Wednesday, December 01, 2021
Scenic Design Helps Tell the Story
Dramatics Magazine Online: The power of the scenic design often goes unrecognized as a key part of the storytelling in a theatrical production. The set design helps to sweep us up into a different world onstage. Rendering that onstage world starts with the production’s scenic designer. They research the script and the world of the play and imagine ways to bring audiences into the characters’ lives. For Milagros Ponce de León, an International Thespian Society alum, the process hinges on details, curiosity, and lots of hard work.
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The title of this article caught me off guard because of the statement like tone of it. But it is not because I found the tone not suitable; moreover, I was of the opinion that everyone is aware of the importance and impact the a scenic design has towards a theatrical production. The part that this needed to be said makes me wonder if people actually had questions about this.
I feel like the first connection that I can make to a show when I am in the theater is via the scenic design. I feel like if the scenic design is such that gets my attention and makes me curious about its elements, I am far more invested in the story during the show. Looking at the various things on the set makes me wonder why they are there; what was the designer thinking about when they put an element on the stage; will I be able to get the reason of the piece is actually there. All these questions keep me so excited about the play and only adds to my experience.
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Funnily enough, the first taste of theatre I ever got was the Lion King show in Las Vegas. I clearly remember the set more than the actual storyline and I remember being struck with awe at the incredibly creative ways the set worked to portray not only the world but also the characters and animals. Today, I am studying to become a set designer because my first inspiration to pursue theatre. I feel that other things, liek the costumes can also become the set, creating an environment on the stage that is most personal to the character itself. So much can be told about the inner world of a character through their clothes, and I find it very similar to what I feel set design is meant to do in a theatre. I am glad that set designers are having a space to show off their work, because I feel like it is often something that is often overlooked because of the notion that sets can simple.
It was kinda weird reading part of this article since I thought it was pretty widely understood how much the a set’s design impacts the ability to tell the story of a show. I remember seeing Great Comet on Broadway many years ago and just being in such awe of the set and how well it tied everything together. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been a creative person so much of my time watching performances just examining the scenery and how it got interacted with. And maybe part of it is because being a TD we have to interact pretty intimately with the construction of the sets that they’re impossible to look past. Though I suppose to general audiences who aren’t a part of making shows and whatnot happen it could overlook it. Either way, scenic designers definitely deserve the recognition and attention for the work that they do for bringing the world of the play into existence.
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