Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
Course Title: Technical Theatre 3
(For NUSD Curriculum and Instruction Use Only)
Transcript Title: Tech Theatre 3
Transcript Abbreviation: CAC125
Pre-Requisite or Co-Requisite: Technical Theatre 2 (Grade of B or better)
Required: X Recommended: _____ Co-requisite: ______ None: ______
Additional Pre-Requisite or Co-Requisite: Participation in Theatre Productions
Required: X
Recommended: _____ Co-requisite: X
None: ______
Subject Area Category: Drama/Theatre
Introductory OR Advanced: Advanced
Honors or Advanced Placement Course:
Career Technical Education Course
Grade Level:
11
Yes
X No
12
Is this course modeled after a course from another school?
If Yes: Name of School:
Title of Course:
Yes
X No
Lead Teacher (s) writing this outline: Linda Kislingbury, San Marin High School
Brief Course Description: (Student Friendly)
Students in this course will continue to create the sets, lighting, sound, costumes, props
for school productions. Additionally, their work will include sketches, ground plans,
renderings, color charts/swatches, costume research and design style, lighting design
charts. Students will serve as Stage Managers, Assistant Stage Managers, Lighting and
Sound Managers and supervise Tech 1 and 2 students. Stage Management
responsibilities will include creation and overseeing full prompt books (for each
discipline area, i.e., props, costumes, sound, lights in addition to stage management.)
Students will continue to investigate theater history but with an emphasis on lighting and
sound design. Students will continue to problem solve and work effectively under
production deadlines and demonstrate management skills.
Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
Course Purpose (Includes course goals and major student outcomes)
 Course goals and/or major student outcomes
 Students will develop their own designs and execute them with the approval
of director for performance.
 Students will explore the connections between design elements and the give
and take of production meetings, designers working with other designers and
the director and post production audits.
 Students will continue to expand their knowledge of production techniques
and work independently to problem solve in construction, as crew chiefs of
other students. They will learn managerial skills as they supervise tech 1 and 2
students. They will demonstrate school-to work post-secondary transition skills
and knowledge.
Course Objectives-specific student learning objectives
 Students will further explore their knowledge of theater vocabulary through
discussions, readings and through the written reflections on the design elements
of theatrical productions both within and outside school
 Students will produce their own designs for school productions and work with the
director to develop a unified design scheme.
 Students will continue to research historical and cultural context considerations
when designing sets, costumes and hairstyles.
 Students will construct sets, costumes and execute light and plots and supervise
Tech 1 and Tech 2 students.
 Students will work as designers, (crew chief – lighting/sound), stage managers,
assistant stage managers
 Students will develop portfolios of stage designs, prompt books, etc.
Course Outline (in addition to general course outline information, the following areas
need to be specifically addressed: Artistic Perception; Creative Expression; Historical
and Cultural Context; Aesthetic Valuing; and Connections, Relationships and
Applications)
Artistic Perception
Scenic Design Process
 Read and analyze script
 Research the historical period, the locale season of the year, the socioeconomic
level and personality of the characters of the play
 Understand the needs of the director and actors
 Understand the mood and the spirit of the play
 Understand the ground plan of the theater (i.e., sight lines, stage equipment,
etc.) and policies of the theater
 Develop general sketches of set design
 Select the design and create a model, if necessary.
 Students will understand the elements of Design (: line, shape, mass, measure,
etc.) & Color (terminology, mixing colors, practical color use).
Creative Expression
Stage Management
 Stage Management and Assistant Stage Managers will oversee the entire
production team, crew, and set building and will:
 Be involved in preproduction meetings with the director, research, planning and
Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
organization
Set up production teams and oversee every production team (tech 1 and 2
students) which will include: props, costumes, sets, crew, house management,
and sound (depending on production)
 Be at rehearsals and take care of the prompt book, which will include blocking,
cues, prompting (when actors off book)
 Be responsible for the timing of the show, cue to cue rehearsals, setting up the
theater (with the assistant directors for dress rehearsals), posting set and costume
changes back stage, calling the show and backstage etiquette
 Learn and demonstrate managerial skills
 Research the history and roles of the stage manager, running crews and
development of their roles and responsibilities.
Sound Design and Technology
 Sound Designer will work with director to determine theme music for a show,
intermission music, and appropriate sound effects for the production and serve
as crew chief on complicated shows
Costume Design
 Oversee the costume process and supervise the costume crew chief/designer
 Work with the director and costume designer to analyze the script, research the
historical period of the play, prepare costume chart for each character, prepare
costumes sketches, layout, renderings, and ensure that costume changes are
posted backstage.
Makeup
 Oversee the makeup and hair crew
 Ensure that hairstyles reflect the historical period of the play. Ensure that makeup
is correct under the lighting
 Ensure that crew is cleaning utensils and makeup every night.
Historical and Cultural Context
Stage Properties
 Oversee the prop crew (tech 1 and 2 students) who will identify stage props,
hand props and decorative props and determine how to acquire props.
Develop prop log and cue sheet
 Create prop table back stage and maintain prop drawers and storage units
 Obtain the necessary furniture based on historical research of the play
Theater History
 Students will continue to study theater history with an emphasis on the history of
lighting and sound design. They will report on the progress of theatrical lighting
instruments and influential lighting designers
Costume Design
 Oversee the costume process and supervise the costume crew chief/designer
 Work with the director and costume designer to analyze the script, research the
historical period of the play, prepare costume chart for each character, prepare
costumes sketches, layout, renderings, and ensure that costume changes are
posted backstage.
 Select students will serve as class manager in the area of costume design
Makeup
 Oversee the makeup and hair crew

Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
 Ensure that hairstyles reflect the historical period of the play. Ensure that makeup
is correct under the lighting
 Ensure that crew is cleaning utensils and makeup every night.
Lighting
 Students will research and prepare an in depth oral report on lighting design
from the Greeks to the present by presenting a report/chart to class.
 Students will explore research lighting designers and experts in the field of stage
lighting.
 Students will present their work in a detailed report and a poster of the designers,
with samples of their lighting creations.
 Students will have the opportunity to work on internships at repertory theatres in
the area
 Select students will serve as class manager in the area of lighting
Sound Design
 Students will prepare a detailed report on methods of creating sound effects
and music from the Greeks to the present.
 Students will present their work in a detailed report and a poster of the designers,
with samples of their sound creations.
 Select students will serve as class manager in the area of sound
Aesthetic Valuing
Scenic Design Process
 Read and analyze script
 Research the historical period, the locale season of the year, the socioeconomic
level and personality of the characters of the play
 Understand the needs of the director and actors
 Understand the mood and the spirit of the play
 Understand the ground plan of the theater (i.e., sight lines, stage equipment,
etc.) and policies of the theater
 Develop general sketches of set design
 Select the design and create a model, if necessary.
 Students will understand the elements of Design (: line, shape, mass, measure,
etc.) & Color (terminology, mixing colors, practical color use).
Connections, Relationships and Applications
Lighting Design
 Determine the functions of lighting for each show, i.e., visibility, selective focus,
mood
 Design lights for different kinds of stages: proscenium, thrust, arena, black box
 Draw the light plot and use Lighting Key to draw the light plot and create related
paperwork, i.e., cue sheets. The lighting designer will be a Crew chief,
responsible for the rear projector set up and take down
Stage Management
 Stage Management and Assistant Stage Managers will oversee the entire
production team, crew, and set building and will:
 Be involved in preproduction meetings with the director, research, planning and
organization
 Set up production teams and oversee every production team (tech 1 and 2
students) which will include: props, costumes, sets, crew, house management,
Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
and sound (depending on production)
 Be at rehearsals and take care of the prompt book, which will include blocking,
cues, prompting (when actors off book)
 Be responsible for the timing of the show, cue to cue rehearsals, setting up the
theater (with the assistant directors for dress rehearsals), posting set and costume
changes back stage, calling the show and backstage etiquette
 Learn and demonstrate managerial skills
 Research the history and roles of the stage manager, running crews and
development of their roles and responsibilities.
House Management
 Oversee the house management team to ensure that the room is clean, food is
laid out correctly and house is cleaned up at the end of the show.
Key Assignments
Artistic Perception
Scenic Design Process
 Read and analyze script
 Research the historical period, the locale season of the year, the socioeconomic
level and personality of the characters of the play
 Understand the needs of the director and actors
 Understand the mood and the spirit of the play
 Understand the ground plan of the theater (i.e., sight lines, stage equipment, etc.)
and policies of the theater
 Develop general sketches of set design
 Select the design and create a model, if necessary.
 Students will understand the elements of Design (: line, shape, mass, measure, etc.)
& Color (terminology, mixing colors, practical color use).
Creative Expression
Stage Management
 Stage Management and Assistant Stage Managers will oversee the entire
production team, crew, and set building and will:
 Be involved in preproduction meetings with the director, research, planning and
organization
 Set up production teams and oversee every production team (tech 1 and 2
students) which will include: props, costumes, sets, crew, house management, and
sound (depending on production)
 Be at rehearsals and take care of the prompt book, which will include blocking,
cues, prompting (when actors off book)
 Be responsible for the timing of the show, cue to cue rehearsals, setting up the
theater (with the assistant directors for dress rehearsals), posting set and costume
changes back stage, calling the show and backstage etiquette
 Learn and demonstrate managerial skills
 Research the history and roles of the stage manager, running crews and
development of their roles and responsibilities.
Makeup
 Oversee the makeup and hair crew
 Ensure that hairstyles reflect the historical period of the play. Ensure that makeup is
Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
correct under the lighting
 Ensure that crew is cleaning utensils and makeup every night.
Historical and Cultural Context
Stage Properties
 Oversee the prop crew (tech 1 and 2 students) who will identify stage props, hand
props and decorative props and determine how to acquire props.
Develop prop log and cue sheet
 Create prop table back stage and maintain prop drawers and storage units
 Obtain the necessary furniture based on historical research of the play
Theater History
 Students will continue to study theater history with an emphasis on the history of
lighting and sound design. They will report on the progress of theatrical lighting
instruments and influential lighting designers
Costume Design
 Oversee the costume process and supervise the costume crew chief/designer
 Work with the director and costume designer to analyze the script, research the
historical period of the play, prepare costume chart for each character, prepare
costumes sketches, layout, renderings, and ensure that costume changes are
posted backstage.
Makeup
 Oversee the makeup and hair crew
 Ensure that hairstyles reflect the historical period of the play. Ensure that makeup is
correct under the lighting
 Ensure that crew is cleaning utensils and makeup every night.
Aesthetic Valuing
Scenic Design Process
 Read and analyze script
 Research the historical period, the locale season of the year, the socioeconomic
level and personality of the characters of the play
 Understand the needs of the director and actors
 Understand the mood and the spirit of the play
 Understand the ground plan of the theater (i.e., sight lines, stage equipment, etc.)
and policies of the theater
 Develop general sketches of set design
 Select the design and create a model, if necessary.
 Students will understand the elements of Design (: line, shape, mass, measure, etc.)
& Color (terminology, mixing colors, practical color use).
Creative Expression
Sound Design and Technology
 Sound Designer will work with director to determine theme music for a show,
intermission music, and appropriate sound effects for the production and serve as
crew chief on complicated shows
Costume Design
 Oversee the costume process and supervise the costume crew chief/designer
 Work with the director and costume designer to analyze the script, research the
historical period of the play, prepare costume chart for each character, prepare
costumes sketches, layout, renderings, and ensure that costume changes are
Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
posted backstage.
Connections, Relationships and Applications
Lighting Design
 Determine the functions of lighting for each show, i.e., visibility, selective focus,
mood
 Design lights for different kinds of stages: proscenium, thrust, arena, black box
 Draw the light plot and use Lighting Key to draw the light plot and create related
paperwork, i.e., cue sheets. The lighting designer will be a Crew chief, responsible
for the rear projector set up and take down
Stage Management
 Stage Management and Assistant Stage Managers will oversee the entire
production team, crew, and set building and will:
 Be involved in preproduction meetings with the director, research, planning and
organization
 Set up production teams and oversee every production team (tech 1 and 2
students) which will include: props, costumes, sets, crew, house management, and
sound (depending on production)
 Be at rehearsals and take care of the prompt book, which will include blocking,
cues, prompting (when actors off book)
 Be responsible for the timing of the show, cue to cue rehearsals, setting up the
theater (with the assistant directors for dress rehearsals), posting set and costume
changes back stage, calling the show and backstage etiquette
 Learn and demonstrate managerial skills
 Research the history and roles of the stage manager, running crews and
development of their roles and responsibilities.
House Management
 Oversee the house management team to ensure that the room is clean, food is laid
out correctly and house is cleaned up at the end of the show.
Textbooks
Title: Technical Theatre for Nontechnical People
Edition: Second
Publication Date: 2004
Publisher: Allworth Press
Author(s): Drew Campbell
Supplemental Textbook
Title: Theatrical Design and Productions
Edition: Fourth
Publication Date: 1997
Publisher: Mayfield
Author(s): Michael Gillette
Title: The State Management Handbook
Edition: 3rd
Publication Date: 1987
Publisher: Better Way Books
Novato Unified School District
Course Outline
Subject: Visual or Performing Art
Author(s): Daniel Ionazzi
Title: Backstage Handbook
Edition: Third
Publication Date: 1994
Publisher: Broadway Press
Author(s): Paul Carter
Instructional Methods and/or Strategies
 Lecture
 Modeling
 Production (cooperative learning)
 Guest Speakers
 Attendance at live theater performance
 Video (comparison of theatrical productions and design styles)
 Project presentations and written assessments by students
 Oral and written tests
Assessment Methods and/or Tools
 Students need to demonstrate through essays and critiques that they have a
working knowledge of specialized theatrical vocabulary.
 Students must participate in all class activities and all school productions.
 Students behavior and professional attitude back stage (as a crew chief or
stage management), as audience members, and in class will be assessed.
 Students are rated on industry-standard skills and earn certificates.
Assessment criteria
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Students will be required to keep a portfolio/notebook of their written and
design work; portfolios will be assessed per assignment. These portfolios will
include class notes, personal reflections/observation and research.
A rubric is present to students for the major assignments.
Students are rated on appropriate level industry-standard rubrics throughout
the year.
Students must work on and reflect (written and discussion) on all school
productions.
Ability to lead and work with others will be assessed during production work.
Written work is assessed by content, accuracy (comprehension, historical
accuracy, etc. and creativity. Design work is assessed by content, accuracy
(period, appropriateness for production), creativity and presentation.
Grades on tests and written assignments.