Introduction
You have studied and performed some of the characters from Commedia dell'Arte. Now it is time to practice set design! The set is an extremely important part of any production. You have been Commedia actors, now you get to be the theatrical set designers.
Task
You will work in pairs to develop a concept for the play of your choice, selected from the list I provide you. You will create a mood board to convey your theatrical concept, and then using Google SketchUp you will sketch and render a scene from your chosen play.
Remember the basics of theatrical set design that we have covered in class as well as the principles and foundations of Commedia dell'Arte, and be creative. You can choose any style or period you want. At the end of the webquest you will present to the class the play you choose, your mood board, and your finished set design. You will also turn these items in to me for evaluation. Let's get started!
Process
1) Decide which play you and your partner will create a set for from the list below.
http://www.bard.org/synopsis-the-servant-of-two-masters/
http://georginaibtheatre.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-false-turk-in-12-minutes.html
http://www.shmoop.com/tempest/summary.html
2) Create a mood board to convey the concept and feel of your show. A mood board is a type of collage consisting of images, text, and samples of objects in a composition. They may be physical or digital, and can be "extremely effective" presentation tools. This is a good time to try and conceptualize your set, the characters, the costumes, etc.
http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/mood-boards-812470
3) Decide what style of show you want to create. Remember this could go in any direction, be creative. Below are some links to get your creative juices flowing.
http://www.charlessteckler.com/stage_design.html
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~htag/handbook/?q=wiki/set_design
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/28/226483230/a-minimalist-menagerie-that-packs-plenty-of-power
a) Also don't forget to try google search and look at all the different images and set designs out there. Try a variety of keywords and phrases. You might be surprised
b) Pintrest is another good site to get inspiration.
4) Now start sketching. You can start using paper and pin but the final design needs to include GoogleSketchUp. Begin with a preliminary sketch and work from there.
http://www.artsalive.ca/collections/imaginedspaces/index.php/en/learn-about/elementsandprinciples
a)This is where you begin to self evaluate your concept and initial set design. Do changes need to be made? Have you though about materials to build the set? How the actors will interact with the set? Does the set match your concept? Will the audience understand and enjoy the set?
5)Begin your final sketch and render your set in GoogleSketchup. You can make a pen and paper representation as well. You will need to turn in a straight on view of your set as well as a bird's eye-view.
http://www.sketchup.com/download
6) Prepare a 3-5 minute presentation to show the class your mood board and set design. Discuss the concept and style of your show and the process that lead you to your final set design. When you are through please turn all of it in to me.
Evaluation
| Category | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Time of Presentation | 0-1 minutes | 1-2 minutes | 2-3 minues | 3- minutes |
| Name of Play | Play name not stated. | N/A | N/A | Play name stated. |
| Explanation of mood board | No explanation given. | Explanation given but not responsive to question. | Only gives brief summary of the mood board. | In-depth and well-thought-out explanation. |
| Explanation of Theatrical Concept | No explanation given. | Explanation given but not responsive to question. | Only gives a summary of the theatrical concept. | In-depth and well-thought-out explanation. |
Presentation Rubric
| Category | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Set Design Requirements | Only one or two of the following are present: original design, theatrical concept statement, color preliminary sketches, set designed for school stage. | Only three of the following are present: original design, theatrical concept statement, color preliminary sketches, set designed for school stage. | All four of the following are present:original design, theatrical concept statement, color preliminary sketches, set designed for school stage. |
| Theatrical Design Concept | Theatrical design concept is present, but does not match stated design concept. | Theatrical design concept is present and matches stated design concept in answer. | Exceptional design concept and matched stated design concept. |
| Design Detail | Design reflects consideration for some, but not all design elements and principles. | Design reflects consideration for all design elements and principles. | Design reflects exceptional consideration for all design elements and principles. |
Conclusion
Ask yourself a few questions. Do you like your final design? Do you think you accurately convey your stated concept? Did you learn something? Is there anything that you would go back and improve upon? What would you do differently if given the chance? These are all important questions to ask when finishing a design. Chances are if you put forth your best effort and really tried then you will succeed. Well done and give yourself a pat on the back!
Credits
Most of my inspiration came from Mrs. Pitt and her amazing set design webquest. If you would like to try and more indepth webquest, go check out her site.
https://sites.google.com/site/mrspittsclasses/home/webquests