What do the colour choices in scenery and costume suggest about the tone of the play?

Over the past few weeks, we have covered Lighting and Sound Design, with a particular focus on how these design areas contribute to the mood of a production. For this paper, identify the mood and style of Hamilton on Disney+.

You should be able to analyze several design areas at this point: Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, and Sound Design. Focus on these theatrical elements rather than on the plot.

Before seeing the show: Consider the graphic design used for advertising. What do these images suggest about the mood of the production?

While watching the show: Think about how the design elements suggest the mood of the play. Falsettos is a contemporary musical. How do design elements contribute to the world of the play? What do the colour choices in scenery and costume suggest about the tone of the play? How do lighting and sound enhance or change the mood for specific scenes?

After the show: Write a cogent essay in which you make an argument about mood of the play. Be specific in your thesis statement about choosing adjectives for the mood. (Was the overall mood bleak? Happy? Nerve-wracking? Traumatic?) Use evidence from the show to support your ideas. Be sure to link your evidence to your overall thesis; the best way to do this is to write a strong topic sentence for each paragraph that reiterates the mood you are discussing.

Possible outline for your paper:

Paragraph 1: Introduction. State the title of the production you attended and indicate the location and date of the show. End this paragraph with a thesis statement that articulates your understanding of the director’s premise.

Paragraph 2: Discuss how scenic and/or costume design established the world of the play and contributed to the overall mood. In looking at the set before the show

Paragraphs 3-4: Analyze how Lighting and/or Sound design elements support the mood.

Conclusion: Think about larger implications of the mood of the play. What were your overall impressions as you left the show? Did it cause you to reflect on your own life at all?

Your essay should be AT LEAST 500 words and no more than 1000 words.

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