Your exploration of the art and craft of property design will happen concurrently with the course's theoretical unit in costume design. It is impossible to coordinate separate deadlines for the two projects as the demands of mounting a production has differing deadlines depending on the area of responsibility. Scene Design deadlines tend to happen at the beginning of the process. Property Design work happen during the rehearsal. Costume Design deadlines happen toward the end as characters develop through the rehearsal process. Poster and Program Designs fall at a time appropriate for advertisement and the like. You may find you will have an assignment in the theoretical costume unit due at the same time a Matchbox design deadline is due. I will provide ample time in class to work on the costume unit. With careful time management, you should be able to meet your deadlines.

There will be six property designers for the MATCHBOX THEATRE Production, three per Act. Each designer will be assigned a scene from Mr. Razavi's play. In collaboration with Mr. Razavi and Professor Gilliam as well as the other designers assigned to your company, you will design properties for your production. As we will not build props aside possible simple craft projects, your job will be to coordinate properties and set dressing which might come from the actor's dorm room, your friends and/or the Trinity University Property Collection. Your lists and, if necessary, "paper" designs will set the boundaries of your ideal props. These should be executed in consultation with the director and should be a part of the scenic world of the play collaboratively determined by your design team. In most cases, you will be able to find suitable props in consultation with your cast. Listen to their ideas. Depending on the demands of your design, crew members from Drama 1304 may be assigned to assist you. However, you are responsible to create a prop "look" for your play to insure that the actors have props. Below you will find specific deadlines.

General Deadlines
(Subject to Announced Change)

Specific Design Area Responsibilities
(Subject to Announced Changes)

Property Designers

Preliminary, Scripted Prop List. After reading the script, attending the director/designer concept meeting, and the initial read-thru of the play, you are to develop a preliminary list of all the props, furniture and possible dressing required in your scene. Willy and I will review your list. There will be additions and deletions throughout the rehearsal process as discoveries and changes are made. Once the preliminary list has been approved, you are to begin gathering the necessary props.

Preliminary Props in Rehearsal. Working with your Production Stage Manager, you are to deliver rehearsal props. You may consult with your cast to see if people have the necessary props for your scene that you might borrow. You may use items the Trinity Drama Property Stock. You will need to check these out and I will assist in this process. These need not be the final props. A paper plate can serve as a golden tray, a block of wood can represent a bar of gold, etc. You are to deliver something for every prop on your list so that the cast may begin working with props in rehearsal. Again, other props will be add and some will be deleted as the rehearsals progress.

Final Property List and Designs. By aroound the third week in the rehearsal process, the productions should have establish all the props they will need for opening night. You are to submit a final list with drawings, ideas or plans for the construction of anything you have not been able to locate. You are to work on gathering or crafting your props after the list is approved.

All Props Completed & in Rehearsal. All props and set dressing are due.

All Notes Completed and Ready for Audience. As many of you know, the purpose of TECH Rehearsals is to intergrate the scenery, lighting, properties, sound and backstage activities with the actors on stage. This is a time when the production works on cues and timing. You will need to attend at least one TECH Rehearsal and take notes to fix property items which either do not work or can be improved. You should complete all your notes by the Final Dress Rehearsal.

Public Performance. You need to attend at least two performances, one each day. You will need to reflect on the use of your design in a real performance with an audience. You will note that there are no two performances ever the same. The audiences makes a big difference.