ARTS

Quarter 4 – Module 4b:

Original Performance
With the Use of Media

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 What is It

Philippine Opera Company

The Philippine Opera Company (POC) was founded in 1999 by a group of
dedicated classically trained singers, led by soprano Karla Gutierrez as artistic directress.
The POC seeks to develop performers as well as audiences for classical music
performances, both foreign and Filipino.

Harana Master Class

Philippine Opera Company, 2009 Philippine Opera Company, 2010

Roles in a Stage Production

Most visible on stage in a theater production are the actors and actresses playing
their roles. However, behind the scenes is an entire team whose work begins months in
advance of the actual performance. It is they who support the actors and enable them to
truly bring the play to life. While the members of this team may vary depending on how
complex or simple the production is, below are the basic roles that most plays require

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Producer – In a professional stage production, this is the person who takes the play from
a mere concept to an actual finished presentation. He or she chooses all the team members
and assigns
them their functions and oversees the casting of the actors and actresses for the different
roles. He or she also decides on major logistical matters like when and where the play will
be staged, the production schedule, and in most cases either finances all the production
costs or else sources the funds needed.

Note: In a school or class play, the role of the producer is normally fulfilled by the
Drama Club moderator, the classroom teacher, or by the school itself.

Director – The director is the overall artistic coordinator of the entire production. Like a
conductor of an orchestra, he or she has a vision of the desired total effect and impact of the
performance. With the play’s script serving as a “musical score,” the director ensures that
each one in the production “hits all the right notes” to create a cohesive, seamless
performance that will engage the audience.

Throughout the play’s rehearsals, the director instructs and guides the actors as to
the delivery of their lines of dialogue; their positions and movements on stage (called
“blocking”); the thoughts or feelings they are to convey through tone of voice, facial
expression, and gestures. By the time of the actual performance, all these should be second
nature to the actors as they portray their characters on stage. The director also coordinates
closely with the set, lighting, sound, costume/makeup designers, and the choreographer (if
the play involves dance) to create the envisioned total effect.

Playwright – For a script intended for stage performance, the writer of the script is more
specifically called a playwright. The initial concept or plot may be original, and then
developed into a play script. Or it may be based on an existing story or another play which
the playwright will then adapt to present in a new way.

The script forms the basis of the entire production. It contains the exact lines of
dialogue that each character will memorize and deliver on stage, often with notes on tone
of voice, facial expression, and even movement or blocking. It also provides a clear
description of the set, props, and lighting to be used in each scene. In some cases, the
director may collaborate with the playwright on making some script adjustments in the
course of the rehearsals to better achieve the desired effect.

Set designer – The concept and creation of the physical stage setup is the task of the set
designer. He or she builds the set (or sets) that will simulate the world that the play’s
characters are supposed to live in. The set may be realistic and filled with authentic details;
or it may be minimalist, merely suggesting the setting with a few pieces of furniture or
props and a simple backdrop. In either case, the set designer ensures that the set will enable
the actors to move about easily and naturally to make their roles believable, and will truly
provide the ambiance on stage that the director and the playwright intend

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Lighting designer – Coordinating closely with the set designer is the lighting designer.
Lighting is critical in creating the mood of each scene in the play, highlighting a dramatic
moment, signaling the entrance of a character, focusing attention on a specific spot on
stage, or even providing the blanket of darkness for set and prop changes. Colored lights or
filters may be used, as well as special effects such as gradual dimming or brightening, a
speckled effect like sunlight through leaves, or flickering lights. The lighting designer plans
all these and adds detailed notes on the script for the lighting crew to follow during
rehearsals and the actual performance.
Costume designer – The actors and actresses must look believable in their roles, and
much of this is owed to the costume designer. He or she studies the general setting (time
and place) that the play is meant to take place in, as well as each character in the script. He
or she then decides what attire will not only give the audience a clear sense of the setting,
but will also express each character’s personality and distinct qualities.
The costumes may need to be designed and sewn to meet these requirements. Or
they may simply be assembled from available clothes and accessories, with some
additional touches created as needed. For a modern or avant-garde play, the actors
sometimes wear regular street clothes with a simple prop, a mask, or headgear to denote the
characters they are playing.
Sound designer – Similar to the lighting designer, the sound designer serves a vital role
in creating and enhancing the atmosphere of the performance. Sound, in this case, includes
music both on stage and as background, which the sound designer may need to source to
suit the general time and place of the play, as well as particular scenes. Also involved are
special sound effects like thunder, birds chirping, rushing water, gunfire, passing cars,
approaching footsteps, and the like. The sound designer works with all these to support the
action and interaction taking place on stage. He or she adds detailed notes to the script to
serve as a guide for the sound crew during rehearsals and the actual performance.
Note: In large scale productions where live musicians or even a full orchestra are
involved, a separate musical director is responsible for coordinating the play’s
music.
Production manager – Coordinating all the complex behind-the-scenes details of
staging a play is the production manager. He or she is tasked with overseeing the crews for
the sets and props, the sound and music, the lighting, and the costumes. This includes
ensuring that all the needed elements, facilities, and equipment are not only available, but
are in good working order, properly catalogued and labelled, and safely stored from one
rehearsal to the next, up until the time of the performance.
Technical director – The technical director shadows the play’s director throughout the
entire production process. From the time the director presents his or her vision for the play
and issues instructions at every rehearsal, the technical director carefully notes how each
actor and every member of the stage, sound, lighting, and costume
crews need to be coordinated to bring the director’s vision to life—ensuring that every
instruction is properly executed.
By the time of the final technical rehearsal (sometimes called the dress
rehearsal, since it is performed in full costume and makeup), the director focuses on
assessing the total effect of the performance and how it might still be improved. It is
then the technical director who takes over to closely monitor the individual details, and
again ensure that these work together seamlessly in the actual performance.
Choreographer – In cases where a play involves dance in certain scenes, a
choreographer is included in the production team. He or she not only plans out all the
dance steps to suit the music, but also rehearses the actors until they are able to perform
the dance skillfully—while remaining “in character” on stage. Should the play happen
to involve fight scenes, the choreographer will likewise program the moves of the
opposing sides so these can be executed not only believably, but safely as well.
Makeup designer – As the costume designer deliberates on the characters’ main
attire, the makeup designer is brought in to plan the hairstyles and makeup to
complement the costumes. The work of the makeup designer may be as simple as
making the actors look natural for their respective roles—based on their characters’ age
and personality, and the time and place of the story. But it may also be far more
challenging, such as transforming the actors into mythical creatures, animals, a different
nationality, or futuristic beings.
Thus, the makeup designer works his or her magic through the wonders of
makeup, face and body painting, and hair coloring. Other accessories may be employed,
like masks, wigs and hair extensions, headdresses, and even prosthetics to alter certain
facial features or body parts.