BUNRAKU PUPPETRY
I.B. Theatre students studied Bunraku puppetry as a World Theatre Tradition. After reading the contemporary play, The Oldest Boy by Sarah Ruhl, students formed groups in order to create modern Bunraku puppet plays.
COSTUME DESIGNS
Students designed costumes for the plays Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon and Marvin's Room by Scott McPhearson. Designers were required to research the time period of the play, hand render four costume plates, fully color and describe costume choices for character traits. After completing the design work, students presented their final drafts in a mock theatre board presentation.
DIRECTING EX #1: RECONSTRUCTION
Directors were provided with a piece of unknown, deconstructed literature, random words in a bag (Nikki Giovanni's poem LOVE IS.) Not knowing the origins of the random words within the bag, directors assembled the words into a concept for a new play. The play concepts were then arranged onto a presentation board. The directors were also asked to design a conceptional image to represent the environment of their plays. Director's pitched their concepts for new plays.
POSTER MEDIA-HAND RENDERINGS
Intermediate Theatre students studied professional poster media designs in order to create and hand render original poster images. Students first designed rough drafts then created a final 11X17 (industry standard) final draft. Again, a verbal defense presenation followed the design process.
DIRECTING EX #2: OBJECTS IN SPACE
Part II of the directing process involved students developing mini plot pitches based on word groups. Directors we provided with five random words and required to connect a plot concept based on those five words. Once director's developed play plots, they then used color theory and unit set constructs to build a visual interpretation of their plays.
Student playwrights were given the task of writing, performing and directing original ten minute Epistolary Plays (based on the tradition of story-telling through letter writing.)
EPISTOLARY THEATRE
THE BLACK AND WHITE PROJECT
For this project, students were provided 30 strong black and white images. They were instructed to review the images and develop a point of inspiration. Students then began the process of developing a narrative around the pictures. After constructing their projects, they were required to present and narrate their projects.
DIRECTING WITH STRUCTURES
Directing students were introduced to the work of Carson Davis Brown. Brown is a visual artist working in photography, theatre and film with a background in commercial design. Brown often marries the functional to the abstract. His work examines the narratives of larger social structures by dismantling the landscape those narratives exist in and re-assembling them. This work compliments the work of Epic Theatre and design. Students were asked to create structures within a color family which could serve as a playable space for theatre.
FRENCH MARIONETTE SCARF PUPPETRY
Student were taught the movement practice of marionette. After learning the history and instructed to write a script demonstrating a story in which the puppets demonstrated bending, ghosting, walking, flying and running, student performed their micro puppet plays.
SHADOW THEATRE BASED ON GASHLYCRUMB TINIES BY EDWARD GOREY
Students were introduced to the work of Edward Gorey. The selected text was Gashlycrumb Tinies.
Students were divided into peer groups and were asked to construct a five minute play based on the text. Students designed the puppets, sets and created all vocal characters.