Overview
This lecture discussed the different staging modalities in theater, key terms in stage production, and the types of theater stages. A short review and activity instructions were also included.
Recognition of Student Outputs
- Students received recognition for creative outputs describing play settings, characters, and plot synopses.
- Weekly challenges and rewards motivate participation and output submission.
Review: True or False on One-Act Play Elements
- One-act plays do not require 6-8 characters; fewer are acceptable.
- More than one narrator can be used in a one-act play.
- Typical one-act plays run for 10 to 40 minutes.
- Avoid excessive exposition and focus on revealing the conflict.
- Playwrights must clearly understand their characters' motivations and personalities.
Staging: Terms and Concepts
- Staging is the process of selecting, designing, adapting, and modifying the performance space for a play or film.
- Staging also means the visual spectacle of the play’s physical production.
- The stage set—physical objects on stage—helps build the play’s world.
- A staging checklist includes: positions of actors (blocking), gestures/movements (stage business), scenic background, props/costumes, and lighting/sound effects.
Types of Theater Stages
- Proscenium Stage: Traditional stage with the audience facing one side (like a picture frame).
- Arena Stage: Audience surrounds the playing area; minimal scenery required.
- Thrust Stage: Audience sits on three sides of a stage that extends into their area.
- Flexible Stage: Adaptable space; can incorporate elements of other stage types and allows varied configurations.
Activity: Staging Vocabulary
- Students matched terms to definitions (e.g., visual detail, thrust, blocking, stage set, staging).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Staging — The process of preparing and arranging the performance space for a play or film.
- Stage Set — Physical objects and scenery establishing the world of the play.
- Blocking — Planned positions and movements of actors on stage.
- Proscenium Stage — Traditional stage with audience on one side.
- Arena Stage — Stage surrounded by the audience on all sides.
- Thrust Stage — Stage surrounded by the audience on three sides.
- Flexible Stage — Stage without fixed layout, adaptable to various setups.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Sketch or draw a scene from your own one-act play, featuring a chosen type of stage.
- Write a short explanation for your stage choice.
- Post your outputs using the specified hashtag before Saturday; rewards announced Sunday.
- Prepare for the next session on scriptwriting.