Theatre is a combination of many talents. They range from acting to costume design to building the set. The set is made up of various props on-stage that show the audience where the characters are.
At Pleasant Valley the set department works on every show from the musical to the murder mystery. Although the amount of work may differ between shows, the process of how the department prepares the stage is the same every time.
The first step in the process starts with the set designer and the adult in charge of the department: Francis Dunbar. Dunbar begins reading the show’s script over a month before the show begins. While reading the script, he will note any important details, such as certain tables or buildings. Also, he will see if there are any other inferred items that would make the story- telling more realistic.
Next, he researches his ideas and gains inspiration by watching videos of other productions. He then will take those photos and combine them with his original ideas. Dunbar will draw out this combination to finalize the ideas and show the director. These drawings will go through many revisions.
The director of the show will look at the drawings Dunbar has created and share his thoughts on what he likes, doesn’t like, and how things could be changed. The two will agree on the designs and colors for all the pieces. After this, Dunbar creates blueprints for the individual pieces and how the the pieces will work together on the set
These blueprints are very detailed with precise colors and sizes. “Really planning the set out allows for better time and material management, and allows the vision the come through,” said Dunbar. He has also started using a 3D modeling software called VectorWorks. This program creates realistic images of what the set will look like during the show.
The blueprints are then handed to the set head, a student in charge of a majority of the building process. For the production of She Kills Monsters, the set head is Madeline Budan. Budan is sophomore who works on the set almost every day. “I really enjoy doing set because I like to help from behind the scenes, and it allows me to be creative and build amazing things,” she said.
The set head works with a crew of other students who all help to build the pieces. The crew works in a shop that is connected to the theatre. Because people who are in the show cannot do set at the same time, students dedicate their spare time on the weekends to working on the set. Because it takes so long to build the set, the crew works up until the show’s opening night to complete the finishing touches. However, for many people the set is a key aspect of theatre. “Set is important because it helps complete the stage and support the suspension of disbelief,” said Dunbar. The set process can be a lot of work, but the students and adults overcome this challenge every show.
