Unit
Technical Theatre: Leadership in Theatre
Created by Michelle LoRicco
6 lessons
technical theatre
This Technical Theatre unit is designed to empower student leaders to analyze management roles in producing theatre while also using collaborative activities and reflection exercises to strengthen soft skills that every student should have. The unit covers the roles of producer, director, technical director, and stage manager, and ends in a culminating project.
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The overview lays out the objectives and essential questions for the unit, as well as time management and assessment details.
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1Lesson 1IntroductionStudents will analyze the various roles and skills of leaders within organizations that produce theatre.
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2Lesson 2The ProducerStudents will analyze the role of a producer as well as collaborate with a group to choose a play to produce and hire a creative team for the imaginary production.
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3Lesson 3The DirectorStudents will analyze the role of a director as well as practice communication skills that directors use to communicate with audiences, actors, and creative teams.
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4Lesson 4The Technical DirectorStudents will analyze the role of a technical director. They will also explore safety standards within a technical theatre scene shop and construct a budget for an imaginary production.
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5Lesson 5The Stage ManagerStudents will analyze the role of a stage manager as well as employ service skills to facilitate solutions to issues that a stage manager may face.
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6Lesson 6Culminating ProjectStudents will identify skills of strong leadership in theatre management. They will employ leadership skills to create and accomplish project goals and objectives.
Standards Addressed
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 6
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 7
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 8
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Accomplished
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Advanced
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade HS Advanced
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade 7
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 8
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 8
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Proficient
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Accomplished
6.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
6.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
7.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
7.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
8.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Acc.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Adv.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Adv.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
6.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
7.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
7.TH:Re9 Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
8.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
8.TH:Pr6 Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Prof.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Prof.TH:Re9 Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Sixth Grade
- DT.6.1.2.b Students Can: Contribute ideas and accept and incorporate the ideas of others in preparing or devising a drama/theatre work.
- DT.6.1.4.c Students Can: Explore a planned technical design during the rehearsal process for a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
- DT.6.2.1.b Students Can: Experiment with various physical and vocal choices to communicate character in a drama/theatre work.
Seventh Grade
- DT.7.1.2.b Students Can: Demonstrate mutual respect for self and others and their roles in preparing or devising drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.1.4.c Students Can: Implement planned technical design elements during the rehearsal process for a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.2.2.b Students Can: Choose a variety of technical elements that can be applied to a design in a drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.3.4.b Students Can: Examine the aesthetics of the production elements in a drama/theatre work.
Eighth Grade
- DT.8.1.4.c Students Can: Implement and refine a planned technical design using simple technology during the rehearsal process for devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
- DT.8.2.2.b Students Can: Implement a variety of technical elements to create a design for a rehearsal or drama/theater production.
- DT.8.2.4.a Students Can: Perform/present a rehearsed/designed drama/theatre work for an audience.
High School - Fundamental Pathway
High School - Advanced Pathway
- DT.H2.1.2.b Students Can: Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.
- DT.H2.1.3.a Students Can: Choose and interpret a drama/theatre work to connect and question beliefs.
- DT.H2.1.4.c Students Can: Re-imagine and revise technical design choices during the course of a rehearsal process to enhance the story and emotional impact of a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
High School - Professional Pathway
- DT.H3.1.2.b Students Can: Collaborate as a creative team to discover artistic solutions and make interpretive choices in a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
- DT.H3.1.3.a Students Can: Collaborate on a drama/theatre work that examines a critical global issue using multiple personal, community, and cultural perspectives.
- DT.H3.2.2.b Students Can: Explain and justify the selection of technical elements used to build a design that communicates the concept of a drama/theatre production.
Language
Critical Thinking & Reflection
- TH.68.C.1.1 Devise an original work based on a community issue that explores various solutions to a problem.
- TH.68.C.1.4 Create and present a design, production concept, or performance and defend artistic choices.
- TH.68.C.1.5 Describe how a theatrical activity can entertain or instruct an audience.
- TH.68.C.1.6 Analyze selections from the canon of great world drama as a foundation for understanding the development of drama over time.
- TH.68.C.2.3 Ask questions to understand a peer's artistic choices for a performance or design.
- TH.68.C.2.4 Defend personal responses to a theatre production.
- TH.68.C.3.1 Discuss how visual and aural design elements communicate environment, mood, and theme in a theatrical presentation.
- TH.68.C.3.3 Determine personal strengths and challenges, using evaluations and critiques to guide selection of material for a portfolio.
- TH.912.C.2.2 Construct imaginative, complex scripts and revise them in collaboration with actors to convey story and meaning to an audience.
- TH.912.C.2.3 Analyze different types of stage configurations to determine the effects of each as potential production solutions.
Historical & Global Connections
- TH.68.H.1.1 Explore potential differences when performing works set in a variety of historical and cultural contexts.
- TH.68.H.1.3 Identify significant contributions of playwrights, actors, and designers and describe their dramatic heritage.
- TH.68.H.1.5 Describe one's own personal responses to a theatrical work and show respect for the responses of others.
- TH.68.H.2.3 Analyze theatre history and dramatic literature in the context of societal and cultural history.
- TH.68.H.2.5 Compare decorum, environments, and manners from a variety of cultures and historical periods to discover and influence historical acting styles and design choices.
- TH.68.H.2.6 Describe historical and cultural influences leading to changes in theatre performance spaces and technology.
- TH.68.H.2.7 Define theatre genres from different periods in history, giving examples of each.
- TH.68.H.2.8 Identify and describe theatrical resources in the community, including professional and community theatres, experts, and sources of scripts and materials.
- TH.68.H.3.1 Identify principles and techniques that are shared between the arts and other content areas.
- TH.68.H.3.3 Use brainstorming as a method to discover multiple solutions for an acting or technical challenge.
- TH.68.H.3.5 Describe how social skills learned through play participation are used in other classroom and extracurricular activities.
- TH.68.H.3.6 Discuss ways in which dance, music, and the visual arts enhance theatrical presentations.
Innovation, Technology & the Future
- TH.68.F.1.1 Manipulate various design components to imagine the world of the character.
- TH.68.F.2.1 Research careers in the global economy that are not directly related to the arts, but include skills that are arts based or derive part of their economic impact from the arts.
- TH.68.F.2.2 Identify industries within the state of Florida that have a significant impact on local economies, in which the arts are either directly or indirectly involved in their success.
- TH.68.F.2.3 Identify businesses that are directly or indirectly associated with school and community theatre, and calculate their impact on the local and/or regional economy.
- TH.912.F.3.2 Develop a production budget for a hypothetical performance, using real-world numbers, and determine how much to charge the audience in order to cover costs.
Organizational Structure
- TH.68.O.1.2 Discuss how color, line, shape, and texture are used to show emotion in technical theatre elements.
- TH.68.O.1.3 Explain the impact of choices made by directors, designers, and actors on audience understanding.
- TH.68.O.1.4 Discuss how the whole of a theatre performance is greater than the sum of its parts.
- TH.68.O.2.1 Diagram the major parts of a play and their relationships to each other.
- TH.68.O.2.2 Explain how a performance would change if depicted in a different location, time, or culture.
- TH.68.O.2.4 Perform a scene or pantomime to demonstrate understanding of blocking and stage movement.
- TH.68.O.2.5 Explain how the contributions of significant playwrights, performers, directors, designers, and producers from various cultures and historical periods have influenced the creative innovations of theatre.
- TH.68.O.3.2 Explore how theatre and theatrical works have influenced various cultures.
- TH.68.O.3.3 Discuss the collaborative nature of theatre and work together to create a scene or play, respecting group members' ideas and differences.
- TH.912.O.3.1 Analyze the methods of communication among directors, designers, stage managers, technicians, and actors that establish the most effective support of the creative process.
Skills, Techniques & Processes
- TH.68.S.1.3 Describe criteria for the evaluation of dramatic texts, performances, direction, and production elements.
- TH.68.S.2.1 Discuss the value of collaboration in theatre and work together to create a theatrical production.
- TH.68.S.2.4 Memorize and present a character's lines from a monologue or scene.
- TH.68.S.3.4 Lead small groups to safely select and create elements of technical theatre to signify a character or setting.
- TH.912.S.1.7 Interpret dramatic texts, organize and conduct rehearsals, and justify directorial choices for formal and informal productions.
- TH.912.S.1.8 Use research to extract clues in dramatic texts to create performances or technical elements, choosing those that are most interesting and that best convey dramatic intent.
Grade 7 - Creating
- TA7.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Identify and rehearse effective communication skills.<br/>b. Compare and contrast character types and relationships by analyzing character motivations, objectives, and goals.<br/>c. Compare the physical, emotional, vocal, and social dimensions of a character.<br/>d. Investigate the role and responsibility of the cast and crew.<br/>e. Identify and model ensemble skills in the rehearsal process.<br/>f. Utilize staging and blocking choices to enhance the performance.<br/>g. Compare, contrast, and design elements of technical theatre.<br/>h. Utilize theatre vocabulary throughout the rehearsal process.
- TA7.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Create ideas for stories.<br/>b. Analyze the theme and structure of a play.<br/>c. Use the dramatic writing process to generate a script.<br/>d. Utilize dramatic conventions in the scriptwriting process (e.g. stage directions, dialogue, scenes).
Grade 8 - Performing
- TA8.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.<br/>a. Demonstrate the physical, emotional, vocal, and social dimensions of a character in different types of theatre performances (e.g. rate, pitch, volume, inflection, posture, facial expression, motivation, physical movement).<br/>b. Demonstrate appropriate ensemble skills throughout a performance.<br/>c. Use appropriate listening and response skills during performances.
- TA8.PR.2 Execute artistic and technical elements of theatre.<br/>a. Incorporate artistic and technical elements into a theatre production.<br/>b. Resolve conflicts in technical applications.
Grades 9-12 - ADVANCED DRAMA LEVELS I-IV -Performing
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Responding
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Performing
Beginning High School Create
Beginning High School Present
Intermediate High School Create
Intermediate High School Present
Accomplished High School Create
Accomplished High School Present
Advanced High School Create
Beginning High School Standards - Aesthetics
Intermediate High School Standards - Communication
Intermediate High School Standards - Aesthetics
Proficient High School Standards - Aesthetics
Advanced High School Standards - Communication
Advanced High School Standards - Aesthetics
MS 117.211 LI - Creative Expression: production
MS 117.212 LII - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.212 LII - Creative Expression: production
HS 117.315 LI - Creative Expression: production
HS 117.316 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: production
HS 117.317 LIII - Creative Expression: production
- C.3.A experiment with technical elements of theatre safely and effectively in improvisation or scripted scenes or plays.
- C.3.D perform a role such as actor, director, designer, technician, or editor in production decision making and collaborate with others to tell a story through live theatre or media performance.
- C.3.E perform the role of actor, director, or technician, demonstrating responsibility, artistic discipline, and creative problem solving.
HS 117.318 LIV - Creative Expression: production
Technical Theatre/Design 10-20-30 - Costume
Technical Theatre/Design 10-20-30 - Lighting
Technical Theatre/Design 10-20-30 - Management - Stage
Technical Theatre/Design 10-20-30 - Management - Properties
Technical Theatre/Design 10-20-30 - Management - Set
Technical Theatre/Design 10-20-30 - Management - Sound
Junior Orientation
Junior Goal I Objectives
Technical Theatre - Levels I, II, III - Awareness
Technical Theatre - Levels I, II, III - Readiness
Senior Goal I Objectives
Orientation Drama 10
- cope with success and failure in positive ways
- demonstrate self-discipline, self-direction and a sense of responsibility
- display consideration and respect for self and others
- listen to self and others
- make effective decisions or choices
- positively support the work of others
- share ideas confidently
- work cooperatively and productively
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
- Create artistic works collaboratively and as an individual using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play
- Intentionally select and apply materials, movements, technologies, environments, tools, and techniques by combining and arranging artistic elements, processes, and principles in art making
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
- Create artistic works collaboratively and as an individual using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play
- Intentionally select and apply materials, movements, technologies, environments, tools, and techniques by combining and arranging artistic elements, processes, and principles in art making
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
Grade 7 - Creating and Presenting
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Concepts and Terminology
Grades 9 & 10 - Creating and Presenting - Presentation Techniques & Technologies
Grade 11 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - The Critical Analysis Process
Grade 11 - Creating and Presenting - Presentation Techniques & Technologies
Grade 12 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grade Six
Grade Six
Grade Six
Grade Seven
Grade Seven
Grade Seven
Grade Eight
Grade Eight
- 8.9 The student will examine a selected career in theatre, television, film, or contemporary media.
- 8.10 The student will explore the use of digital media in the creative process and in the production of a theatre performance.
- 8.11 The student will synthesize knowledge from other content areas to support theatre arts processes.
Grade Eight
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
Theatre Arts II: Dramatic Literature And Theatre History
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
Theatre Arts IV: Advanced Acting And Directing
Technical Theatre
- TT.12 The student will identify and apply safety guidelines for all aspects of technical theatre work.
- TT.13 The student will describe the different types of theatre spaces (e.g., proscenium, thrust, area), suggesting specific design considerations for each.
- TT.14 The student will identify the components of the theatre facility.
- TT.15 The student will identify the responsibilities of the running crews.
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