Mr. Steve Moger

Period 10

Course Description:
Stagecraft and Design will introduce to the student, both novice and experienced, a practical approach to the technical and production aspects of musical theatre and drama. Students will learn the skills needed to construct scenery, hang and focus lighting instruments, implement a sound system for effects and reinforcement, and scenic artistry, all in a variety of techniques. In conjunction with the Music and Drama Departments, students will take an active role in each of the major productions at THS. Additionally, students will be introduced to theatrical design, and will be given an opportunity to draft their own designs for scenery and/or lighting of a theatrical production.

Textbooks:
There is no textbook for this class. Materials will be distributed in class, along with some notes. Several stagecraft books have been ordered for the THS Library. They are available in the reference section of the library, and I will refer to them in class from time to time. Most of the material presented comes from The Stagecraft Handbook by Daniel Ionazzi, and from Richard Pilbrow’s Stage Lighting Design.

Course Topics:

I.  Introduction

       A.   A Brief History of Theatre

       B.   The Production Team

       C.   Safety in the Theatre

       D.   Tools of the Trade

II.  Scenic Design for the Stage

       A.   Reading the Play

       B.   The Design Concept

       C.   Sharing Your Designs

III.   Scenic Construction

       A.   Types of Scenery

       B.   Construction Techniques

       C.   Painting Techniques

IV.   Lighting for the Stage

       A.  Why Light the Stage?

       B.  Instruments of the Designer

       C.  Properties of Light and Dark

       D.  Color Theories

       E.  Lighting Design Paperwork

V.   Other Topics

       A.   Sound Systems

       B.  Rigging the Stage

       C.  Special Effects

       D.  Stage Management

       E.  Theatre Etiquette

       F.  Costumes

Grading:
Grades will be based on a number of factors including, but not limited to the following:
Participation, Lab Hours, Quizzes/Tests, Projects, Critiques

Lab Hours:
While it’s great to learn about stagecraft theories and practices, it serves no purpose unless that knowledge can be applied. There is a close link between the activities of this course and the Tech Crew, a club that meets after school (schedule to be announced). Since you can’t go home with a bunch of lumber and power tools, you’ll need to come back here during Tech Crew work hours to complete this “homework assignment” of 15 lab hours per semester. Trust me, this isn’t that hard. You are not required to join the Tech Crew (but you’re always welcome), nor are you expected to commit to the run of a show; but you must put in 15 hours per semester to meet this important class requirement.

How to Reach Me:
Because of the nature of my job, and the number of different projects I am involved in at THS, I tend to be one of the more difficult teachers to find. If you need to get in touch with me outside of class, I am always around somewhere, but I never know where I will be. The best places to try are my office in the library or on the stage. If you need to leave something for me (a paper, etc.), go to the attendance office and ask a secretary to put it in my mailbox. If you or your parents need to call me for any reason, my phone number is (201) 816-6662. You can also e-mail me at smoger@tenafly.k12.nj.us