OBJECTIVE
Students will learn about stage flats and get a chance to build one for themselves.
UTAH CORE STANDARDS
Theatre
Standard L3.T.CR.2: Create and implement a major design element for a main stage production.
Standard L2.T.CR.4: Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.
Standard L3.T.R.7: Analyze and evaluate why artistic choices are made in a drama/ theatre work.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
9th-12th grades
TIME
60 minutes
MATERIALS
-
In Person
- One 8-foot 1x3 furring strip board
- Twelve 1⅝ screws
- One 12”x18” sheet of luan or Masonite
- Pencil
- Square
- Tape Measure
- Glue
- Miter or Circular Saw
- Drill
- Power Screwdriver
- Staple Gun
- Safety Glasses
- Ear Plugs
- Gloves
OR
-
Distance Learning
- Five Popsicle Sticks
- One Piece of cardboard or cardstock at 2 inches by 3 inches
- Hot Glue/Glue Gun
- A razor blade or something to cut the popsicle sticks
OUTLINE
Students will get the opportunity to build a Hollywood stage flat for themselves. (This unit compliments the “texture” unit and it can be introduced immediately after this lesson using the flat built here to paint on there.)
-
VIDEO (5 minutes) Designing Theatre: The Comedy of Errors
-
PRE-LESSON ACTIVITY - CAPTAIN’S COMING (10 minutes)
Video Example
Assign one person to be the “Captain.” The role of the Captain is to call out the actions and dismiss the players who are not able to complete an action (or who does it the slowest). Once the captain calls an action, each player has to quickly start performing the action (e.g. within 3-4 seconds). If they don’t find a group fast enough or perform the right action, they are out of the game. When there is 1 player left, the game is over.For the groups that are meant to include a specific number of players ie: Man Overboard! (3 players) if the group ends up with a number different than the one called, those players are out of the game Ie: If you find a “Man Overboard” with 2 or 4 people in it, the whole group is out.
Actions the Captain can call:
Captain’s Coming!: Everyone stands in a salute towards the captain and says, “Captain my captain!”
Swab the Deck: Everyone pantomimes a mob and moves around cleaning the deck.
Lighthouse (2 players): 2 players grab each other’s arms and circle saying “be do be do” like they’re a lighthouse.
Man Overboard (3 players): 2 players grab each other’s arms to form a “lifeboat.” Another player stands between the arms and is rocked back and forth by the boat.
Rowboat (4 players): 4 players sit directly behind each other in a line like they are all in a rowboat or canoe and row their boat.
Mess Tent (5 Players): 5 players sit in a circle as if at a table eating.
To the Ship!: All players run to a designated area “the ship.” The last one to get to the ship is out.
Hit the deck!: All players drop to the ground. The last one to do so is out.
-
LESSON/ACTIVITY (45 minutes)
Students will build their own Hollywood style flats. There are 2 options here depending on in person or distance learning. It is recommended that the teacher create one first in order to demonstrate the procedure and take the time to teach shop and tool safety. Make sure the students know how to use the saws and protect themselves before they are allowed to use the tools. -
ENRICHMENT
Spongebob Squarepants Set Design
ASSESSMENT
Students will demonstrate their ability to measure and cut boards to assemble a miniature stage flat in the Hollywood style. They will have a physical flat to show they have learned the skill.