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Technical Theatre

Course Description

Students taking this course will learn the fundamental skills of technical theatre. This will include shop and stage safety, as well as the basics of set and costume construction, lighting techniques and sound production.

Grade Level(s): 9th-12th grade

Related Priority Standards (State &/or National): Missouri Grade Level Expectations for Theatre

Essential Questions

  • What is the role of a theatre technician?
  • What are the technical aspects of theatre?
  • What does it mean to be a responsible theatre technician?
  • How can theatre technology enhance dramatic productions?

Enduring Understandings/Big Ideas

  • The three things essential to a performance are actors, audience and space.
  • The technical components of theatre enhance the space.
  • Time, space, mood and participation are affected by the technical aspects.
  • Technical theatre requires a collaborative process among the actors, designers and director.
  • The designer's job is to bring the director's vision to life.
  • Different spaces allow for transformations that bring unique challenges, possibilities and limitations.
  • Different texts allow for transformations that bring unique challenges, possibilities and limitations.

Course-Level Scope & Sequence (Units &/or Skills)

Unit 1: Safety

  • Students will learn how to safely operate shop equipment and stage systems.  They will understand the need for safety awareness when working in the theatre and will demonstrate comprehension of general safety procedures.

Unit 2: Set

  • Students will learn how to build platforms and flats, the basic set pieces, and learn basic painting techniques.  They will learn that scenery is used to bring the audience into the world of the play and that realistic, abstract or representational settings can completely change the interpretation of a play.
    • Students will learn the proper techniques to build flats and platforms and how to caster platforms and safely jack flats.
    • Students will learn a variety of painting techniques including stippling, ragging and sponging. Students will also learn how to apply some basic faux finishes like wood graining and marbling.

Unit 3: Lighting

  • Students will learn the types and functions of instruments used in theatre lighting.  Students will learn that the practical aspect of lighting is to let the audience see the actors.  Finally, they will understand that lighting color can be used to elicit an emotional response, and that lighting can enhance the story of the play by setting the time of day. 
    • Students will learn the functions of different lighting instruments.
    • Students will learn how to safely hang an instrument on the lighting grid and how to shutter, focus and gel an instrument.
    • Students will learn how to circuit an instrument and how to patch instruments to a given channel on the lightboard.
    • Students will learn how to build, record and edit light cues on the light board.

Unit 4: Costume

  • Students will learn the basics of costume handling and repair as well as the proper way to take actor and actress measurements. 
    • They will learn how to take gender-appropriate body measurements.
    • Students will learn to use a seam ripper safely and to pin, mark, measure and sew a hem. Students will learn to hand sew a button in place and how to alter costumes to fit different time periods.
    • Students will learn how to properly and safely press and steam garments. Students will learn how to properly hang and store garments.

Unit 5: Sound

  • Students will learn the proper cables to use to patch microphones, speakers, monitors and various playback equipment to a sound board. They will learn the basics of how to use a soundboard to take the sound coming from a microphone or playback device and send the sound to house speakers or monitor speakers.
    • Students will learn the basic types of microphones used in the theatre and how to properly patch them into a sound board.
    • Students will learn how to patch playback devices such as a CD player or computer to a sound board so that music or sound effects can be played.
    • Students will learn how to use a sound board to send a sound signal from a microphone or playback device to house speakers or monitor speakers as needed.

Date Last Revised/Approved: 2012