​

Technical Theatre 
Stagecraft and Design

Mr. Chuck Manthe
Theatre Arts Division, Director [email protected]
Theatre Office: 61 & Studio: 62
408-535-6300 x64361
www.mrmanthe.com

Tours & Trips
NYC TOUR - SPRING BREAK 2020

As a member of this class you are eligible and invited to attend the Theatre Tour.  I must have a private meeting with your parents to get their permission as this is most likely your first year in my class.  You will need to fundraise or pay directly in order to participate.  This is a voluntary tour and will not have any impact on your grade.

Other trips during the school year might be arranged and are never mandatory nor do they impact grades. 
Behind the scenes
​is what being a technician is all about and this course allows the student to put into practice what they’ve learned and will learn in this hands-on class. Lincoln’s Tech class provides challenging technical theatre scenarios for the advanced technician including leadership roles such as crew chief or house manager, mainstage production team, design assignments, historical research and dramaturgy, box office marketing and public affairs.  The first year Stagecraft students are exposed to a variety of activities relating to technical aspects of a theatrical performance and the support structure of a production.  Skills practiced include set design and construction, special effects, lighting design, sound design, costume design and creation, makeup application and stage management.
What you will learn
  • Develop a positive understanding of the elements of design. 
  • Identify and apply the connection between the script and the elements of design. 
  • Successfully solve the difficulties of connecting the design elements with practical consideration of the play production. 
  • Demonstrate proficient construction techniques by building sets, costumes and by executing lighting and sound plots. 
  • Successfully design or assist with the implementation of sound, lights, props or set for a mainstage production. 
A short list of opportunities!
Build Sets
Paint Scenery
Make Props
Design Sets, Props, and Costumes
Hand and focus lights
Run Sound
Be an Usher
Stage Manage
Be on Deck Crew
and SO MUCH MORE!

THIS CLASS REQUIRES YOU TO WORK AFTER SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST 15 NIGHTS AND SOME WEEKENDS. ATTENDING ALL SHOWS AND WORK DAYS IS NOT OPTIONAL AND IS A LARGE PART OF YOUR GRADE. 

Production Attendance: 
Mark your calendar now! You must attend, be in or crew these theatre program shows. Additionally, you must attend a production outside of our theatre department at LHS. You can attend Opening Night and any Matinee for free as long as tickets exist. Be sure to get a ticket early. Your ticket will need to be scanned in at the performance to get credit. 

Shakespeare  in  Love: September 19 - 21, 2019
Matilda the Musical: November 7 - 16, 2019
Be More Chill: March 26 - April  4, 2020
Puffs: April 30 - May 2, 2020
​One Acts: May 19 - 21, 2020 , you will attend a night and work  a night. Option for StageManager. 
GENERAL SAFETY
You can be injured or even meet your demise if you aren't being safe in Tech Theatre Class. 
  • Wear comfortable, snug fitting clothes, secure long hair and remove jewelry for work in the shop and with tools.  Jewelry, hair and loose clothes can be caught in moving machinery. 
  • Shoes with stiff soles that will resist punctures are recommended. All shoes must be closed toed. NO SANDALS, FLIP FLOPS OR BARE FEET EVER. Students with improper footwear will be asked to sit out thus lowering their ethics grade as they are unprepared. 
  • Eye protection is REQUIRED while using a power tool. You may purchase a personal pair in class or get your own.  There are a few loaners.
  • There are first aide kits by the door in room 61, in the booth and in the shop.  These are to be used for minor scrapes.  Major injuries must be reported and dealt with in the health office. 
  • Those with a genuine fear of the power tools in our shop will not be forced to use them but you’ll still need to help in other ways such as holding boards while they’re being cut. ​

Requirements and Projects

Projects:
 Graded assignments will focus on the areas below.

​ Tech Team: Daily projects where we work together. Painting the floor, setting up the chairs, 

Theatre Ethics: Caring for tools, following safety procedures, cleaning up at the end of the period. Working Lunch Crew.

Written: Performance Reviews, Defense of design elements. 

Construction & Design: Design and build sets, props from sketches to technical drawings. 
​
​Performance Crew:  All students are required to work a production. This includes a week of rehearsal and one to two  weeks of shows. This can't be made up. 
Class Requirements 
  • ATTENDING AFTER SCHOOL, EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS. 
  • Attend class and participate fully daily, at rehearsal and during performances. 
  • Complete assigned tasks by deadlines. 
  • Improve knowledge of the theatre arts as an artist and not treat the class as a diploma requirement. 
  • Project a positive and respectful attitude toward the class and instructor. 
  • Commit to the class and it’s outside requirements. 
  • Participate in fundraiser.  Working in the kitchen is not an option. You will do it. 
  • Participate in theatre department events as requested such as setting up a stage for a special event outside. 
Behavior Expectations 
  • Respect everyone and our space at all times.
  • Enjoy what you do safely!
  • STAY BUSY. If you are not VISIBLY working, you will be marked absent.
  • Bad attitudes, food and drinks stay outside. 
  • Consequences: (1) Warning, (2) Sit Out, (3) Parent Contact (4) Referral 
  • Breaking School Rules: as prescribed by the student handbook, you will be punished accordingly.
  • You are trusted to be working on your tech project in this class. Anything other than that is suspect behavior and will be punished accordingly. 
Materials 
  • You will need these items daily and will be assigned a locker to keep them in: work and paint clothes, safety glasses, closed toe shoes and pencils. You will NOT be allowed to participate without closed toe shoes. You will lose points if you can't participate. NO open toed shoes, can't repeat that enough. 

Grade Scale & Overview

Grading: Category Expectations
The 5 Score
A grade - superior, high quality work. Completes all assignments, shows originality and initiative, does more than required, is always attentive, and contributes positively to the class.  Exceeding most and meeting all Advanced CA Standards in Theatre Arts. 


The 4 Score
B grade - positive accomplishment that is above the average. Completes most assignments, shows a desire to do better, attentive and participatory in class. Meeting  Most Advanced and Exceeding All Proficient CA Standards in Theatre Arts. 


The 3 Score
C grade - acceptable, average understanding of standards. Generally completes most assignments, shows interest in work, is usually attentive in class, completes work on time. Meeting Proficient CA Standards in Theatre Arts. 


The 2 Score
D grade - more effort is needed to meet standards of this course. Completes a minimum of assignments, not attentive in class and seldom responds in class. Not meeting all Proficient CA Standards in Theatre Arts. 


The 1 Score
F grade - Produces unacceptable assignments or none at all. Not attentive in class and is disruptive. Meets less than half of Proficient CA Standards in Theatre Arts.
Tech Team: 
You have to be in class, at rehearsal and at your shows.  Being tardy and absent often will affect this portion of your grade adversely.  Work days for all shows are mandatory. You will lose points for not being properly attired. 10% of grade

Theatre Ethics: 
Behavior and Ethical participation will be part of the overall grade. Examples of poor ethics: talking back stage during a show, not cleaning your brush after you paint, ushers playing outside during a performance, eating in the booth, wearing flip-flops, not painting because you’re in nice pants, watching others work without helping.  You must also work your shift in the lunch line. The lunch crew is a lucrative fundraiser for our class and you only have to work one week every 6 week grading period. 
10% of grade. 

Written Work:
Woven into what we do as plan and design projects given throughout the year. 10% of grade

Construction/Design projects: 
Evaluated on the basic techniques of technical theatre construction and design principles. Finishing a usable product on time. 20% of grade

Performances Crew:
  • Stagecraft: Yr 1 - required to work one mainstage show each semester.
  • Tech Design: Yr 2-4 - required to work one mainstage show each semester and fill all slots on non theatre events spread evenly. 
  • EVERYONE will work the One Acts May 19 - 21.
  • You must work every day of the production and specified rehearsal calls.
  • THERE IS NO MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR ANY WORK.
  • Working outside of Lincoln in technical theatre is only possible if there are no conflicts.
  • You must wear the uniform for your job that will be specified in class. 
50% of your grade. 
​ 
Make Up Work will be offered at the teacher’s discretion.
Late work is due within 15 days of the due date with a valid excused absence. 

    Parent Syllabus Confirmation
This class will be tailored to the people in it.  It’s doesn’t matter where you begin . . . it’s where you end up that makes all the difference. ​
Copyright © 2020