7.14: Lesson 13- Staging in Different Venues
In your career you are going to direct shows in venues of all shapes and sizes. In order to prepare for this you will need lots and lots of practice creating shows in different venue configurations.
Staging Exercise
- Take a scene that you have developed in one of the previous exercises and restage it for a different venue configuration.
- Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
- Discuss and critique each scene
- Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
- Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
- Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.
Proscenium Staging Exercise
- Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end that is staged for a venue with a proscenium stage.
- Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
- Discuss and critique each scene
- Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
- Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
- Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.
Thrust Staging Exercise
- Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end that is staged for a venue with a thrust stage.
- Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
- Discuss and critique each scene
- Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
- Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
- Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.
Theater in the Round Staging Exercise
- Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end that is staged for a venue with a round stage
- Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
- Discuss and critique each scene
- Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
- Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
- Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.