Your exploration of the art and craft of scene 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 scenic 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 and the other designers assigned to your company, the six designers will create a unifying concept as the world of this production. Out of this world will come individual scenes with specific designs. We will provide the production with a set of basic cubes, blocks and scenic elements which can be reconfigured for each scene. You will be able to augment these elements with scenic pieces and dressing specific to your scene in consultation with the director and depending on our ability to locate materials and items in stock. I will assist you in your planning and execution. Depending on the demands of your design, crew members from Drama 1304 may be assigned to assist you. Below you will find specific deadlines.

General Deadlines
(Subject to Announced Change)

Specific Design Area Responsibilities
(Subject to Announced Changes)

Scene Designs

Preliminary Ground Plans and Visual Ideas. After reading the script, attending the director/designer concept meeting and a read-thru of the play, you are to develop a preliminary ground plan with ideas of dressing and the sort. You may use the model pieces supplied for classroom exploration. This should be a tentative idea which Willy will be able to consider for development in rehearsal. If you have an opportunity, you may want to discuss your ideas with him prior to submitting this assignment in class.

Final Designs and GP. Your final design should reflect revisions made in collaboration with the director. It may be helpful for you to attend one rehearsal before this assignment is due to see how the actors move within the world you envision. Your "final" design represents a firm ground plan with specific dressing ideas and sketches or photocopied imagines. Your design will continue to evolve throughout the rehearsal process as discoveries are made and directoral changes are needed. However, this assignment should illuminate what must be done by the scenic crew before opening.

Painter Elevations. Collaborating with the other designers, you will assist in the execution of a design for the Attic Theatre Floor which will be painted by the scenic designers. In addition, you will need to supply any additional painter elevations or plans so that we can execute them in a timely fashion.

Scenery Complete and in Rehearsal. As the syllabus indicates, there will be time in class to work on the execution of your scenic design. Your deadline for acquiring all scenic elements, dressing and painting is listed on the production calendar. You will, however, have the next two days to make refinements and corrections.

All Notes Completed and Ready for Audience. As many of you know, the purpose of TECH Rehearsals is to integrate 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 scenic 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.