In this tutorial you will learn some

basics about set and costume design:

• What every set designer needs to consider

• How to make a perspective drawing

• What every costume designer needs to

consider

• How to create a silhouette sketch

• Then, you will make a costume rendering

This info is an overview to TECHNICAL

THEATER and will help you in the head and

shoulder costuming of your stage makeup

challenge.

Let’s get started!

The numbering in this tutorial will

match the numbering on your study

guide. Be sure to look at the video

examples when they are provided.

Set Design1. As soon as the curtain opens

the set should tell the audience:

a. The social circumstances

of the characters.

b. The mood or feel of the play.

When designing the set for your short play,

consider the following things:

Set Design: Things to Consider2. Entrances, Exits, Windows?

• How many Doors? Archways?

• Trap doors or stairs?

• Even if your characters don’t enter or exit, realistically, every room has doors and windows.

3. Required Set Pieces and Props?

Whatever the script mentions, must be in your design. Steamer trunk for an actor to hide in? Does someone use a cell phone? Or sit under a tree?

AND, add pieces to DECORATE the set.Make it look/feel real, lived in.

Set Design: Things to Consider4. Time Period: Contemporary? Depression era? 1950s? 1980s? Your drawing, decoration, set pieces, and color will need to reflect the appropriate time period.

5. Mood & Atmosphere:

What feeling do you get from the play as you read it?

Is it a comedy, drama or mystery?

Is the setting seedy, middle class, upscale?

Is the show abstract, intended to keep the audience off-balance in some way?

You'll need to “show” those in your design and décor.

Set Design: Things to Consider

6. Create Visual Interest:

• Diagonals are more visually interesting than everything being on the square.

• Try to put walls and furniture on a diagonal if possible. Pretend that your whole room is not facing the audience, but slightly rotated.

• Differences in vertical height also make for a more interesting set.

• Curves can be very interesting on stage - try an arched window, doorway, or alcove, a spiralstaircase, or low steps that curve out instead of being straight across.

Set Design: Things to Consider7. Research:• Look up examples of the things

you want to put on stage. • These pictures give you ideas

for your drawings.

PROFESSIONALS do these . . . • Look at photo books on

architecture and home décor. • Go online to see other

designers’ work. • Pull paint chip cards and freebie

design pamphlets from the hardware store.

• Research is especially useful for period plays.

8. Create a Perspective Drawing• A perspective drawing is

what the set will look like from the audience member’s perspective.

8. Create a Perspective Drawing• A perspective drawing is

what the set will look like from the audience member’s perspective.

• Choose a color scheme----defines characters ----works with costuming ----supports the mood or

energy of the play. • Decide which surfaces are

simply painted and what gets a different treatment.– styrofoam to look like

stone– fake marble painting or

other texturing– wallpaper– Blended colors to like

aging plaster

Set Design: Practice the Perspective Drawing

1. In the

practice

box on your

sheet, start

with back

wall. Draw

this in the

middle of

the practice

box

Set Design: Perspective Drawing

1. Start with

back wall.

2. Add side

walls.

Set Design: Perspective Drawing

1. Start with

back wall.

2. Add side

walls.

3. Add set

pieces.

4. Add

windows,

doors,

stairs, etc.

5. Color.

Set Design: Perspective Drawing

6. Lastly, add title:

the living room

Moving In Day

Design by John Doe

Victoria S. and Rob J.

1. Start with

back wall.

2. Add side

walls.

3. Add set

pieces.

4. Add

windows,

doors,

stairs, etc.

5. Color.

Creative Set Designs

using only lights and panels

Costume Design &

Costume Renderings

A Costume Designer . . .

. . . creates the OUTER APPEARANCE of a character – an appropriate look and SILHOUETTE.

1. Read and analyze the script.

2. Work with director, set designer, lighting designer, make-up artist to develop design concepts.

Remember, costumes will be on a stage with the set, other props, furniture, and other characters – Color, era, etc. have to work together.

Costume Designer . . .

3. Do research to fill out design concepts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=W7VXBLaN2XA&feature=related

Costume Designer . . .4. Produce drawings andCOLOR RENDERINGS of costumes.

5. Daily Duties: PURCHASING

fabrics, new or used clothing

and accessories.

Develop PATTERNS for

costumes. Attend FITTINGS

and some rehearsals.

Costume Designer . . .6. Costumes are not fashion design but CHARACTER CONCEPT. Dress, distort, or enhance the body.

• Work with actors to help them build their

character from the outside, while they

build it from the inside.

• Do not complain about the shape or

age of actors or their bodies. Create

the shape needed– a visual

representation of the character that suits

the existing body.

Costume Designer…

Lastly, be aware of the ACTOR’S MOVEMENT needs on stage –be sure you are designing for those physical needs. Watch quick crew changes below:

You Design!

On the female body model on your

work sheet, you will create a

COSTUME RENDERING.

BEGIN begin by sketching the

SILHOUETTE (outside shape) of

the costume. Then move on to the

following details:

Texture &

Pattern

Hair

Embellishments

Leg treatments

Footwear

You Design!

On the male body model on your

work sheet, you will create a

COSTUME RENDERING.

BEGIN begin by sketching the

SILHOUETTE (outside shape) of

the costume. Then move on to the

following details:

Texture &

Pattern

Hair

Embellishments

Leg treatments

Footwear

EXAMPLE Costume

Renderings

EXAMPLE Costume

Renderings

THE

END

Good luck in your design

challenge!