Technical Theatre Unit - Arizona Theatre Company

them what their unit assignment will be: taking a floor plan of a play of their choice from conception
to a three-dimensional model. Tell them that by the next class period they should have several
plays that they are interested in doing.
Day 2: Look through all the plays the students are considering. Try to allow all the students to do
their first choice but make sure no two students are doing the same play. After looking through and
assigning the plays to the students explain what a rough floor plan drawing is and how to make one.
If you can find any of your own rough drawings then you can show them as examples. Explain how
many acting scripts include the original Broadway floor plans which can help in the conception of
their own plans. The students' assignment is to create a rough drawing of a floor plan for their play
by the next class period.
Day 3: To begin the class period look at all the rough floor plans and give comments on what you
think would and would not work. After examining the floor plan display and demonstrate how to use
the different drafting tools that they will be using for their renderings: T-square, triangular scale, 30-
60 and 45-90 triangles, compass, erasing shield, and templates. Next, you should explain how to
make a scale rendering of the floor plan. To begin the explanation you should show them a floor
plan of the stage they will be designing for and give them the height dimensions as well as the
location of all the battens. The assignment for the students is to make another rough floor plan
taking into account your comments, the given dimensions, and possible dimensions of their set
pieces and indicating them on the drawing.
Day 4: At the beginning of this class you should re-examine the rough drawings and offer any final
comments. The next thing you should do is demonstrate how to transfer the rough drawing to a
scale drawing using the drafting tools. To do this you could use your own production if you are
doing the project with them or you could show them a finished floor plan that you have done in the
past along with the rough floor plan if you still have it. The students assignment for the next class is
to begin their scale renderings which they should have at least two to three class periods to work
on. Some of the things you should include in your instructions are how to indicate heights of
platforms, steps, and ramps as well as showing how to draw doors and windows on the floor plan.
Day 5: On this day you should let the student work more on their floor plans and just walk around
and answer any questions as well as offer suggestions.
Day 6: The first part of this period should be spent reviewing all the terms learned thus far. After
reviewing, the remainder of the period should be reserved for further work on their renderings.
Day 7: By this time the students should be almost done with their floor plans and can also be
tested over the terms they have learned. There are a couple possible vocabulary tests at the back
of this plan which could be used. After the test the students should work on finishing their
renderings.
Day 8: This period should be spent discussing how to make the final step in the process. The
transfer of the two-dimensional rendering to a three-dimensional model. All the students should be
given something (a board or piece of stiff cardboard) in the size and shape of the stage which they
designed their floor plans for to build their model on. The major part of the period should be spent