Interdisciplinary Arts 0207 - Designers Reading Plays: Musicals

When designing costumes, projections, sound, lighting, props, or scenery, do theatre designers read and hear musicals any differently than a director or an actor? To what does a designer respond? Theme, character, dialogue, stage directions, place, time, rhythm, flow, music, and arcs all play into a designer's process of discovering the visual and aural possibilities of musicals on stage. How does a designer sift through the body of a script to discover clues of the physical nature of the play? As students are introduced to different design areas (scenery, props, lighting, costumes, projections, or sound) they will read, listen to, and discuss a variety of musicals representing different periods and genres. Students will research aesthetic styles and present initial design ideas for each musical. Students will expand their design vocabulary and practice design presentations. (keywords: theatre arts, design, musicals, plays, scenography)

Media and Technology This course includes both in-person and remote elements, and can accommodate fully remote students. Students in this course can expect to spend 6 to 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.