The Stage and the School

Chapter 10: Stage Settings

Overview

In a production, the scenic designer is next to the director in importance. The set needs to bring the stage to life—creating time and setting and developing the mood, detail, and atmosphere of a play. Stage sets are as varied as plays and depend greatly on the stage type in use and the scenic designer's vision. Every stage set needs to be workable for the actors, viewable by the audience, solid, easily assembled, and able to be quickly struck, or removed. Selectivity, simplicity, and consistency are keys to creating effective stage designs.

Traditional sets include the box set, consisting of two or three walls built of flats and often covered by a ceiling; the unit set, made up of several scenic units that can be moved about the stage, turned, and interchanged to create several settings; the permanent set, which remains the same throughout a play; and profile sets, sometimes called cut-down or minimum sets. A thrust stage is a low platform stage that projects into the audience. The most effective set for this type of stage is the multiple-plane set, or the floating-screen set; this technique employs single flats or narrow drops that are placed or hung at various depths parallel to the front of the stage to provide concealed entrances for actors and suggest a locale.

Different colors create different emotional effects on an audience; therefore, the color scheme—including the shades, hues, and intensities used—should represent the theme and mood of the piece. While constructing the set, one needs to keep in mind shifting scenery, the types of fabric used, how the set will be lit, and any other problems that might arise along with their potential solutions. Review Chapter 10 for specific techniques and processes.

Everyone involved with the production should understand all safety issues surrounding the set and should act accordingly. For example, know the location and operation of all fire extinguishers and fire alarms and always wear safety goggles when operating power equipment and floating flats.