kids think design | film+theater design

LEARN THE LINGO

BACKSTAGE: In a theater, the part of the stage that is out of the audience’s view.

COSTUME: A style of clothing, accessories and hairstyle worn by actors in a film or play. A costume helps establish the character and may represent a specific country, period or people.

PROPS: Items other than costumes, lighting or scenery that are used by an actor to add meaning or realism to a film, theater or television performance.

SCENE: A block of storytelling that is either set in one location or follows a specific character. The end of a scene is usually marked by a change in location, style or time.

SET: Scenery and other objects that are designed and constructed to represent the place where the action of a film or theater production is taking place.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1. Which U.S. President appeared in “Annie”?
a) George W. Bush
b) Lyndon B. Johnson
c) Franklin D. Roosevelt
2. Approximately how many puppets and masks are used in the Broadway production of “The Lion King”?
a) 100
b) 250
c) 500
3. Who wrote the music for “Billy Elliot?”
a) Bono of U2
b) Lady Gaga
c) Elton John
4. The Broadway show “Wicked” is a spin-off of which movie?
a) “The Wizard of Oz”
b) “The Sound of Music”
c) “Oklahoma!”
5. The “Mary Poppins” Broadway show was based on:
a) A Disney film
b) An original series of books
c) Both the books and the film
6. Which superhero currently stars in a Broadway musical?
a) Superman
b) Spiderman
c) Wonder Woman

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how color lights the stage

Stage lighting creates the visibility and mood of a concert, play, ballet, opera or other performance. It is based on an understanding of how color and light relate to each other.

stage lights Color consists of light waves of varying lengths. When white light shines through a prism, it is broken apart into the colors of the rainbow, or the visible light spectrum. Color from the light spectrum is called additive color because when the primary colors of light — red (R), green (G) and blue (B) — are projected, the area where they overlap “adds up” to white light.

By shining white light through transparent filters or colored gels, lighting designers vary the intensity, color and movement of light to help direct our eye to certain characters or action taking place on the stage.

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