Download Doctor Faustus Theatre Proposal

Theatre Company Name
Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus
Theatre Production Proposal
Theatre Company Name: ____________________________________________
Company Members: ________________________________________________
Company's Directorial Concept/Vision Statement
Written by _______________ with input from ______________________________________
1. In one sentence, what is the "story" of this play as your group sees it?
2. What is the “big idea” that will guide your choices for the production?
a. What theme(s) should be emphasized and how?
b. How do you want the audience to react to this performance? What overriding
sensory or emotional experience should remain with them when the play has
ended?
c. What "key quotation" supports the idea and theme/s?
3. Interpretation of the script: How should the plot be interpreted on stage?
a. Will the play be presented as a comedy or tragedy? Explain your decision.
b. What is most significant about the setting of the story?
c. Which character/s should be most sympathetic? Least? Why?
d. What is the climax of the plot? How is the protagonist successful or
unsuccessful, and what meaning are we to take from that?
e. Will your production use an Intermission? If so, when, and why?
f. What "key quotation/s" support this interpretation?
4. Should the play be linked to a more modern problem?
a. If so, what problem or situation, and why?
b. What theme is emphasized by connecting with the modern problem?
c. How will the modern connection be presented in your design?
i. Will it parallel or shadow the play (Act breaks, intermission, etc.)?
ii. Will it be represented explicitly in visuals, program, publicity,
costumes, set, props, etc? (Remember you can’t change the script
itself.)
d. What "key quotations" from OUTSIDE and INSIDE the text support the
connection to this modern problem?
Dramaturgical Justification for Concept/Vision
Written by _______________ with input from ______________________________________
1. Story or "Big Idea": Summarize in a paragraph or two what your group's various
design choices show about your story or "big idea."
2. Dramaturgical Justification: Summarize in a paragraph or two how your group's
interpretation remains true to the literary text of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor
Faustus. What "key quotation/s" support your idea, theme, interpretation and (if
applicable) connection to a more modern situation?
Marlowe's Doctor Faustus Design Proposal. Bowen, 'Asta, Sue Brown, Valeri McGarvey, Wendy Putzler. Flathead High School. Modified February 2014.
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Theatre Company Name
A. Staging Design
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member)
1. What will the layout of the Black Box Theatre be? What should be the shapes of the staging
and seating areas? Why?
2. Does your staging preserve or break the "fourth wall"? Why?
3. Is there any way in which the area around the theatre might be used (lobby, Commons, etc.)?
How?
4. What "key quotation/s" support this staging design? How does it advance your story or "big
idea"? Write a well-developed, persuasive paragraph showing how your choices are supported
by the text of the play.
5. Create a sketch, floor plan or 3-D model for the staging layout.
B. Set Design
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member)
1. Briefly describe the look of the set overall. What ideas does it emphasize? What character
action does it facilitate? What mood is created?
a. Create a sketch, floor plan or 3-D model for each of the five Acts.
b. Identify major set pieces that will be used in each Act.
2. Identify any symbolism in the set as you have designed it.
3. What "key quotation/s" support this set design? How does it advance your story or "big
idea"? Write a well-developed, persuasive paragraph showing how your choices are
supported by the text of the play.
C. Costume Design (including special effects)
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member)
1. Describe the overall “look” and period of the costumes.
2. Create sketches, digital images or 3-D models for the costumes of at least 3 major characters.
Add images for other characters or groupings (e.g., devils, scholars) significant to your
company's interpretation.
3. For each of the three major characters and groupings:
a. Explain how the costume shapes the interpretation of the character.
b. Show how the costumes will change over the course of the play (if at all) and what
those changes reveal to the audience.
4. Generally speaking, how should the makeup be done? What should the makeup convey?
5. What "key quotation/s" support the costume and makeup design? How does it advance your
story or "big idea"? Write a well-developed, persuasive paragraph showing how your choices
are supported by the text of the play.
D. Light Design (including special effects)
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Generally describe the lighting effect desired for the play as a whole.
For each of the five Acts, explain how or whether the lighting treatment will be varied.
Describe special lighting moments or effects that you envision for key moments in the play.
What kind of lighting effects will be used pre-show, post-show, between Acts, or during
Intermission (if there is one)?
5. What "key quotation/s" support this lighting design? How does it advance your story or "big
idea"? Write a well-developed, persuasive paragraph showing how your choices are supported by
the text of the play.
Marlowe's Doctor Faustus Design Proposal. Bowen, 'Asta, Sue Brown, Valeri McGarvey, Wendy Putzler. Flathead High School. Modified February 2014.
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Theatre Company Name
E. Sound Design (including special effects)
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member)
1. Identify what (if any) sound effects will be used in each Act and their significance.
2. Identify what (if any) sound will be used pre-show, post-show, between Acts, or during
Intermission (if there is one)?
3. Will music be used? If so, what kind and when?
4. What "key quotation/s" support this sound design? How does it advance your story or "big
idea"? Write a well-developed, persuasive paragraph showing how your choices are
supported by the text of the play.
F. Publicity
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member)
1. Create a sketch or digital design for the poster and program. Consider fonts, images, colors
and their combined impact.
2. Design the company T-shirts.
3. What should be included in the program besides the list of cast, crew and acknowledgements?
4. What "key quotation/s" support this publicity design? How does it advance your story or "big
idea"? Write a well-developed, persuasive paragraph showing how your choices are
supported by the text of the play.
G. Adaptations (optional) (general ideas, not a line-by-line response)
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member)
1. Identify any segments of the play to be cut and provide a rationale.
2. Identify any characters to be cut or combined and provide a rationale.
3. Identify any modern works of art, literature, music, film, sculpture, etc., that might be
incorporated to advance the ideas behind your concept.
4. What "key quotation/s" support these adaptation idea/s? How does it advance your story or
"big idea"? Write a well-developed, persuasive paragraph showing how your choices are
supported by the text of the play.
H. References
Created by _____________________________ (name of group member) with input from
_______________________________________________________________
Each segment of the proposal will include at least one quotation from the text (or
paraphrase/summary) to support your choices. The citation format for quotes from the text will
include Character, Act.Scene.Line, and page from our text. (Old Man, 5.1.35, p.72)
1. Write an MLA-style bibliography for all sources cited or consulted, including our text.
I. Presentation Plan
Prepared by _________________ (name of group member) with input from ALL PRESENTERS, of course!
Provide an outline for your live presentation to the production director. You will have
approximately 8 minutes INCLUDING time for questions/answers. Rather each group member
summarizing his/her written component, INSTEAD craft a dynamic, engaging sales pitch that
highlights and reinforces the value, legitimacy, and significance of your "big idea." A good
starting point is "SHOW, DON'T TELL." e.g. ...PPT? Trailer? Costumes? Makeup? Lights? Sound? Background music?
Marlowe's Doctor Faustus Design Proposal. Bowen, 'Asta, Sue Brown, Valeri McGarvey, Wendy Putzler. Flathead High School. Modified February 2014.
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