Download Staging is a term that refers to most of the elements—aside from the

Staging is a term that refers to most of the elements—aside from the actors, the text,
and the financing—that are necessary to bring a play to life. In an effective
production, all of these elements work to communicate the visions of the playwright
and director. Although the playwright, as the author of the play, has the greatest
influence, it is the director who interprets the work for the audience and makes many
of the decisions about how it will be staged. Some of the most important elements of
staging are stage directions, settings, sets, costumes, props, lighting, music, and
sound effects. In stage directions, the playwright specifies how certain parts of a play
should be acted or staged. Sets, whether simple or elaborate, establish the
environment in which the action of the play takes place. Costumes are the clothing
worn by the actors. Props are the various items onstage—swords, glasses,
books—that actors use in performing the action of the play. Lighting is of course
important if anyone is to actually see the play, but it also contributes a great deal to
the atmosphere and mood of a production. Some plays also include music during or
between scenes as a way of heightening the mood or providing a transition. Sound
effects—the sound of a shot being fired, for example—can help make the action
seem more realistic. The director oversees all of the elements of staging, but each of
them is also the responsibility of highly trained professionals.