OBJECTIVE
Students will learn about concepts for a stage production and research a time period and location to create a concept for a production of Romeo and Juliet.
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
- Examples of stage sets (available in this presentation)
- Computers or Chromebooks for students to research and create their presentations
- Concept presentation instructions
OUTLINE
Students will use available research resources to develop a concept for a production of Romeo and Juliet. They will create a presentation that they can present to the class or production team to illustrate their concept and justify why it is complementary and relevant to today’s world and the classic play.
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LESSON (20 minutes)- Intro to Scenic Design and Concept Presentation
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VIDEO (10 minutes)Romeo and Juliet Summary
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**ACTIVITY (30 minutes)**In a Google Slides presentation, you are to find images of the concept you’d like to put on your production of Romeo & Juliet. This tool is used so that producers, directors, and designers can all see your vision of the production and create a unified look through the actor’s blocking (movement), set design, costumes, sound, marketing, etc.
Follow the instructions below to create your presentation (a printable version of these instructions is available here):
- Your idea must be a concept that makes sense with the story. We are not trying to mask, alter, or destroy the message of the play.
- Your concept must put the play in a different time and place than was originally intended. It cannot be in Italy during the Renaissance. Ie: Instead it might be set in a dystopian future, or in the American Wild-West.
- You will present these images to the class and must be able to communicate and justify why you chose the concept, why it works with Romeo & Juliet, and why this concept is appropriate for today’s audiences.
- Each slide should contain the following pictures to demonstrate your concept:
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Your name, the name of the show (Romeo & Juliet), and one picture that sums up your concept in one image.
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Information about your concept:
a. Where is the show going to take place?
b. When is the show going to take place?
c. Who are the Capulets and Montagues in this world? (If you were setting the show as pirates in the colonial Atlantic the Capulet’s might live on a wealthy plantation in the Caribbean and the Montagues might be pirates.)
d. How does this concept work for Romeo and Juliet?
e. Why does this concept appeal to you?
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3-5 images that further illustrate your concept. These can be paintings, photographs, architecture, abstract, anything that helps you sell your concept to the director, designers, and producers.
If you were setting the show as pirates in the colonial Atlantic these images might be a Jolly Roger, parrot, shells, a beach, treasure, etc. -
3-4 images that could be used to inspire the scenic design elements of the show. If you were setting the show as pirates in the colonial Atlantic these images might be a pirate ship, docks, Colonial buildings/streets, the beach, etc.
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3-4 images that could be used to inspire the costume design.
If you were setting the show as pirates in the colonial Atlantic these images might be a pirate hat, sashes, puffy shirt, eye patch, etc. -
3-4 images that could inspire the props for the show.
If you were setting the show as pirates in the colonial Atlantic these images might be a saber, a muzzle-loaded pistol, a parrot, gold coins, etc.
- Remember you will present these and have to justify and sell your concept to the others on your design team (in this case your classmates and teacher).
ASSESSMENT
Students will create, present, and justify their own concepts for the play “Romeo & Juliet.” They will demonstrate their ability to research a topic, present in front of a group, and defend their work.