Course Syllabus

INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN FOR THE THEATRE - TDDE1 FALL 2024

Instructor: Mark Guirguis

Lectures: Monday and Wednesday 1:00 – 1:50, PODEMOS 1A18

Office Hours: Thursdays 11-12 PM (other hours by appointment)

Galbraith Hall 102. Phone: 858–822-6708. E-mail: mguirguis@ucsd.edu

Theatre and Dance Department Office: located inside Galbraith Hall - grass level, south side

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Discussion sections will meet in-person, in Galbraith Hall, Room 102.

SECTION: Teaching Assistant:

A01-Tuesday: 11:00AM-12:20PM Ting Xiong: tixiong@ucsd.edu

A02-Tuesday: 12:30PM-1:50PM Ting Xiong: tixiong@ucsd.edu

A03-Wednesday: 3:30PM-4:50PM Nataly Ceniceros: nceniceros@ucsd.edu

A04-Thursday: 2:00PM-3:20PM Harper Justus: hjustus@ucsd.edu

A05-Thursday: 3:30PM-4:50PM Harper Justus: hjustus@ucsd.edu

(TA office hours, contact information, and office/studio room numbers announced in section.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is intended to be a survey of contemporary concepts and practices of the theatre design (set, costume, lighting, and sound). It includes reading of plays, introductory design work, visual criticism, and discussion of many studio practices. Students will execute digital models, drawings, as well as use other visual forms of expression to present their design ideas.

READINGS:

Recommended:

Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
Vinegar Tom by Caryl Churchill

OTHER MATERIALS:

Physical materials for collages

Color medium for rendering projects

All materials will be discussed in class and information provided on Canvas

All worksheets and templates will be available on Canvas

PAPERS / DISCUSSIONS:

*All papers must be typed.

*Students are expected to participate in discussion sections.

* Students are required to see Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen , showing WEEK 6 and 7, and Vinegar Tom by Caryl Churchill, showing WEEKS 8 and 10.

Please check the Department of Theatre and Dance website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/season/index.html

PROJECTS ARE DUE EACH WEEK IN SECTION: GUIDELINES ARE EXPLAINED IN LECTURE.

FINAL PROJECT –FINISHED DIGITAL MODEL,COSTUME RENDERINGS, LIGHTING+SOUND IDEAS, REFINED.

This is a script-based project. Complete instructions are going to be discussed in lecture

*Students are responsible for keeping their research images throughout the quarter. These will be potentially uploaded with the final project. Keep all research images that you collect throughout the quarter.

REVIEW OF GRADING:

Character collages 50

3-D environmental collage 50

concept ideas collage 50

Initial costume sketches 100

set design: Initial Ideas 100

Initial lighting ideas 100

Initial sound design ideas 100

Completed final project 200

Quizzes 150

Written response of department production:

(two-page paper due) 100

Total 1000 points

100 - 90 % = A+ - A-

89 - 80 % = B+ - B-

79 - 70 % = C+ - C-

69 - 60% = D+ - D-

59 -0% = F

Check your grading option. The department does not approve retroactive grading options.

PASS/NO PASS students must complete all assignments, exams, etc, and must have a passing grade of a solid C. No exceptions.

Attendance is very important. One unexcused absence drops your grade 1 grade point (i.e. A to an A-). Two unexcused tardies equals one absence.

-Projects handed in late will automatically receive a 25% penalty.

ATTENDANCE:

Participation in section discussions is expected.

This is a highly visually oriented class. Use of images & other presentations during lectures provides essential information for development of individual projects. This information cannot be obtained without attending lectures and sections.

One unexcused absence drops your grade 1 grade point (i.e. A to an A-). Two unexcused tardies equals one absence.

WEEKLY CALENDAR OF TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS (subject to modification)

TDDE 1 - Introduction to Design for the Theatre

FALL 2024

WEEK 1----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

READING: Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl

Monday, September 30th

LECTURE: Introduction to class, organization of sections, introduction to projects, papers, and readings

Wednesday, October 2nd

LECTURE: Role of the theatre designer, Visual elements of design.

SECTION: All sections meet this week at scheduled times-

Bring at least 4-8 image samples and materials to section for discussion….

Think about Shapes, Colors, and Textures that reflect you personally.

Plan to present these together as a collage.

All examples you bring should be ABSTRACT

WEEK 2------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 7th

LECTURE: Reading Quiz + Discussion: Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl

Visual principles of design

Wednesday, October 9th

LECTURE: Elements and principles of design: continued

SECTION: Present character collages--with written statement

WEEK 3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 14th

LECTURE: The Design Process

Wednesday, October 16th

LECTURE: Developing a design concept

SECTION: 3-D environmental collage -with written statement

WEEK 4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 21st

LECTURE: Set design

Wednesday, October 23rd

LECTURE: Components of a Proscenium Theatre

SECTION: Share initial concept research images-with written statement.

Scale Model Exercise

WEEK 5---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 28th

LECTURE: TBD

Wednesday, October 30th

LECTURE: Costume design

SECTION: Initial Set Design Ideas for discussion -with written statement

WEEK 6----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, November 4th

LECTURE: Drawing character figures. Quiz I Review

Wednesday, November 6th

LECTURE: QUIZ 1

SECTION: Costume sketches due--with written statement

*see Hedda Gabler this week. See Department website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/performances-and-events/theatre-performances/hedda-gabler.html

WEEK 7------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

READING: Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen

Monday, November 11th

LECTURE: Lighting Design

Wednesday, November 13th

LECTURE: Lighting design

SECTION: Lighting collage due- with written statement

*Schedule individual appointments with your T.A.

*see Hedda Gabler this week. See Department website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/performances-and-events/theatre-performances/hedda-gabler.html

WEEK 8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

READING: Vinegar Tom

Monday, November 18th

LECTURE: Design Implementation

Wednesday, November 20th

LECTURE: The final project: methods and materials

SECTION: Sound design presentations-with written statement

*see Vinegar Tom this week. See Department website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/performances-and-events/theatre-performances/vinegar-tom.html

WEEK 9------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, November 25th

LECTURE: Final Guidelines

Wednesday, November 27th

LECTURE: Quiz II review

SECTION: Sections will not meet this week. Schedule individual appointments with your T.A.

WEEK 10--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, December 2nd

LECTURE: Final discussion, feed back session. Preparing the design presentation.

Final Quiz Review

Wednesday, December 4th

LECTURE: Final Quiz

SECTION: All sections meet for final presentations: final project due

*see Vinegar Tom this week. See Department website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/performances-and-events/theatre-performances/vinegar-tom.html

FINALS WEEK--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12/9/2024

Monday

11:30 AM-2:29PM Upload your Final Project

Office for Student with Disabilities

Students requesting accommodations and services for this course due to a disability need to provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) prior to eligibility for requests. Receipt of AFAs in advance is necessary for appropriate planning for the provision of reasonable accommodations. OSD Academic Liaisons also need to receive current AFA letters if there are any changes to accommodations. For additional information, contact the Office for Students with Disabilities: 858-534-4382 (V); 959.534.9709 (TTY) – reserved for people who are deaf or hard of hearing; or email: osd@ucsd.edu. For more, see: http://disabilities.ucsd.edu.

Standards of Academic Integrity

Each student is responsible to know and observe the UCSD rules concerning academic integrity and plagiarism. Familiarize yourselves and be cognizant of your responsibilities and rights under the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship:

http://senate.ucsd.edu/manual/appendices/appendix2.pdf .

Your responsibilities and rights under the UCSD Student Code of Conduct can be found at: http://ugr8.ucsd.edu/judicial/22_00.html.

A student found to have violated the university’s academic integrity standards will be subject to penalties ranging from failing the assignment or course to suspension or expulsion from the university, and an academic misconduct charge will be noted on your academic record. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it, or how to credit the work of others properly, or how to evaluate sources for quality and reliability, or about any other pertinent issue, speak with your professor or TA. Ignorance of these standards will not be accepted as justification for their violation, so be sure to understand and abide by them.