Advanced Stagecraft III/IV 

Dripping Springs High School Theatre Department 

 
Welcome to Advanced Stagecraft III/IV. This class is designed for the students who wish to continue exploration and involvement 
in Theatre Activities. Class activities will include: reading, writing, research, design, construction and involvement in 
productions/events. It is our hope that you will leave this class with not only a love of the arts, but a set of tools with which to 
build your own success in life after high school. 
 
Classroom Expectations 
● Participation - A Willingness to Try (the most important thing you can bring daily; students who show up ready to work 
and willing to try will find this an increasingly exciting and “easy” class) 
● Work in Shop and Stage/Black Box with Tools/Paint/Stage Technology and Equipment 
● Mandatory ​10 hours​ ​after school work per semester + Production crew for Black Box Studio Shows 
● Attendance of a minimum of one live theatre performances per semester is required 
 
Elements of the Course Curriculum 
 
Production  Stagecraft  Design  Technology 

-Participate in leadership  -Tool safety and Usage  -Complete a design based on  -Lighting Design 
roles in productions.  -Drafting  UIL Theatrical Design  -Light Operation/Concepts 
-Work after school in shop  -Construction  Contest  -Sound Operation/Concepts 
-Attend performances  -Rigging  -Set Design/Model Making  -Technology Integration 
-Read plays  -Painting  -Publicity 
-Set Dressing/Props  -Costumes 
-Makeup 
Class Goals 
1. To gain an understanding of the procedures and participate in working cooperatively to mount a theatrical production. 
2. Have a working knowledge of the language/terminology used in the theatre and its importance to the communication 
process. 
3. To understand, execute and maintain the policies and procedures associated with production and rehearsal of Music 
productions 
4. Demonstrate and evaluate basic design principles in set, lighting, costume, sound, and prop areas; and discuss the 
importance of design. 
5. To understand and maintain professional punctuality, behavior, and etiquette throughout any crew call during 
rehearsals, build calls, techs, or performances 
6. Understand and evaluate the importance of each of the technical areas to the contribution of the total 
production. 
7. Be aware of the types of jobs and careers that are available in the technical theatre field, and the responsibilities of each 
career choice in that field. 
8. Evaluate/critique live Theatrical performances, with an emphasis on the technical areas and how they worked, or did 
not work, in each area 
9. Have a greater understanding of current technical theatre equipment, processes, and productions. 
10. Have a greater appreciation for Theatre, especially Technical Theatre, helping to develop a well-informed and 
knowledgeable Theatre patron. 
Black Box Productions 
Each semester this class will fully produce 1-2 studio/black box shows, as a technician you will work as a team on a specific design 
element. You will collaborate to ensure that the director and producers vision is fulfilled. This will require hard work and 
dedication both in class and out. You are required to work all Black Box shows in a technical capacity.  
 
 
 
General Classroom Rules/Guidelines: 
The rules of this class are used to help create and maintain a safe and strong learning environment. 
1. Compliance with District and DSHS school policies 
2. ​Be Prepared: ​materials, and yourself, to class everyday. Be prepared to work. 
3. ​Watch your Language: ​No foul language/derogatory comments to others in class. 
4. ​Don’t Disappear! ​Do not leave the work area without permission, whether you are working in the classroom/black box, 
the stage, shop ,or another area. Period. 
5. ​NO FOOD OR DRINK:​ ​No food, drinks (except water), candy, or gum will be allowed in the classroom OR in the 
auditorium. 
6. ​Be Respectful: ​No talking while the teacher or another student is speaking 
7. ​Work Safe: ​Follow all directions from Mr. Rickman or Mr. Orozco and follow the class and shop safety rules at all times. 
8. ​Phones or other devices may only be used when directed for class activity​, or when ALL classwork for the day has 
been completed and the class is concluded. 
9. ​Clean up: ​Be prepared to clean (sweep, pick up trash, etc...) each day as directed. 
 
Daily Work/Homework 
Homework is given in this class sparingly, and only when we feel that extra practice on a given objective is needed. Most 
homework will be studying for test or completing projects. 
 
Grading System: 
Your work is due when it is due. Simple. This applies to any written assignments, projects, and skill evaluations. Often, if you are 
not prepared it affects the rest of the class. Show respect for the class by completing assignments on time. Late work will not 
earn full credit. We do not give you that many homework assignments or out of class assignments, so when we do, we actually 
need you to DO them. Be proactive when you need help. Do not wait until the last minute to tell me you are 
confused/unsure/having trouble. Your grades should never be a surprise! Make use of tutorial times as needed, or arrange 
another time to come in. We are here pretty much all the time, so let us know when and how we can help you. 
 
Live Performance Critique: 
Every semester each student will be required to attend ONE (1) DSHS theatre performance or ONE (1) professional theatre 
performance. They will then be required to type a one page critique of the performance, with special emphasis given to the 
technical elements. This is one of the best ways for the student to see and hear how what we discuss and learn in class is 
actually applied to a real production. This can help reinforce the concepts we cover in class. 
 
FALL CRITIQUE DUE:  A Block = November 16th  
B Block = November 15th 
 
SPRING CRITIQUE DUE:  A Block = May 17th 
B Block = May 16th 
 
Crew/Shop Hours 
All Intermediate Technical Theatre Production students are required to work 10 hours of crew, or shop, per semester. This 
can be accomplished with a multitude of projects going on in the auditorium/theatre. You can work crew on shows, come to 
shop work days, usher a show, work box office, work before/after school, off periods, etc. We understand that you are 
involved in many extracurricular activities, these hours can be completed in short bursts of time or in workdays that become 
available. You are responsible for documenting these hours in a google form that is signed off by a theatre directors once you 
completed your work time.  
 
Academic Dishonesty 
Students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty shall be subject to disciplinary penalties and grade penalties on assignments, projects or tests. Academic dishonesty includes cheating or copying the work of another student, 
plagiarism, and unauthorized communication between students during an examination. The determination that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or other supervising 
professional employee, taking into consideration written materials, observation, or information from students. 
  
Plagiarism ​is a form of academic misconduct in which one uses other people’s words or ideas (pictures, art, charts, graphs, computations, scientific data, music, etc.) as his own but fails to credit the others at all or improperly 
credits them. If one uses someone else’s exact words, he must put quotation marks around them and give the person credit by revealing the source in a citation. Even if the words or ideas of others are revised, rearranged, or 
paraphrased, one must cite sources(s) instead of implying the words or ideas belong to the writer.