Table of Contents
Dedication ix
Foreword to the Third Edition xi
General Notes xiii
Chapter 1 Breaking It Down: Who Does What 1
Costumes 4
Props 4
Lighting 4
Sound 5
Stage Management 5
Scenery 6
Chapter 2 Touring a New Space: What to Look for 9
Is This the Right Space for You? 10
Space for Stuff 11
Space for People 12
The Rigging System 13
The Lighting System 15
The Sound System 16
Monitors and Headsets 16
Masking and Sightltnes 18
Chapter 3 Space, Texture, and "The Statement": Scenic Design 19
The Statement: The Big Picture 21
How to Read a Script like a Set Designer 23
The Backstage Survival Guide to Reading a Floor Plan 25
Texture and Color: Giving the Show a "Look" 29
Chapter 4 The Tools of Scenery: Surface, Texture, and Tricks 33
A Place to Stand: Platforms, Stairs, and Ramps 33
A Surface to Look At: Walls, Drapes, Fabric, and Paint 38
Real Things: Doors and Windows and So on 52
Moving Stuff Around: Gripping, Rolling, and Flying 55
The Backstage Survival Guide to Scene-Change Choreography 66
Playing with the Audience: Special Effects and Illusions 69
Chapter 5 Lighting Design: Illumination, Mood, and Focus 81
Illumination: First and Foremost 8L
Mood and Atmosphere: Angles and Color 90
Creating Focus: Specials and Follow Spots 93
Where the Show is (and Isn't): House Lights and Actors in the Audience 94
Moving the Show Forward: Cues, Timing, and Blackouts 95
Lighting for Dance 97
Lighting for Musicals 99
Lighting for Fashion 101
Lighting for Video 102
Lighting for Rock and Roll 105
Chapter 6 The Tools of Lighting: Seeing the Power 111
The Birds and the Bees: Where Does Power Come From? 111
Protecting Yourself: Circuit Breakers and Fuses 117
Protecting Your Equipment: Surge and Spike Protection 120
Protecting both You and the Equipment: Grounding 121
Highways and Byways: Outlets and Plugs 122
Taming the Beast: Dimmers and Control Consoles 123
The Real Workers: Lighting Instruments 144
Other Types of Lights 166
Color My World: The Joy of Filters 172
Putting it in the Theater: Lighting Positions 174
Chapter 7 Costume Design: Character, Period, and Function 177
Character 179
Period 182
Function 185
The Costume Sketch 187
Chapter 8 Costume Construction: Shopping, Draping, and Stitching 189
Building 190
Draping 192
Buying 193
Renting 194
Pulling 194
Fittings and Measurements 195
Fabric Augmentation 196
Dealing with Hair 197
One Final Note 197
Chapter 9 Sound Design: Audible Atmosphere 199
Step One: Making It Audible 201
Defining the Content 209
Finding the Content 214
Chapter 10 The Tools of Sound: Source, Signal, and SPL 217
The Signal Chain 218
Sources: Where it all Begins 221
Mixing: Telling the Sound Where to Go 253
Processing: Sculpting the Sound 257
Amplification: We are Going to Pump You Up 260
Speakers: The Bottom Line 262
Chapter 11 Show Control: Why Can't We All Just Get Along? 265
Synchronous Versus Asynchronous 266
Event-Based Versus Time-Based 267
Interfaces 269
Dedicated Show-Control Computers 271
Midi Show Control (MSC) 272
Pc Versus Plc 273
Entertainment Protocols 274
Chapter 12 Properties: Research, Detail, and Crafts 277
The Artisan 277
The Detailer 278
The Researcher 278
Making a Prop List: When to Buy, Borrow, or Build 279
Furniture: Why the Stage Isn't Like Real Life 2§2
Weapons: Safety and Proper Handling 285
Handling Props during the Show: Prop Tables 287
Chapter 13 Stage Management: The Great Communicators 289
Communication: The Central Issue 29O
From Coffee Shop to Load-Out: Schedules 292
Lists and Lists and Lists of Lists 298
Preparing the Rehearsal Space and Running Rehearsals 303
The Actors' Backstage Survival Guide to Tech Rehearsal 308
Opening Night and the Sun 312
The Payoff: Calling the Show 314
Chapter 14 How to Do a Show in a Hotel: Corporate Theater 319
Lighting: Trees, Trusses, and the Demon Track Light 319
Sound: Plug and Play or Truck It In 327
Scenery: Four Feet by Whatever 328
Projectors and Projection Systems 329
Playing Twenty (Or More) Questions: Things to Ask and to Know 331
Chapter 15 The Essentials: Things You Should Know and Things You Should Own 337
Things Every Show Person Should Know 337
Things Every Show Person Should Own 339
Things Every Theater Should Own 340
In Closing 343
Glossary 345
Bibliography 375
Index 379
