H28.0273   Lecture/Lab   4 Credits

The goal of this fourteen-week course is to introduce the fundamental elements of sound design. lighting, costumes, scene and model-making.  Topics include: SOUND-What is sound design and how can it be used to enhance a theatrical experience, signal flow, basic digital audio editing will be covered as these are the essential tools of sound design; LIGHTING- different types of lighting units to lighting theory. We will also touch on lighting history, lighting paper work, and lighting in Europe and on tour world wide. This class will attempt to give everyone a strong understanding of what is entailed in lighting a show from start to finish and from America to Russia; SCENE- techniques of contemporary scene painting. Individual and group projects involve planning, working from elevations, choosing materials, mixing color, and experimenting with different methods of application. Faux finishes are introduced. The course includes a trip to one of the major scenic studios in the area to observe and discuss the painting process in a professional setting; COSTUMES- the basic elements of costume design and construction will be covered e.g. a variety of costume related issues including character analysis, figure drawing, color theory, costume allocation, patterning and basic stitching. The students will become familiar with the vocabulary of costume design and learn to find their way around a costume shop. We will discuss various costume related resources and all elements of costume production; MODEL-MAKING- The theatrical model remains an essential means of communicating design ideas, even in the digital era. This seminar is an introduction to several different types of models and stage houses and the techniques, tools, and materials used in their construction. One small model will be completed, but the emphasis is on sources and resources. When a project presents new challenges, the important thing is not to know all the answers but to know where to find them.  Projects will take us from reading a script, to drawing a speaker plot and equipment hookup, editing the cues, and finally to the programming and performance of the design.