Exploring Different Staging Modalities Vis-À-Vis Envisioning the Script
- 1. Let’s play a game! 4 pic 1 word
- 6. 1.Recall the best performance you saw or did in a skit or drama in the classroom. 2.What made that experience outstanding, funny or meaningful? Be specific. 3.Based on your answer on the previous question, what are the things that we need to consider when we are performing on stage or classroom? 4. What are the possible problems or hindrances you might encounter while performing on stage or in class? 5. What can you improve next time in your
- 7. Exploring Different Staging Modalities Vis- À-Vis Envisioning the Script
- 8. WHAT IS STAGING? Staging is the process of adapting, modifying or changing the performance space for a drama or skit. The goal of staging is to improve the overall delivery of your drama which may include such things as positions of actors on stage, their gestures and movements, the scenic background, the props and costumes,
- 9. WHAT IS STAGING? Staging in film also refers to blocking, whereby actors are strategically placed for the purpose of enhancing performance (Roberts, 2017). The way the audience sees how performers are farther or closer to one another affects the drama greatly. This is part of the staging process, along with others which will be discussed briefly.
- 10. What is Staging? Staging is the position of the acting area in relation to the audience. The Acting Area is the available space occupied by the set and used by the actors
- 11. Areas of the Stage The stage where the actors perform the drama in front of an audience is divided into the following areas as described by Theatre Solutions, Inc (2017):
- 12. 1. Upstage. It is the area that is considered the furthest from the audience. The upstage is divided into upstage right (USR), upstage center (USC), and upstage left (USL). 2. Acting Area/Center Stage (CS). This is the location where the actors are expected to perform and where much of the set is placed.
- 13. 3. Downstage. It is the area that is considered the closest to the audience. The downstage is divided into downstage right (DSR), downstage center (DSC), and downstage left (DSL). 4. Cross Over. This area is utilized by the performers as they travel from the left side to the right side, the stage hands and the technicians which is purposely concealed from the audiences’ sight
- 14. 5. Stage Right (SR) and Stage Left (SL). This is the area to the left and right of the performers (audience’s right and left respectively) where it may be utilized as the performers’ acting area if the need arises. It also has off right and off left which may serve as points for the entrance and exit of the performers when they need to. Both the off right and off left are hidden from the audience.
- 15. DIFFERENT STAGING MODALITIES • Stage Modifications • Blocking Or Positioning Of Actors • Audience Placement • Script Adjustment
- 16. 1. STAGE MODIFICATIONS First up is the stage modification. Before we begin, we need to clarify that stage is not limited to one place, because wherever you perform, that place becomes your stage. That is why it is incredibly important to choose where to perform. You must be aware of what features are available that you can change or use.
- 17. According to Mendenhall (2017) here are some of the different types of theatrical stages: a. Proscenium b. Thrust c. Arena Stage d. Flexible Theater Stage e. Profile Theater Stage
- 18. a. Proscenium This type of stage looks like a “window” where actors only focus in performing for a fixed audience that is solely located in front of them.
- 20. b. Thrust This stage is usually raised and surrounded by three sides with fixed audiences with the fourth side serving as the background.
- 22. c. Arena Stage This theatre stage is surrounded by audiences on all sides and is often elevated to improve visibility.
- 24. d. Flexible Theater Stage This type of stage looks like an empty box where the audience’s location and the main stage could change according to the needs of the drama or the instruction of the director. The area for audiences is flexible.
- 25. e. Profile Theater Stage This stage only has audiences seated on risers on both its sides and has no background.
- 26. 2. BLOCKING AND POSITIONING OF PERFORMERS The positioning of actors on a stage is a huge part in producing an emotional effect on the audience. That is why it is important to know the basics of dividing the stage into the following parts as illustrated
- 28. To instruct actors in their script to move to the center stage is to denote that attention should be focused on them. The same is true as well when you direct them to move forward downstage center, wherein they get closer to the audience for closer visibility and audibility. That is why according to Mendenhall (2017) it is important to note in your script where
- 29. 3. AUDIENCE PLACEMENT Third on the list is audience placement. Where the audience during the drama and how they are arranged greatly affects the production process. If they are only placed in front, the actors would just have to act in one direction, however, if they are placed in three other places, then actors should be
- 30. Staging and Staging Modalities are essential part of performance and in improving the act of drama. The stage in itself and its features, if masterfully utilized by the director, transforms into the visual representation of his imagination. Therein the actors and actresses can block and know the importance of positioning themselves against the audience; they can estimate their voice projection and most importantly move seamlessly across the
- 31. 4. Script Editing This refers to the consideration that the script writer has to the overall staging process. As mentioned earlier, writing a script that directs where the actors or actresses should go greatly helps the flow and transition of characters on stage. If you tell your lead actress to move closer to the audience, she gains more attention, if you instruct her to move away to the back, that makes her less important. This is why as a script writer or a director, considering the stage, audience placement, and actor positioning is incredibly important to wrap up an effective play.
- 33. The stage of a drama tells the flow of the play and how it will be presented aside from its dialogue. These two (stage and dialogue) are important elements to bring the characters to life. Writing a one-act play is very limited in terms of its setting and staging soi t is necessary to utilize all the available resources. Adams (2014) pointed out that the design of the set can dramatically alter how actors perform in the play. That is why it is important
- 34. Dialogue reveals character. The words of the characters tell much about the character’s social/cultural background, education and emotional/psychological state. In revealing a character through dialogue, a playwright must make important artistic decisions to do with how a character speaks. Each time a character exchanges word determines their identity as the protagonist and antagonist of the story. Dialogue is considered as an important aspect that a playwright has to achieve purposely in order to channel important idea towards the audience .
- 35. Further, the following should be followed when writing a play according to Adams (2014): 1. Create an interesting plot. The audience should be able to follow it from the beginning to the end. 2. Decide on your structure. The location of the play should only be limited to be able to translate on stage.
- 36. 3. Decide how you want it to look. Consider the different types of stage and decide which one to use in the play. The author should visualize it when writing. The layout must be easy to follow and the audience must not be distracted. An eye-catching but not distracting backdrop can work better than lots of props on the stage.
- 37. 4. Know your audience. The playwright should take note of the audience’s age, gender, demographic, class, background, education and others. 5. Create interesting characters. Each of the characters should be unique and easy for the audience to identify.
- 38. Staging also becomes successful with the visual details involve in the drama such as blocking (precise staging of actors in order to facilitate the performance of a play), scenic background (setting of a production), stage directions and sound effects.
- 39. Stage Directions is written inside round brackets, described how the actors, in the portrayal of their characters, are expected to move, act, and speak. Stage directions also describe other ‘movements’ on stage such as sound and light effects. A writer must take note that the use of the present tense is observed in
- 40. THANK YOU!
- 42. ACTIVITY:
- 43. Directions: Answer the following questions taken from the previous discussion. Be specific with your answers. 1. STAGE MODIFICATION Which stage closely resembles your own classroom and why? 2. BLOCKING AND POSITIONING OF PERFORMERS Which designated areas of the stage would give your actor more attention? 3. AUDIENCE PLACEMENT Where would you prefer the audience to be: in front or surrounding you? Why? 4. SCRIPT EDITING Do you believe that a script without blocking instructions is