Scene Design!

Week One: Script Selection and Analysis

This week’s assignment will follow Chapter 9 in your textbook

1) Read pages 161 through 171. Skip the section on page 166-168 titled “Elements of
Composition”. (You already know that)

2) Select a Children’s Book. (Dr. Seuss, Very Hungry Caterpillar, something like that.) This will
be your script that you’re going to design from. Try to keep your selection simple, Dr. Seuss
was on a lot of drugs!

3) From your script - answer the following (in as much detail as possible):

Title of Play (story):

Mood
• How does the play make you feel? Brainstorm adjectives and feeling words.

Time
• What is the time of day for each scene? • What is the time of year for each scene?

Period
• What is the year, or general time period in which the play takes place? (e.g., 1967, the
present, the distant future)

• How do you know?

Place
• Where does the action take place? Describe it. • Is the place inside or outdoors?

• What furniture pieces are needed?

• Are there any doors or windows needed?

Locale
• What is the general location of where the play takes place? (e.g., the Midwest, China,
under the sea)

• What clues are there?

Characters
• Name the main characters

• What are their personalities like?

• What is their socioeconomic level/status?

Theme
• What ideas does the play make you think about?

• What do the main characters want above all else?

• Are there any actions, words, or ideas that appear throughout the script?

• What lesson does the audience learn by the end of the play?

4) Email me this assignment before 3pm Friday. I’ll send you feedback. Scene design isn’t
linear, so we’ll need to follow up questions with more questions. It’s a process!