All first year Drama students enrolled in Intro to Theatre I and II will be expected to take part in various pre-production and/or running crew laboratory assignments. No previous experience is required. Staff Instructors and Teaching Assistants will provide the students with a general aptitude and some in-depth, specific skill sets. Depending on the individual requirements of productions being mounted, the depth and complexity of instruction (what is touched upon in each lab) may vary. Overall, however, it is expected each student will come away with a broad-based appreciation for, and knowledge of, some of the many avenues of artistry which culminate in the theatrical experience.
The following is an approximate categorizing of BASIC laboratory skill sets a student may acquire. Click on each heading to view individual lab syllabus:
SCENERY: instruction on shop / theatre safety; hand and power tool usage; reading designer’s plans; familiarity with standard theatrical construction materials; creating cutting lists; basic scenic construction, including joinery, bracing, covering methods, hardware; experience in rough and finished carpentry; rigging units in the theatre; flying / counter-weighting
PROPS & PAINT: safe use of relevant tools; organization; types of property construction, including materials, binders, fasteners, look-alike substitutes; brush and roller painting; dressing and finishing techniques; proper care and maintenance of tools
LIGHTING: safety procedures; basic principles of electricity and lighting design; dis-sembling and assembling lighting instruments; hanging; focussing and gelling lights; running the lighting board; cuing practices and notations
SOUND: use and care of all recording equipment, mixers, amplifiers, microphones; patching; splicing; cuing practices and notations
COSTUMES: safety procedures; styles of hand stitching; buttons, snaps, hooks & eyes; stitching hems and labels; pinning fabrics for cutting or stitching; learning how to use various sewing tools; measuring garments and people; pressing garments
MAKE-UP: basic knowledge of materials and application techniques; rationale for color usage; in association with the Costume Shop may include millinery work, working with wigs
FRONT OF HOUSE: safety and evacuation procedures; the importance of Public Relations and how to conduct oneself as a representative for the University Players (incl. attire); poster runs; ushering and front-of-house procedures; attention to special patron needs; instruction in a specific area of theatre marketing or publicity