Blocking Train: Similar Scene, Totally different Phases

When college students are presenting scenes in drama class, the commonest setup is actors on one aspect of the room with the viewers going through them on the other aspect, like a typical proscenium arch stage. Nonetheless, there are different thrilling stage setups to discover, which offer completely different staging alternatives and challenges.

On this train, college students could have the chance to dam and carry out a scene in three completely different stage setups: proscenium stage, traverse stage, and theatre within the spherical.

As a refresher, right here’s a fast description of the three stage setups referenced above:

• Proscenium stage: stage going through the viewers, straight on
• Traverse stage: stage is surrounded on two sides by the viewers
• Theatre within the spherical or enviornment stage: stage is surrounded by viewers on all sides

Begin by presenting pattern photos of the three listed stage setups, or have college students do a web-based picture search of them. Focus on the visible variations between the completely different levels, in addition to potential alternatives and challenges every stage presents for the actors, administrators, and viewers. For instance, on a traverse stage you can choreograph some wonderful battle sequences or have two distinct units on both finish of the taking part in area, however chances are you’ll be restricted within the variety of entrance and exit routes accessible. Theatre within the spherical creates a really cool, intimate environment for the viewers, as they’re sometimes fairly near the taking part in area, however it may be difficult to dam actors so that they don’t at all times have their backs to the viewers.

There are three other ways you possibly can strategy the sensible portion of this train. What number of college students you’ll should be actors and administrators will depend upon which technique you choose.

1. Two-day, one-scene possibility: This feature takes fewer class days and offers a very good normal overview of how scenes must be tailored to accommodate the completely different stage setups. Divide the category into multiples of three teams labelled A, B, and C. (For instance, you probably have 18 college students, you may want to have three teams of six college students or six teams of three college students. For those who go along with six teams, there shall be two Group As, two Group Bs, and a couple of Group Cs.) All teams will carry out the identical scene however on completely different levels. Teams A will carry out their scene in a proscenium setup; Teams B will carry out within the traverse stage setup, and Teams C will carry out within the spherical. Relying on the variety of college students and the variety of roles within the scene, chances are you’ll want to assign pupil administrators throughout the teams or have the scholars block the scenes themselves. When college students aren’t performing, they’ll act because the viewers/analysts.

2. Six-day, multiple-scene, deep dive possibility: This feature requires not less than six lessons, relying on the variety of college students you have got (you probably have a big class, chances are you’ll want extra efficiency days), however every group will get the chance to carry out their scene in every of the three completely different stage setups. Divide college students into small teams. Have every group choose one scene. Every group ought to have a special scene and they’re going to every carry out their scene 3 times. On Day 1, every group will block and rehearse their scene for a proscenium stage. On Day 2, every group will current their scene. On Day 3, every group will block and rehearse their scene on a traverse stage setup, and they’re going to carry out on Day 4. On Day 5, every group will block and rehearse their scene within the spherical, and they’re going to carry out on Day 6. When teams aren’t performing, they’ll act because the viewers/analysts.

3. Targeted group possibility: When you’ve got college students who want to do a deep concentrate on simply appearing, directing, or evaluation, this generally is a good possibility. It’s additionally an possibility you probably have drama college students who don’t want to carry out. Choose one group of actors (relying on what number of roles are within the scene) and three administrators. Every of the three administrators shall be assigned one stage setup (proscenium, traverse, within the spherical) and can block the actors to suit the stage setup. The actors will carry out the scene 3 times, as soon as in every stage setup. The remainder of the group would be the viewers/analysts.

As soon as all of the teams have carried out, have the teams reconvene for a dialogue and/or have college students reply to any or the entire following questions individually:

• For every scene: What labored effectively? What didn’t work effectively? Why?
• In your opinion, which stage setup was only for the scene? Why?
• For those who had the possibility to redo your scene with a special stage setup, which one would you select? Why?
  OR (for Possibility 2)
  Which of the stage setups did you suppose labored greatest in your scene? Why?
• For every group: What have been the benefits or alternatives of your specific stage setup? What have been the disadvantages or challenges? How may you overcome these challenges when you have been to stage the scene once more?
• For those who have been to stage a full manufacturing of the play that this scene got here from, which stage setup would you select? Why?
• What different stage setups or venues would you wish to discover or strive staging your scene in? (For instance, a thrust stage, outdoor, the library, the varsity basement, and so forth.)

Within the final 5 minutes of sophistication, have college students reply to and submit one of many exit slip questions, discovered within the giveaway beneath.

Extra Sources:

Staging Your Present: “Similar Present, Totally different Phases” Train
“Dishonest Out”: Two Video games for Center College Drama College students
Free two-person and group scenes from Theatrefolk