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Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Theatre Arts
MS 117.213 LIII - Creative Expression: production

23 units • 6 professional development courses aligned to
B.3.B - create theatrical elements such as scenery, properties, lighting, sound, costume, makeup, and publicity using the principles of design.

View all Standards for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Theatre Arts

B.3.B create theatrical elements such as scenery, properties, lighting, sound, costume, makeup, and publicity using the principles of design.

This page lists 23 units and 6 professional development courses aligned to B.3.B from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Theatre Arts. Designed for drama teachers, these resources directly address B.3.B - create theatrical elements such as scenery, properties, lighting, sound, costume, makeup, and publicity using the principles of design.

Unit 11 of 14 in Drama One Curriculum

Japanese Theatre

by Karen Loftus

4 lessons
This unit will enable students to identify, compare, and contrast three different styles of Japanese theatre: Noh, Bunraku, and Kabuki. There are three proposed projects in this unit: a research assignment where groups delve into further detail about one of the three styles; a performance project where students utilize what they’ve learned by enacting a scene from a Kyogen (comedic) play; and a Bunraku puppet play.
Unit 7 of 7 in Drama Two Curriculum

Devising

by Corinna Rezzelle

13 lessons
While the Drama Two Curriculum has a focus on acting, it’s always important to include a unit on the technical theatre skills that are necessary to any production. Students will also be able to use what they’ve learned in this unit in their upcoming devising project. Students will begin by exploring design for the stage by experimenting with line, shape, texture, size, and color. They will expand their understanding of stage properties and scenic flats. They will then apply their knowledge of these building blocks of design to create a high-concept design for a miniature “stage.”
Unit 1 of 6 in Technical Theatre Mini Units Curriculum

Lighting

by Josh Hatt

5 lessons
This is an introductory mini-unit to lighting that can be achieved whether or not you have a lighting system. Students will work toward being able to demonstrate their knowledge of lighting effectiveness. The questions of the unit include: How can light affect a scene? How can lighting affect the audience? What is the mood of the scene? How does lighting play a part in creating mood? How can you use shadows onstage? How does color impact the scene?
Unit 2 of 6 in Technical Theatre Mini Units Curriculum

Sound

by Josh Hatt

5 lessons
This is an introductory mini-unit to sound that you can use whether or not you have a sound system. Students will work toward being able to demonstrate their knowledge of sound effectiveness. The questions of the unit include: What is effective sound? What sounds and music do we need in order to make our scene effective? How will we know our sound cues are effective?
Unit 3 of 6 in Technical Theatre Mini Units Curriculum

Costuming

by Josh Hatt

5 lessons
If the costumes in a play are going to be effective, we need to be thoughtful about how we use them. In this mini-unit, students will demonstrate their understanding costume effectiveness and address the following questions: What is the role of costume in the performance? How does color contribute? How does the style of costume affect a performance? How does costume indicate setting? Do you need costumes in a scene?
Unit 4 of 6 in Technical Theatre Mini Units Curriculum

Staging

by Josh Hatt

5 lessons
This is a mini-unit on staging. Along with the driving question for the unit, students will explore about how staging affects the performance. Students will draw a plot design (ground plan) to emphasize the need to plan where scenic elements will be placed. They will also practice taking cues from the script, in order to create staging.
Unit 5 of 6 in Technical Theatre Mini Units Curriculum

Free Play Makeup

by Josh Hatt

8 lessons
This is a student centred mini-unit on makeup design. Makeup is useful in transporting an audience to a different world. The purpose is for students to understand that makeup is a tool that theatre technicians can use in order to contribute to effective performance aesthetics; to understand basic makeup rules and care instruction; to understand how to complete a makeup design plot; to look at a project and figure out for themselves what they need to succeed.
Unit 6 of 6 in Technical Theatre Mini Units Curriculum

Culminating Project

by Josh Hatt

Once students have completed the five Tech Theatre Units (Lighting, Sound, Costume, Staging, Free Play Makeup), you can give them this culminating project. Depending on how you structured your technical theatre unit, you can adapt this project to suit your needs and context. Up to this point, all the work in the units have been exploratory. This is where students will apply their skills and knowledge.

Production Classroom Units Overview

by Karen Loftus

The overview lays out the all of the parts of The Production Classroom Units - which is divided into three parts. In Part One, you’ll take your students through a series of pre-production units designed to help students gain as much comprehension as possible about putting on a successful production. Part Two offers articles on each step in the process, samples and forms, a suggested pacing, role definitions and task checklists, an outline for a typical class, as well as performance duties. This section also outlines the assessment piece for The Production Classroom – the production binder. Part Three provides a Post-Performance Reflection. Unpack the experience with students, reflect back on what went right and what could be changed for next time. A written Reflection is included as well as a Rubric for student production binders.
Unit 1 of 4 in Production Classroom Units Curriculum

Part One - Pre-Production

by Karen Loftus

5 lessons
In Part One of The Production Classroom, you’ll take your students through a series of pre-production units designed to help students gain as much comprehension as possible about putting on a successful production.
Unit 2 of 4 in Production Classroom Units Curriculum

Part Two - Rehearsal and Performance

by Karen Loftus

7 lessons
Part Two offers articles on each step in the process, samples and forms, a suggested pacing, role definitions and task checklists, an outline for a typical class, as well as performance duties. This section also outlines the assessment piece for The Production Classroom – the production binder.
Unit 3 of 4 in Production Classroom Units Curriculum

Part Two - Documents

by Karen Loftus

7 lessons
This section provides samples and worksheets for actor forms, costume department, general binder, lighting and sound, marketing samples, scenic and prop samples, and stage management and production manager samples and forms.
Unit 4 of 4 in Production Classroom Units Curriculum

Part Three - Reflection and Assessment

by Karen Loftus

3 lessons
Part Three provides a Post-Performance Reflection. Unpack the experience with students, reflect back on what went right and what could be changed for next time. A written Reflection is included as well as a Rubric for student production binders.
Unit 1 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Introduction to Theatre Production

by Karen Loftus

5 lessons
Students will explore the question of “what is theatre production?” They’ll be able to identify and describe each of the crafts of technical theatre as well as who does what in theatre production.
Unit 5 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Scenic Painting

by Holly Beardsley and Karen Loftus

3 lessons
Students identify and practice some basic painting techniques.
Unit 6 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Props

by Karen Loftus and Kerry Hishon

4 lessons
Students will identify categories of props and which people create or obtain props. They’ll analyze a script for needed props, use critical-thinking skills to problem solve prop issues, and create a prop.
Unit 7 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Lighting

by Karen Loftus, Josh Hatt, and Kerry Hishon

3 lessons
Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of lighting effectiveness. They’ll also be able to identify, analyze, and evaluate how lighting is used in a theatre production.
Unit 8 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Sound

by Karen Loftus and Josh Hatt

2 lessons
Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of sound effectiveness. How do we use sound to create a technically effective performance?
Unit 9 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Costume Design

by Holly Beardsley, Karen Loftus, and Josh Hatt

3 lessons
Students are exposed to research, concepts, and skill sets while they explore costume design and the different roles of the costume designer and the costumer. They will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of costume effectiveness.
Unit 10 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Costume Construction

by Karen Loftus

3 lessons
Students identify vocabulary, techniques, and roles of costume construction. They demonstrate costume measurement and other construction techniques, including a basic stitch.
Unit 13 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Culminating Project

by Karen Loftus

Now it’s time for your students to take everything they’ve learned and creatively apply those skills. The goal is for students to take what they’ve been exposed to, explored, and researched about each of the arts and crafts of technical theatre and apply it to a project.
Unit 11 of 13 in Stagecraft Without a Theatre Curriculum

Make-Up Design

by Karen Loftus and Josh Hatt

1 lesson
Students will be able to explore the use of make-up as a theatrical tool and demonstrate their knowledge of make-up effectiveness.

Designing with Light: No Tech Required

by Kerry Hishon

5 lessons
The exercises within this unit are meant for students to explore the concept of lighting for theatre without the need for extensive tech or even a theatrical lighting grid. This unit is useful for students with no prior experience with lighting or students who may be intimidated by the idea of theatre technology. Each exercise is meant to build upon the previous one, as students grow in their confidence with thinking about lighting in different ways.

View all Standards for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Theatre Arts    Standards Master List