Illustrated Theatre Production Guide

Now in its fourth edition, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide delivers a step-by-step approach to the most prevalent and established theatre production practices, focusing on essential issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. Offering techniques and best-practice methods from experienced industry experts, this book allows readers to create a foundation on which to build a successful and resourceful career behind the scenes in theatre production. The new edition has been fully updated to include the latest technology and current practices, with four new chapters on Safety, Automation, Digital Fabrication, and the Production Process, and an emphasis on inclusivity and gender-neutral language. A must-have resource for both the community theatre worker who must be a jack of all trades and the student who needs to learn the fundamentals on his or her own, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide covers all the necessities of theatre production through detailed lessons and hundreds of drawings. The book also includes access to a companion website featuring instruction videos, tips for an eco-friendly production, and additional images and resources.

Zachary Stribling received his BFA in Technical Theatre from the University of Evansville and an MFA in Technical Production from Florida State University. Working in commercial, industrial, and educational theatre for over 25 years, he has served as Technical Director for the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Faculty Technical Director at the University of Central Florida, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Technical Production at the Florida State University. He is currently a Senior Lecturer, Production Manager, and Technical Director at the University of Kentucky. In 2015 he co-authored the first edition of The Technical Director's Toolkit along with his dear friend Richard Girtain. John Holloway earned an MFA from the Dallas Theater Center in 1980, and is now Professor Emeritus from the University of Kentucky, where he served as Technical Director/Designer for 35 years. He was President of IATSE Local 346 for two terms, and toured with several different Broadway shows.

Preface Acknowledgments Section 1: People and Process 1. Working in the Theatre 2. The Production Process Section 2: The Theatre and its Equipment 3. Thrust Theatres 4. Black Box and Experimental Theatres 5. Proscenium Theatres 6. Curtains & Backdrops 7. Ropes & Knots 8. Theatre Rigging 9. Arena Rigging Section 3: The Scene Shop and its Equipment 10. Shop Safety & PPE 11. Hand Tools 12. Shop Equipment 13. Building Materials 14. Hardware and Other Essential Theatre Supplies Section 4: Building Scenery 15. Flats 16. Platforms and Decking 17. Stairs 18. Metal Construction 19. Construction Documents 20. Digital Fabrication 21. Scenic Machinery and Automation Section 5: Stage Lighting 22. Electrical Theory 23. Power Distribution 24. Lighting Control 25. Photometrics and Instrumentation 26. Hanging and Focusing Section 6: Audio & Video 27. Audio Theory 28. Sound Reinforcement 29. Digital Audio Files 30. Video Projection for the Stage Appendix Index