Pre-production Planning: Pre-production Planning: Production Design Production Design

ConceptConcept

Lesson Plan for Technical Theatre Grades 9-12

Same Story – Different ConceptsBased on the movie posters above, for what kind of audience do you think each production is meant? What themes of the play do you think each film focuses on, based on these images?

Vocabulary

ConceptThe look and the feel of a production. A concept is essentially a metaphor that can guide how the director wants the audience to see and to feel about the play.Example: This play should look like a futuristic city and feel like the day after a bomb has been dropped.Elements of Production DesignInformative: setting, time & placeExpressive: demonstrates the emotions & themes related to the productionAppropriate: choices are relevant to the audience and the themes in the script; choices work with the production budgetUsable: choices allow actors to perform on stage; choices do not interfere or distract from any other design choices (i.e., set works with lighting, sound, props and costumes)

Romeo & Juliet Concept AnalysisTake notes in your theatre notebook; then, discuss with your group.

Remember to consider every possible detail as a CHOICE: lighting, sound effects, music, setting, set pieces (building, cars, cityscapes, landscapes, etc.), lighting, costumes, make-up, camera perspective & angles.

Write the director’s name in your notes: Zeffirelli or Luhrmann

What do you see?Describe the design choice.

How does this choice help provide the look and the feel to the audience?

How are the choices Expressive and Informative?

Oral Quiz: Discuss and DecideOral Quiz: Discuss and Decide

In two sentences, how would you describe the production concept for Lurmann’s Romeo & Juliet?

Who do you think is the ideal audience for this production?

Why? (Use your notes from the design choices to answer this question.)

In two sentences, how would you describe the production concept for Zeffirelli’s Romeo & Juliet?

Who do you think is the ideal audience for this production?

Why? (Use your notes from the design choices to answer this question.)

RubricRubric