The Math and Science Side of Theatre

Architecture/Set Design

Equation

Basic Math/Administration

A new show opens on June 17, 2016. The cast needs 3 weeks of rehearsal. The crew will need 1 week of technical rehearsal with the cast, which needs to occur outside of cast rehearsal. The cast must have 2 days off a week; this does not apply during technical rehearsal. How many total rehearsal days is needed? What is the start date of rehearsal?

Set Designers use blueprint creation and design programs such as SketchUp to design their ideas. They build 3D models so a director is able to envision how the blocking should be organized. Below is a sketch from the Curley-Clays for the 2015 production of Gabrielle Fulton's Uprising (Horizon Theatre Company).

ANSWER

Rehearsal Days:

7-2 = 5

5x3 = 15

15+7 = 22

Start Date:

May 20, 2016

(Count backwards from Opening Night Date)

The easiest way to consider this is from the Box office perspective. From the beginning of the rehearsal process to the opening night, the number of days to promote, sell tickets and even attend to the needs of the cast and crew is highly important. Time is a very important factor to keep in mind.

PLAYWRIGHTS

Introduction

EQUATION

Playwrights think about the entire production.

- How long? (Page Length - 1pg = 1-1.5mins)

- Sensory elements? (Lights/Sound)

- Scene changes? (Building/construction

If the diagram has a circle that is 8mm from the seats, how many feet is it from the audience. 1 mm = 1/2ft?

Algebra/Set Designers

CHEMISTRY/PROPS

ANSWER

The circle is 16 ft from the audience.

PROBLEM

Amina is writing a play that has 75 pages. Approximately how long will the play be?

Before the rehearsal process starts, the Stage Manager ideally has 1 week with the script and sketches to prepare the rehearsal room. This includes measuring from the diagram and laying it down on the ground.

Stage Hands/props personnel have to make the right consistency of props for things. For example, blood.

MATH + SCIENCE = THEATRE

ANSWER

Amina S. McIntyre

Playwright

@ladylovesherpen

The play will be about 75 mins - 112.5 minutes.

Theatre is notoriously placed as an art for entertainment. However, there are many behind the scenes aspects that require equations and calculations, using many aspects of math and science. Today, we'll see the Basic Math, Algebra, Geometry and Chemistry of a theatrical production.

GUESS THE SHAPE

ACTORS

GEOMETRY/DIRECTORS

TIMING

In addition to learning blocking, actors do an in depth script analysis, which includes counting beats, or places where the mood changes. Actors will also have in mind how long before the go onstage, as well as timing of choreography, especially during fights and dances.

Most directors, using the sketch and the

layout will use shapes to place the actors.

The best thing to do is avoid a straight line, so often directors will use triangles and rectangles for smaller casts. For larger musicals, there are octagons and other polygons that come into shape.

The Math and Science Side of Theatre

Amina S. McIntyre