Stage Craft

Stage Craft Course Description and Syllabus

      This course is designed to introduce students to the technical side of the theater; what goes on back stage and up in the control booth in order to make a production run smoothly.  It is also to train Stapley Jr. High Stage Crew members to work at concerts, assemblies, plays, and whatever functions occur in the Stapley Auditorium. However, being in this class does not guarantee a position of the stage crew.  Students must first be trained and prove themselves responsible, reliable, and trustworthy before they are invited to work on the crew.  I consider this to be more like a job rather than a class.  Students had to apply and be "hired" based on their experience and recommendations.  You have all passed the first hurdle, now for the rest....

What will we learn in this class?                                                             

Intro. to Class and the Mega Skills         

Scene Design and Construction

Theater Basics: Vocabulary, Stage Areas, Theater Organization      

Scenery Painting

Theatrical Lighting  

Sound Technology                                                                                  

Stage Make up

     Since the stage crew for the school play will be made up of class members from Stage Craft, there will be some after school and evening rehearsals REQUIRED.  It is important the stage crew attend these and are expected to do so unless there is an extreme conflict. The first production of the year is our annual Haunted House.  This is a big fund raiser for the department, and the stage craft class is in charge of designing and building all the scenery and props for it.  I also need crew members to each work a shift the night of the Scare Fair, which is Friday, october, 23rd.  The other production of this semester is the fall play which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17th and Wednesday, Nov. 18th.   Dress rehearsals are on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12th and 13th after school.   They will perform the all-school assemblies on Monday,  Nov. 16th   Please let Mrs. Martinez know immediately if there is a conflict with any of these dates.   I will be sending home a letter very soon with details and opportunities for parent help!  I will need it. :) Students are required to attend a minimum of 10 hours out of class. These can also be applied to Service Learning Hours. 

What is expected in this class?

    Stage Craft is governed under the principals of MegaSkills, a set of universal skills needed in any work force which include: effort, responsibility, confidence, motivation, initiative, perseverance, caring, team work, common sense, and problem solving.  We will spend a great deal of time establishing what these skills are and how each student fares in each area.  This will be a vital tool in the success in this class, and will be invaluable in any work situation in the future.

   Stage Craft is not an ordinary classroom setting.  In fact, our classrooms are many.  We are often in the auditorium, on stage, in the control booth, upstairs in the scene shop, etc.  I believe strongly the best way to learn technical theater is hands-on training.  Much of this training can only be accomplished in small groups; therefore, the class is often divided and rotate activities.  Students MUST be able to be trusted to follow directions and stay in assigned areas.  This is NOT a class for students who cannot control their behavior or who need close supervision.  The utmost concern is maintaining a safe environment.  We will be working with expensive and sometimes dangerous equipment.  Students must be responsible and exercise self-control.  My policy for unsafe or dishonest behavior is removal from the class. Parents, please discuss the importance of this matter with your child.  I cannot emphasize enough how important safety and trust are in this class.

    Stage Craft can be a whole new opportunity for students.  Many have gone on to join stage crew at Mountain View, and a few have even chosen it as a career working in local professional theaters such as Gammage auditorium , The Herberger, and Southwest Shakespeare Company.

How are grades determined?

   Students' grades are determined from the total points earned at the end of each grading period.  These points will come from various class areas listed below.  A new component is that all stage craft members must work at least one concert and either the school play or the haunted house to complete their stage crew service hours.

     Attendance is VERY important in this course.  Much of the training is hands-on and can't be repeated if a student misses the day or days the training is offered.  They may come in before of after school to make up training in certain areas.  Training and make-up work must be completed within one week on the absence. 

     The theater has a place for everyone and a need for many talents and abilities, both in front and behind the curtain  I look forward to helping  you find yours!  If you have any questions, please call me at 472-2787.

                                    Becky Martinez