, Peter. Authentic Décor: The Domestic Interior, 1620-1920 . Crescent, 1884; New York, NY: Gramercy, 1993. ISBN: 9780517103289.
    Listed reading
  • Kabuki . Films for the Humanities and Sciences, Princeton, NJ, 1993.
    Listed reading
  • The Design of the Modern Theatre: Adolph Appia’s Innovations . Films for the Humanities and Sciences, Princeton, NJ, 1993.
    Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-A

Sources