The Motion Behind The Lyons Theatre

For the second unit in the STEAM, elective course Stage Chemistry, we learned about the different motions that stages use. We went to Steppenwolf Theater and we taught more about the different types of ways people. For my second Action Project, I had to use the location from my first Action Project and build a model of my stage to scale. We also had to create two pieces of motion for the play. We had to make safety signs and protocols for both of the points of motion. I made my stage roughly shoebox sized, but I didn't want to make my model too big so I scaled it down. It was hard for me focus on doing this project because, I felt like it was hard to find what objects of motion that I wanted to choose. I am very proud of my model; I put it together with my own hands.

AL,"Lyons Theater over head"(2017)

AL, "Lights GIF"(2017)

My lights would work by flipping in and out. They would be made with steel and are silver, the reason the lights have steel outer plate that is silver is because it would go with the pageant scene in the play. The purpose of these lights is to set the mood for the scene. It can be used for special effects as well. When the lights are not in use they are flipped up so that they are not to be seen. The Lights weigh 5 pound each and there are four of them that is 20 pounds together which is 88.9644N. I need to find out how much weight it would be if the lights were 40 lbs. Too find out how much weight the bar would Work * Force = Distance W=20  *F=40  D = 800J 

AL "Curtain GIF", (2017)

AL,"Physics"(2017)

For this Action project, I had trouble trying to find and make pieces for my objects of motions because I didn’t know what I wanted to do for them. I couldn’t make a trap door outside so I decided to use the curtains and lights as my objects of motion. As far as making my actual model, it wasn’t hard. I just needed to focus and sit down and do it. I had a hard time cutting kind of, because I don’t realize when the line isn’t straight. I had to make sure to double check the line a couple times before to make sure I got it the way I wanted it to be. We also only had a few box cutters in use for a whole class as well as glue guns to glue the pieces down. Making the measurements for my model was simple as well I just took the, blueprint from my first Action Project, and adjusted it to what fit best for my model. In the end everything turned out fine, I just wish I had more time to work on my model.

The purpose of the curtain is set the mood for the dark scenes of the play, it will be a black curtain to make it seem like the night time. The curtain will be able to go up and down the sides of the stage. The curtain is made of cotton since it’s a thicker material. My lights would work by flipping in and out to light the stage when needed, they would be made by steel and would be silver so they can add color to the stage during the scene of the pageant.




Reflection:

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

For this Elective term I took the class Stage Chemistry. In this class, we learned about the different types of stages. One type of stage is a thrust stage which, is a stage were the audience is seated on three sides of the stage. We also learned about arena stage,which is a stage that is surrounded by the audience. We talked about how to make scale drawings for different rooms in our school. We even went to see the play Uncle Vanya at the Goodman theater in Chicago. For this Action Project, we had to design a stage that benefits a play that we chose. I chose to do the play Another Word For Beauty. This play is about the different stories of the Women in jail and how they came to be in the jail. As well as the preparations for the beauty pageant they do every year. For this Action Project,  I chose to use my backyard as my stage for the play since it is good for outdoor scenes. I am proud of my sketches they took the longest to do since I did them last.

I chose to do, do my backyard because it is a good sized space it would be free of cost to me and I can do different things to it since the space is flexible and has room for adaptation while the, sides of the space which is an entry can be used for storage and or changing room for the actors as well. For the Lobby I used my living room since it is big enough to have the people that would be attending the play as well as it is very close to the stage and there will snacks and drink being served in the space they snacks will be $7 as well as the drinks too. There will also be a place to buy tickets which will be 10$ for adults (age: 18 and up) and 5$ for kids as well. I chose to use the Open Concept (OC) for the rehearsal space since it is big and can be made into a setup similar to the actual stage. The parking is set in three locations either the parking the stage or the street parking in front of my house. The seating would be around the stage on the front and sides of the which makes it a thrust stage but the audience doesn't have the stage as close to them.

Reflection:
For this project, I had trouble trying to figure out the scale that I wanted to make my stage and then I eventually learned to do it by asking for help from my teacher. I loved doing this project because it let me be creative as far what I wanted my stage to be and where it was located. I got to be the designer making sure certain parts made sense, I at first thought that my stage was an  arena stage since the audience can see from all sides but eventually decided to change it since it didn't work like I wanted it to, I had to think about the scenes that were dark, like during there flashbacks of themselves before they go to jail, and my stage not having a cover wasn't an option. I needed the cover for the scene I could put a cover over the gate and stuff to make it dark and the lighting can be. I had such a hard time drawing out all of these drawings especially to scale, plus I suck at drawing but I eventually got it together and learned to like what I did know that tried my best.

AL, Lyons Theatre,(2017)

	Goodman Theatre	My Adaptation
Concessions area	160 square feet	20sqft / 12.5%
Stage	4,000 square feet	512 sqft/ 12.8%
Box Office	144 square feet	20 sqft/ 13.8%
Seating Area	5,400 square feet	100 sqft/ 12  %
Parking	0ft	1,277sqft / 100%

AL, Lyons Theatre,(2017)