If possible do you have a website that shows your school
theatre,
stage and
FOH. I ask this because it will make it easier to provide suggestions when people know your
layout.
Ok now on to the set design. Once again you need the script . Politely hassle the director every day until you get it. Do the same with the script as you have to with designing the lighting. Look at where each scene is set.
Just remember every scene doesn't need a full set to make the audience believe e.g. there is a church scene a couple of times in the show. What do you think of when you think of the inside of the church. For this scene I think of having some old wooden bench seats with no backs for pews . A
lectern with a large old bible on. A free standing cross. Depending on the size of the cast you mign't need benches for them all. Some of them can sing in the choir.
I see in the synopsis that in act II there is a town
hall scene followed by a church scene. This is how I would possibly do it. The courtroom would be basicaly set the same as for the church with the bences. But I would put the
lectern on the opposite side to where it is in the church scene.
Fly in a flag behind the
lectern. At the end of scene fly flag out, reposition
lectern turn the cast around, add the cross ,that's it.
If you have the trucks I would probably set up the Moore Home on one. Depending on the script maybe a kitchen or living room scene. The other truck could have the
burger bar on. At interval
clear the
Burger Bar and set up the Bar-B-Q Western Bar . If you also add a couple of rough tables on the
stage for people to set around. In the
Burger Bar you could possibly put checkered table clothes on and have them off for the bar.
Maybe the churchyard could just be a
gobo projection of a church silouette complete with steeple. Same with Chicago.
These are just some ideas . Some of the scenes just need
props to maybe like a street light, a
desk , a couch, lockers
etc.
Ok you mighn't like my ideas but you get the principle behind it.
Some other things that would be helpful to do soon would be:
Talk to the music director and see where he thinks the
orchestra should be. Also how many members and what space they need. Talk to the sound tech to see what he plans so you might be able to help each other out.
Go through your scenery store and see what is already made in the way of trucks, flats
etc. If you have a Flytower do you want to hang painted drops.
How many in the cast? This will dictate how much space you will need for each scene.
I hope this has been of some help. Please feel free to ask for clarification on anything I said.