Completely expanded and remodeled new edition of this unique look at theatrical scenery construction.

This invaluable guide takes a step-by-step approach to the most common and popular theatre production practices and covers important issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. This new edition of the Illustrated Theatre Production Guide uniquely shows you how to build scenery through detailed lessons and hundreds of drawings. The illustrations make this book like no other and offers solutions to problems that you face, from rigging and knot tying, to drapery folding and the most detailed information on metal framing available. Written for the community theatre worker who has to be a jack of all trades and the student who needs to learn the fundamentals, respected author John Holloway teaches in a way that covers the necessities but doesn't bog you down with heavy language and boring verbosity. New features in this book range from expanded information on metal framing and foam construction to brand new elements such as a chapter on stage management and an extremely helpful Website with videos -- meant to go along with the informative section on projects. These videos take you from the drawings and descriptions in the book to the video instructions that will help you learn visually. A must have for the theatre professional as a guide to refer back to over and over again.

In this newly revised second edition, veteran stage designers and technical directors Dennis Dorn and Mark Shanda introduce industry-standard drafting and designing practices with step-by-step discussions, illustrations, worksheets, and problems to help students develop and refine drafting and other related skills needed for entertainment set production work. By incorporating the foundational principles of both hand- and computer-drafting approaches throughout the entire book, the authors illustrate how to create clear and detailed drawings that advance the production process. Early chapters focus on the basics of geometric constructions, orthographic techniques, soft-line sketching applications, lettering, and dimensioning. Later chapters discuss real-life applications of production drawing and ancillary skills such as time and material estimation and shop-drawing nomenclature. Two chapters detail a series of design and shop drawings required to mount a specific design project, providing a guided path through both phases of the design/construction process. Most chapters conclude with one or more worksheets or problems that provide readers with an opportunity to test their understanding of the material presented. The authors' discussion of universal CAD principles throughout the manuscript provides a valuable foundation that can be used in any computer-based design, regardless of the software. Dorn and Shanda treat the computer as another drawing tool, like the pencil or T-square, but one that can help a knowledgeable drafter potentially increase personal productivity and accuracy when compared to traditional hand-drafting techniques. Drafting for the Theatre, second edition assembles in one book all the principal types of drawings, techniques, and conventional wisdom necessary for the production of scenic drafting, design, and shop drawings. It is richly illustrated with numerous production examples and is fully indexed to assist students and technicians in finding important information. It is structured to support a college-level course in drafting, but will also serve as a handy reference for the working theatre professional.

Stagecraft Fundamentals Second Edition tackles every aspect of theatre production with Emmy Award-winning author Rita Kogler Carver's signature witty and engaging voice. The history of stagecraft, safety precautions, lighting, costumes, scenery, career planning tips, and more are discussed, illustrated by beautiful color examples that display step-by-step procedures and the finished product. This second edition offers even more in-demand information on stage management, drawing and drafting (both by hand and CAD), lighting fixtures, and special effects. Also new to this edition are current articles from Lighting and Sound America, brand new diagrams that illustrate hard-to-grasp concepts, and a plethora of information on European conversions, standards, and practices, making the skills you learn applicable to stage jobs on either side of the ocean! The accompanying website, www.stagecraftfundamentals.com is bursting with additional material such as an instructor's manual, CAD drawings, color theory, manufacturing information, and so much more to help you along the way as you learn all about the world of theatre production! Praise for the Book: Beautifully written! The author has succeeded in relaying technical theatre information without being too technical and putting the reader to sleep. I read three sentences and instantly knew this book was for me and the way I teach. When I think back on the insufferable intro to tech theatre books I had to read, I feel cheated I didn't have this one as a student. I will be using this text in my class! -- Rob Napoli, Designer and Technical Director at Penn State University, Berks Campus This text has temped me to return to teaching with a textbook for the first time in seven years. The language is both accessible and informal yet the text goes a long way in debunking some of the typical jargon that may alienate students just getting into the field, or trying it out for the first time. The illustrations (the text is full of them) coupled with the stories reinforce the fundamental information being conveyed. -- John Paul Devlin, Associate Professor of Theatre at Saint Michael's College What a great idea! Thank heavens someone is doing this for students at that impressionable age. That has been one of my mantras - education of teachers and students on the use of scenic materials. The teachers don't have enough time in college to learn and do everything they have to teach. Most get thrown into the theatre area by default and struggle with designing/building/painting the scenery. -- Jenny Knott, Rosco Stagecraft Fundamentals is beautifully illustrated throughout, and the pofusion of color on every page gives this textbook the appearance of a coffee table book. The writing is clear and personal, which should be very appealing to students. Rita Carver covers all aspects of theatre production from scenery, to lighting, to an actor's makeup. Her close ties to the New York theatre scene gives this book a special insight into the professional world, one that goes well beyond what is found in most college textbooks. -- John Holloway, Professor in the Theatre Department at the University of Kentucky and President of the International Association of Theatrical stage Employees (IATSE) Local 346. I can't thank you enough for Stagecraft Fundamentals. I have been teaching stagecraft since 1976 and you have saved me from the nightmare of writing a text to suit my class needs..After two semesters with your text, I have found that I had more time to develop the skills necessary within the classroom than before. The humor that you have infused in the book has enticed my students to read on. That alone makes this text invaluable. --Meta Lasch, Assistant Professor, West Liberty University

Illustrated Theatre Production Guide delivers a step-by-step approach to the most prevalent and established theatreproduction practices, focusing on essential issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. A must-have resource for both the community theatre worker who must be a jack of all trades and the student who needs to learn the fundamentals on his or her own, it covers the necessities in great detail, without bogging you down. Offering techniques and best-practice methods from an experienced industry expert, it will allow you to create a foundation on which to build a successful and resourceful career behind the scenes in theatre production. This third edition has been completely restructured to more effectively lead you through the basics of stagecraft. Through detailed lessons and hundreds of drawings, author John Holloway offers you solutions to the problems that you’ll face every day in a production, from rigging to knot tying. New to this edition are guides to jobs in theatre, construction documentation, and video projection methods, with expanded information on Thrust Theatres, lighting, audio and video practices. This book is suitable for Stagecraft courses in university Theatre programs, as well as for professional theatre technicians.

Now in its fourth edition, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide delivers a step-by-step approach to the most prevalent and established theatre production practices, focusing on essential issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. Offering techniques and best-practice methods from experienced industry experts, this book allows readers to create a foundation on which to build a successful and resourceful career behind the scenes in theatre production. The new edition has been fully updated to include the latest technology and current practices, with four new chapters on Safety, Automation, Digital Fabrication, and the Production Process, and an emphasis on inclusivity and gender-neutral language. A must-have resource for both the community theatre worker who must be a jack of all trades and the student who needs to learn the fundamentals on his or her own, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide covers all the necessities of theatre production through detailed lessons and hundreds of drawings. The book also includes access to a companion website featuring instruction videos, tips for an eco-friendly production, and additional images and resources.

Drafting Fundamentals for the Entertainment Classroom: A Process-Based Introduction to Hand Drafting, Vectorworks, and SketchUp guides students through a syllabus-formatted semester of integrated drafting concepts and skills. This book links beginner visualization practices with fundamental software knowledge through step-by-step exercises and examples. By presenting hand drafting and Vectorworks through incremental exercises, students not only gain an understanding of the tools used in drafting but also learn why the tools, practices, and standards exist in the first place. SketchUp, a user-friendly 3D modeling program, is integrated into the various exercises to help readers visualize concepts and begin modeling their own ideas. By the end of the book, students will understand drawing construction techniques, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)-recommended graphic standards, and the typical drawings created for entertainment design, preparing them to dive more deeply into the further complexities and opportunities of Vectorworks and SketchUp. Drafting Fundamentals for the Entertainment Classroom is written to complement a 14- or 15-week semester of an Entertainment Drafting course. The book’s format also provides structure for independent and self-directed study.