Production Designers

[ucjrdude902]

What exactly do production designers do in the overall aspect of a show? Do they over-see lighting, costumes, sound etc?

[Matt2]

I also wondered if designers (scenic and costume especially) are told explicitly by the director/producers how the design plan will go and how to execute it or if they are left mainly to their own devices.

[EricMontreal22]

Depends on the director. From reading that great Boris Aronson book for example--or the not quite as good Jo Mielziner one, both scenic designers when working with new works often would be involved as early as possible--often even influencing the writing (as Mielziner did with Streetcar Named Desire famously, or Aronson with the Hal Prince shows he did). I think usually a designer talks to the director and sometimes authors, comes up with some designs, the directors tell them what they like and don't like, etc.

[Tag]

I'd say a production designer is responsible for the overall look of a show. They would usually create at least 2 of the design elements of the show (typically set AND costume, or maybe set and lighting) It would be rare to see more than 2 elements designed by the same person and you would almost never see a sound designer design another element in the same show.

In terms of a director or producer explicitly telling a designer how to design a show, those instructions would more so be presented as "we need a staircase here" "we need a central seating area" etc. Basically, general ideas that the designer needs to then realize in a cohesive/aesthetic manner. A producer would also share the budget of the production with a designer, which would greatly influence what can be created.

[philly03]

The production designer, as said above, gives the overall theme/guide for a show.

Shows with projections, for example, are usually talked about very, very early on, such as Sven Ortel with WONDERLAND where the projections ranged from backdrops to the very elevator that Alice took to Wonderland (scenes like this would be discussed entirely differently without projections). The possibility of projection-based scenery was also a big part of Jane Eyre, and I would assume something like Sunday in the Park with George revival, with the projection boards of George in Act II, for example.

[My Oh My]

The best staged among musical productions involve each creative team member in every process where they, not only stand by and watch, but get directly involved as much as they can. They influence, inspire, and basically develop and shape a show as a whole together as a team. Obviously they will lend their own unique talents dominate the area they are in charge with but, basically, a great musical production is an integrated musical production.

This is why certain shows seem to have a distinct identity about them that is difficult to shake and is not so much related to design but everything being integrated seamlessly including design so that it plays a crucial role in the night's central goal of storytelling.

A great design team does not work alone individually but consults the other creative team members and plans the show together. It must start off with a clear concept. Once that's established, the need to consult with one another will be less but still a vital aspect of creating a show.

It's no wonder shows such as the original Evita, and A Chorus Line seem to almost come alive as single, tightly woven entities that neither distract or are there for any other purpose other than to supplement and in helping to tell a story.

This is how the spare, abstract Evita achieves so much that is usually attributed to the actress playing Eva when the finely developed, highly effective production tremendously elevates her performance more than it already does/is and how A Chorus Line can seem incredibly spectacular with virtually no scenery.

All of those elements working in cahoots toward a clear objective in moving a story forward, making its characters grow, and its audience engaged as only live theatre could is a common feature of long-running musicals. A production that is fragmented and does not support any clear strategy or utilize a concept in an efficient and effective way is how stuff like the original Carrie come about.

[FANtomFollies]

'Producion Designer' is usually a term associated with film, where as in theater 'Scenic Designer' or 'Set Designer' is most common.

[ucjrdude902]

I was debating between a degree in production design or something else just trying to see what I'd be getting into.