Technical Design Solutions for Theatre: The Technical Brief Collection Volume 1
Author: Ben Sammler (Editor), Don Harvey (Editor)
Publisher: Routledge
Publication date: 2002-08-02
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Print length: 284 pages
ISBN-10: 0240804902
ISBN-13: 9780240804903
Book Description
The Technical Brief is a collection of single-focus articles on technical production solutions, published three times a year by the prestigious Yale School of Drama. The primary objective of the publication is to share creative solutions to technical problems so that fellow theatre technicians can avoid having to reinvent the wheel with each new challenge. The range of topics includes scenery, props, painting, electrics, sound, and costumes. The articles each describe an approach, device, or technique that has been tested on stage or in a shop by students and professionals. Some articles included: Growing Flowers on Stage; Break-Away Glass; Photo-Murals for the Stage; Quiet Wire-Rope Curtain Track; Free Standing Curved Stairs; A Measured Approach to Kerfing; A Low-Voltage Remote Controller for Special Effects; Toggle-Clamp Locks; Comparing Four Plastics as Scenery Glides; Low Pressure Air Casters; A Simple Lift Jack; Using a Piano to Create a Reverberation Effect; Horn-Hat Mics for Sound Reinforcement
Review
“Sammler and Harvey have done us all a great service by providing this collection of ideas, solutions, and innovations. Like Robert Scales says in his foreword, these articles serve to inspire us to create, not simply duplicate.” – Shan R. Ayers, Theatre Design & Technology “….A long-needed collection of information on how specific problems have been approached and solved….To me the most valuable use of Technical Brief is not how to copy how someone else solved a particular problem, but to see the approach, materials, and techniques that were used which give me an idea how I might approach the problems I need to solve.” Robert R. Scales, Ph.D., Dean of USC School of Theatre “Anyone involved with set design and construction will find it a useful addition to the bookshelf.” Lighting & Sound
“….A long-needed collection of information on how specific problems have been approached and solved….To me the most valuable use of Technical Brief is not how to copy how someone else solved a particular problem, but to see the approach, materials, and techniques that were used which give me an idea how I might approach the problems I need to solve.” Robert R. Scales, Ph.D., Dean of USC School of Theatre “Anyone involved with set design and construction will find it a useful addition to the bookshelf.” Lighting & Sound
From the Publisher
Some articles included: Growing Flowers on Stage; Break-Away Glass; Photo-Murals for the Stage; Quiet Wire-Rope Curtain Track; Free Standing Curved Stairs; A Measured Approach to Kerfing; A Low-Voltage Remote Controller for Special Effects; Toggle-Clamp Locks; Comparing Four Plastics as Scenery Glides; Low Pressure Air Casters; A Simple Lift Jack; Using a Piano to Create a Reverberation Effect; Horn-Hat Mics for Sound Reinforcement
About the Author
Ben Sammler is currently the Chairman of the Department of Technical Design and Production for Yale School of Drama. He is the Production Supervisor for Yale Repertory Theatre and has over seen over 150 productions. Ben Sammler is also an experienced lighting designer and technical director with over 15 years of teaching experience, as well as the co-author of Structural Design for the Stage, 1999 (Focal Press), winner of the Golden Pen Award presented by USITT in 2000. Don Harvey has been a professor at Yale School of Drama since 1985. He is currenlty an adjunct Professor.
