OBJECTIVE:
The students will demonstrate the knowledge of how to find, identify, and describe the use of the different places used by the High School drama program by finding and explaining the use of each area in groups.
**These directions are for a specific auditorium space; adaptations to facilities tour will need to be made by others for their own spaces**
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Space keys
HOOK:
After taking role, instruct the students to leave their things in their seats. We will be taking a tour of the facilities today. Everyone will follow me or the TA to each location and should stick together.
PRESENTATION:
Discussion and Checking For Understanding
In each of the following areas ask the students to identify what they can and how these areas are often used in theatrical production. Ask students to explain what they know about the equipment in those areas and how they might be used. Briefly identify and explain each of the following at the areas.
1. The classroom
a. Light system
b. Sound system
c. Projector
d. American flag
e. Speakers
2. The auditorium
a. Cheeks
b. Seating area
c. Acoustics
d. Speakers
3. The stage
a. Wings
b. Apron
c. Proscenium
d. Fly system
e. Lights
f. Stage door
g. Speakers
4. The catwalk/grid/fly loft
a. Loading dock
b. Blocks
c. Spotlights
5. The scene shop
a. Sink
b. Lumber
c. Tools
6. The prop room
7. The costume room
8. The balcony
a. Spots
b. Speakers
9. The prompt/light/sound/cry booth
a. Prompt table
b. Light board/computer
c. Sound board/equalizer
d. Storage area/gobos/gels
Throughout the tour ask in each area (and about various items) these questions:
What type of work do you imagine goes on here? Have any of you used a space like this before? How?
Ask students to identify what they can in these areas. What do you think these are? Do any of you know what this is? What does it do?
Ask students how they think the listed objects are used in theatrical production. How do we use this in theatrical production? Who usually uses it?
At or near the end of the tour, ask the students what they were already familiar with, what they learned, and what they think they should know more about. How much of this did you already know or have already been exposed to? What did you learn on the tour? What would you like to learn more about?
CLOSURE:
Briefly review with the students the different places we went today and their importance to stagecraft.
ASSESSMENT:
This entire lesson should be used as a pre-assessment to determine what the students already know about the modern theatre structure. Ask plenty of questions in each area and take note of which students are familiar with the different aspects of stage design and terms. Take note of which terms the students seem unfamiliar with. The tour will be graded as participation points. 10 points possible. 8/10 proficiency. -2 for tardiness or repeated behavioral warning.