Category: Theater

A large portion of your Unit III reading was about theatre designers.
This exercise is about the people who create the world of the play.
Southeastern Theatre has three designers:
Mona Jahani – Costume Design – https://www.monajahani.com/
Benjamin M. Norman – Lighting Design – http://www.benjamin-norman.com/Links to an external site.
Steve Schepker – Scenic Design – http://steveschepker.com/Links to an external site.
First, take a minute and look at the links each designers’ work. Consider that the designer is only designing in their area of expertise and they are only responsible for that element.
Next, decide which area of design is most interesting to you and take a more in-depth look at their respective web pages.
Finally, describe why you picked the designer. Why are you drawn to it? Would you like to try to design a show? Have you ever worked in the theatre? What is their best work? What is their weakest work? How does that work help tell the story? Does it set the tone and style of the production? Can you tell what the period, or the year, the production is set? Is the genre of the production revealed by the design?
As always, feel more than free to give an honest opinion.
Your thoughts should be in essay form, 250 words minimum.

For each of the two moments: Scene 1 (pages 5-7): This act reveals the critical conversation between Medea and Jason as the latter declares his intention to marry the princess of King Creon, causing her to feel betrayed and abandoned. The scene is filled with tension and emotion, illustrating the unraveling of a once-loving relationship. Quality of light and intended mood: In this image, the light quality should be dim and cast shades reflecting the character’s inner turbidity and darkness of the emotions. The mood must be built up of fear and undercharged emotion, with dancing flame adding to the term of unstable and potential tragedy.
Act 3, Scene 2 (pages 21-23): Medea’s decision-making process of pursuing revenge, which involves sending her magic potions to Jason’s new wife as a gift, is witnessed, which eventually leads to the incidence of both the princess and King Creon’s death. Besides being a moment of turn in the story, it displays Medea’s deeply calculated vengeance but simultaneously demonstrates her cunning and determination.
In this scene, the darkness of light should be apart from the illusion and horror, symbolizing Medea’s falling into deeper darkness by submitting herself to the role of an angry and vengeful force. The atmosphere should be uneasy and eerie, full of threatening, menacing, and inescapable impressions to portray the effectiveness of Medea’s scheme. The shadows dancing around Medea represent her anxiety as she prepares to show her wrath.
Cite the act/scene and its corresponding page numbers
Write 75-100 words for both moments about quality of sound and the intended mood you wish the audience to experience
Sound: Song or Sound Selections
First, curate a pre-show playlist–what music or soundscape should the audience listen to while waiting for the show to begin? Your example playlist should be no more than 2-3 songs or soundscapes.
For each scene of your two selected passages, you will select three examples of possible sound for use in the production. You should sample from a variety of sources, to include:
Select an underscore for the scene–some music or soundscape that will play under the spoken dialogue
Select two special effects–highlight a line, moment, beat or anything that speaks to you with a compelling effect (make sure you note when the sound cue would be called)
One SFX should be ambient (like birds, city noise, etc)
One SFX should be an event (alarm, click, door shutting, etc).
For at least one selection, you will record your own sound.
Reminder that sound is sound–songs, nature sounds, electronic beeps, white noise machines, keyboard clacks, ocean waves, cats purring–if it works, it works.
Upload your selections for easy sharing, like a YouTube channel or a Spotify Playlist. Do not share music files directly with me as that gets super annoying.

After you have found and wither watch a live show or recorded, write a two paged review of the production and evaluating its success and interpreting its message. This of yourself as a professional reviewer of the production. Pay attention to the following five perspectives listed and use them, if pertinent. Use them to explain your impressions.
Social Significance – Engaging discussion by revealed complexity of social or political issues
Human Significance – Transcending the social to present universal issues
Artistic Quality – Synthesizing the ideas and the aesthetic vision
Relationship to the Theatre Itself – Conversing with theatre history and convention
Entertainment Value – Holding the attention of the audience

I want you to watch Hamlet on Digital Theatre+ This is a modern setting adaption in an unnamed African nation with the Shakespearean language. It is about 3 hours long. This production premiered in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in 2016. The production then had a 2018 UK tour and it was performed in Washington DC.
This is the link:
Links to an external site.https://www-digitaltheatreplus-com.ezproxy.montclair.edu/education/collections/rsc/hamlet.Links to an external site. You will have to log in. Due to various web browsers, the link might not work. You can so to the library web database under Digital Theatre+ and search Hamlet. https://montclair.libguides.com/az.php?a=d
Links to an external site.
You will also need to read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. This is an an absurdest, existentialist tragicomedy by Tom Stoppard. It can be a bit wordy, but fun to read. You should have purchased this text. Let me know if you need help with the text.
After studying Chapters 7 & 8 please: discuss and contrast the elements of traditional theatre(mostly western) and modern theatre (absurdist) as they relate to these two pieces (at least 2 to 3 pages). Here are some questions that could help you discuss the difference in the shows.
How is the styles of Hamlet different from R & G Are Dead? What similarities do they have?
Which would you personally find more effective as a theatrical experience? Why do you think that is?
Do you prefer one style (traditional or modern) over the other? And why?
You can also go back and look at Chapter 2 as it discusses genre’s of theatre. Does this play into the style of show that you watched and read?
*Be careful about the meanings of Traditional and Modern. The video of Hamlet is a modern adaptation of a “traditional” play. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is not a modern play, but the director set the show in modern times. R & G Are Dead is a “modern” play due to is absurdist language.

Choose two key moments from the script that you find interesting, compelling, or dramatically important. These do not need to be “climactic” scenes–establishing motive and character are oftentimes more important than stabbing.
For each of the two moments:
Cite the act/scene and its corresponding page numbers
Write 75-100 words for both moments about quality of light and the intended mood you wish the audience to experience
Lighting:Image Selection (range of 8-12 images):
Include a minimum of 8-12 images that span the range of light quality you would incorporate into the scenes. Think about the following aspects:
Angles
Focus
Color Temperature
Intensity
Atmosphere
Illumination of Character(s)
Arrange your images onto a slide in a pleasing composition.
Ensure all images are high-resolution and visible (not too tiny!)
Lighting images do not need to be from a stage production

Choose two key moments from the script that you find interesting, compelling, or dramatically important. These do not need to be “climactic” scenes–establishing motive and character are oftentimes more important than stabbing.
For each of the two moments:
Cite the act/scene and its corresponding page numbers
Write 75-100 words for both moments about quality of light and the intended mood you wish the audience to experience
Lighting: Image Selection (range of 8-12 images):
Include a minimum of 8-12 images that span the range of light quality you would incorporate into the scenes. Think about the following aspects:
Angles
Focus
Color Temperature
Intensity
Atmosphere
Illumination of Character(s)
Arrange your images onto a slide in a pleasing composition.
Ensure all images are high-resolution and visible (not too tiny!)
Lighting images do not need to be from a stage production

Choose two key moments from the script that you find interesting, compelling, or dramatically important. These do not need to be “climactic” scenes–establishing motive and character are oftentimes more important than stabbing.For each of the two moments:
Cite the act/scene and its corresponding page numbers
Write 75-100 words for both moments about quality of light and the intended mood you wish the audience to experience
Then Image Selection (range of 8-12 images):
Include a minimum of 8-12 images that span the range of light quality you would incorporate into the scenes. Think about the following aspects:
Angles
Focus
Color Temperature
Intensity
Atmosphere
Illumination of Character(s)
Arrange your images onto a slide in a pleasing composition.
Ensure all images are high-resolution and visible (not too tiny!)
Lighting images do not need to be from a stage production. They can be sunsets, dimly lit rooms, flickering fluorescent bulbs–whatever works. Think about a whole mood and the elements you would use to compose and narrate that moment.

After you have read Chapter 1 (Theatre is Everywhere) and watched the video above answer the questions below using what you have learned in the chapter and the video as well as your own personal experiences.
Questions to answer:
1. Define non-mediated theatre?
2. What is the difference between regional theatre and community theatre?
3. Describe how YOUR everyday life is like live theatre. Think about the roles that you play each day and social rituals that you participate in, like graduations.
4. Select two of the following activities and describe how they incorporate the theatrical elements found in live theatre: Television, Movies, Rock and Roll Concerts, Sporting Events, Amusement Parks, Digital Media/Video Games.
5. What is the primary message that Ben Cameron is trying to make in the TED Talk?
Expectations:
Original work, using the terminology in the chapter or videos. Answers copied from the Internet, or other students, will not be accepted.
College level writing including proper grammar, punctuation, capitalization and spelling. Please use spellcheck.
Appropriate application of the concepts learned in the chapter and video(s).
Use of your personal opinion and experience.

THEATER
1
Brave New Voices
please answer the following questions from the clip Did you find moments that you would consider to be “Theatrical Moments” (Ex: characterization, emotions, hand gestures, body language, etc.?)
Were you able at any time to “suspend your disbelief”?
You must use examples from the performances and you must use a minimum of 3 examples from 3 different clips to support your answer
2
Christopher Marlowe
For this extra credit assignment, I would like you to look up Christopher Marlowe, Elizabethan Theater playwright. Pick 3-5 interesting things that you learned about him and you must tell me in your own words WHY you find those items interesting. I am very familiar with this topic and if you just cut and paste or copy someone’s words from the internet you will get a zero on this assignment. Turnitin will let me know that. Your own reaction to the things that you have learned are the most important part of this extra credit assignment. USE YOUR OWN WORDS and it can’t be wrong.
3.
Arthur Miller
For this extra credit assignment, I would like you to look up Arthur Miller, author of the play All My Sons. Pick 3-5 interesting things that you learned about him and you must tell me in your own words WHY you find those items interesting. I am very familiar with this topic and if you just cut and paste or copy someone’s words from the internet you will get a zero on this assignment. Turnitin will let me know that. Your own reaction to the things that you have learned are the most important part of this extra credit assignment. USE YOUR OWN WORDS and it can’t be wrong.
4
Lorraine Hansberry
For this extra credit assignment, I would like you to look up Lorraine Hansberry, the author of A Raisin in the Sun. Pick 3-5 interesting things that you learned about her and you must tell me in your own words WHY you find those items interesting. I am very familiar with this topic and if you just cut and paste or copy someone’s words from the internet you will get a zero on this assignment. Turnitin will let me know that. Your own reaction to the things that you have learned are the most important part of this extra credit assignment. USE YOUR OWN WORDS and it can’t be wrong.
5
August Wilson
For this extra credit assignment, I would like you to look up August Wilson, the author of Fences. Pick 3-5 interesting things that you learned about him and you must tell me in your own words WHY you find those items interesting. I am very familiar with this topic and if you just cut and paste or copy someone’s words from the internet you will get a zero on this assignment. Turnitin will let me know that. Your own reaction to the things that you have learned are the most important part of this extra credit assignment. USE YOUR OWN WORDS and it can’t be wrong.
6 Discussion Board #11T – Oedipus Rex – Discussion
Please explain the reoccurring theme (sub-textual idea) of “blindness” in the play Oedipus. What was the reason behind it? Use examples from the play to support your answer. Be as complete as possible 2 paragraphs.
7
Discussion Board #12T – Fences
Please answer the following questions about the play Fences by August Wilson. Do you think Troy is a good father or a bad father? Does he love his children? Does he take care of them? Please use specific examples from the play to support your answer. Be as complete as possible 2 paragraphs.

Make sure you have this textbook: Theatre As Human Action (fourth edition), Hischak and Robinson. Pick either #1 or #2.
PERSUASIVE SPEECH: The U.S. Senate is about to vote on a piece of legislation which will ban all live theater in the country and you are heading to the Capital to speak against this proposed law. In a well-crafted, 2-3 page persuasive speech, defend live theater and its importance in our society. Use examples and information you have learned during class to persuade them to vote NO on this piece of legislation. Research and incorporate at least three articles or studies you can find regarding theatre’s effect on education and community. Why is theater important to individuals in our community? What is it worth? What would the country be like without it?
MLA format, double spaced, Arial or Times New Roman font. Don’t forget to cite your sources. And remember: PERSUADE them to keep theatre alive!
2. TECHNICAL THEATRE: You discover that Alabama Department of Education is offering a $10,000 grant to enhance career/technical education in our community. Write a proposal explaining why your theater program would be a good fit for this grant opportunity. Explain how the art and craft of theater fits into the career/technical field and give examples of how you will use this money to foster career/technical education and the training of technicians in your theater program. Be sure to include a list of equipment (lighting, sound, projection, etc.) and how you will use each of these items in your program. Proposal should be two pages and feature one page of items/equipment with justifications for purchasing each item.
MLA format, double spaced, Arial or Times New Roman font. Don’t forget to cite your sources regarding where you found the equipment you intend to purchase with this grant. And, of course, stay within the $10,000 grant limit.
This project should be YOUR own work, not plagiarized and not AI generated.