Elements of Production

6th Grade
Arts and Humanities
 Elements of Production

• Lighting
• Stage types and directions
• Sound
• Scenery
• Make-up
• Costumes
• Props
 Lighting
• Enhance Visibility
• Increase Realism
• Highlight Costumes, Make-up, and Scenery
• Contribute to the Composition and Design
of the Stage Environment
 Sound
• Greatly enhances theatrical performance
• Sound conveyed to the audience
• Sound Effects
• Music
 Scenery
• Set
• Curtain Sets
• Box Sets
• Screen Sets/Flats
 Props
• Any object used for a performance
• Hand props: anything carried on-stage by an actor during a
performance.
-Weapons, tools, food, cane, purse, skateboard, basketball,
football
• Set Props: Anything used on-stage during a performance.
• -Go-cart, dirt-bike, couch, bed, toaster, television,
refrigerator, plant, table
• Personal/costume Props: Anything worn by a
character/actor during a performance.
-sunglasses, jewelry, watch
 Make-up: 2 types

• Character Make-up
• Straight Make-up
 Makeup

• 1.Color or lines applied to the face and

features of an actor to aid in creating a
character.
2. Completes costume
3. Enriches Characterization
4.Gives a psychological boost to the actor
 Costumes enhance the meaning
and mood of a play and to help
define the characters.
• Tell Setting of the Play
• Tell Social Rank of Character
• Convey Mood
• Provide Character Information
 Why a Modern Actor Needs
Makeup:
1. Stage lighting washes out the faces of actors on
stage.
2. Makeup defines their features
3. Audience needs to see the actors’ facial
expressions
4. Gives information about character
a. Health
b. Age
c. Character
 Character Makeup

1.Makeup that changes the appearance of an

actor into that of the character being
portrayed.
2.Includes items that drastically change an
actor’s appearance.
 Straight Make-up:

1.Makeup that enhances the features of the

actor without changing his or her
appearance.
2.Used when an actor plays a part that does
not require a change in appearance.
 How to Apply Makeup

1. Foundation: makeup that is close to your natural

skin tone that you will use to cover your face,
neck, and other exposed areas.
a. Greasepaint: oil based stage makeup
b. Pancake Makeup: Water based makeup
1. Color of foundation is chosen by your natural skin
tone or by the character.
 Shadows and Highlights:

a. Help to create the character you are

playing or enhance your natural contours.
b. Dark colors recede and light colors
advance
 Eye makeup

a. Eyes show emotion and should be visible

to the audience
b. Eye makeup calls attention to your eyes
and visually enlarges them.
c. Eye shadow should be close to the color
of your skin unless there is a good reason
to do otherwise
d. Shape of eyebrows shows character.
 Rouge

a. Adds color and contours to the actor’s

face.
b. Can impart a healthy glow
 Powder and Lipstick
1. Powder
a. Helps set makeup and remove the shine
caused by greasepaint.
b. Use a powder that is lighter than
foundation or colorless
2. Lipstick:The shape and expression of the
mouth help to show character, so lipstick
can help you create a believable character.
 Guidelines for applying makeup

1. Strive to look natural by not using too much

makeup
2. Have a good reason for whatever makeup choices
you make.
3. Work with your facial features
4. Focus on shadows and highlights rather than lines
5. Follow the bone structure of your face
6. Practice applying your makeup for a part before
opening night
 Costumes: Setting of a Play

1. Costumes help the audience know the

setting of a play.
2. Setting: the time and place of a play.
3. Period Play: a play set in a particular
historical period with the speech patterns,
manners, and costumes of that time.
4. Costume Silhouettes: the outline of a
costume worn by an actor on stage.
 Costumes: Social Rank of
Character
• Costumes can reveal the social rank or
economic status of a character in a play.
 Costumes: Convey mood I
• Color and Costume
• 1.      Color on stage helps to establish the mood of the play.
• 2.      Dark or dull colors lend a feeling of seriousness,
sadness, even depression.
• 3.      Lighter, brighter colors lift the spirits and show a less
serious mood.
• 4.      Color in costuming also affects the way the audience
perceives the action on stage.
• a.       Important characters set apart by bright colors
• b.      Family or group members in similar colors to show
they belong together
 Costumes: Convey mood II
• 5.      Color of a costume is also important in
increasing the depth of a character.
• a.       Dynamic, expressive characters may wear
vivid colors
• b.      Meek or weak characters wear pale colors
• 6.      Colors can distinguish characterization for
actors and audience.
• 7.      Characterization: Putting the particular facets
of a character together to make a believable person
on stage.
Wearing a Costume Comfortably
on Stage:     
• Movement is the key to acting, so the actor must not let wearing a
costume interfere with movement on stage.
 
A.    Costumes that are different from the type of clothing one normally
wears can make stage movement difficult.
 
B.     Tips for wearing costumes on stage.
Wear your costume as much as possible before the performance.
2.      Learn to walk, stand, sit, and bend naturally and comfortably in
your costume.
3.      Do not forget to practice wearing all the details of your costume,
such as boots, gloves, wig, glasses, and mustache.
4.      Be familiar with all of your character’s costumes.
5.      Familiarize yourself with all accessories.
 Stage Types
• Proscenium (Conventional)
• Arena
• Thrust
 Proscenium
• Picture frame view
• Audience on one side
• Backstage
• Wings
 Thrust
• Combines features of Thrust and Arena
• Audience on Three Sides
• Backstage
• No wings
 Arena
• Sometimes called “Theater in the Round”
• Surrounded by Audience
• More audience participation
• Challenging for moving props and scenery
 Stage Directions
• Center Stage
• Off stage left
• Off stage right
• Backstage
• Upstage Right
• Upstage Center
• Upstage Left
• Centerstage right
• Centerstage left
• Downstage right
• Downstage center
• Downstage left