21T.122
Introduction to Stagecraft
Provides a foundation in theater technology, examining the creation of a theatrical production from conception to performance. Explores the realization of an artistic and structural vision for a play, taking into account all facets of technical theater: history of productions, types of technical roles, design, drafting, carpentry, costume, lighting, rigging, stage management, sound, and video. Students serve on the production team responsible for building, installing and/or running the department's show that semester. Limited to 18.
Spring 2009
Topics
- Intro to production
- Scenic construction 1: flats and platforms
- Scenic construction 2: scenic materials
- Theater vocabulary and architecture
- Scenic construction 3: moving scenery and intro to the set shop
- Puppet workshop (2 evenings)
- Scenic construction 4: safety in the set shop
- Scenic construction 5: set shop tool use
- Costume construction 1
- Costume construction 2
- Costume construction 3
- Midterm presentations
- Costume construction 4
- Costume construction 5
- Lighting 1
- Lighting 2
- Knots and rigging
- Scene painting 1
- Scene painting 2
- Scene painting 3
- Drafting for the theater
- Stage management
- Design seminar
- Sound 1: production
- Sound 2: playback
- Studio day
- Final presentations
Readings
- Carter, Paul, and George Chiang. Backstage Handbook: An Illustrated Almanac of Technical Information . Louisville, KY: Broadway Press, 1994. ISBN: 9780911747393.
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-A
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2009
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.