the JOHN D. ERVIN page
of Theatrical Design/Production stuff

site last modified: 26 June 2008

Philosophy Corner

Welcome to The World's Most Unnecessary Web Site™! If you've stumbled across this page in search of "award-winning" graphics and free game software, I humbly apologize. You're in the wrong place. This site will not be winning any of those mysterious internet "top 5%" awards (like anyone's looked at all of 'em), though it may qualify as one of the quickest to download. That's because I choose to use the internet as a valuable communication tool rather than some sort of global 3D "Java Pac-Man". This is a functional site designed to aid my theatrical design, production and teaching activities and is no more enchanting to me than any other non-computerized tool in my arsenal. If you don't like what you see or the site doesn't have enough of those cutsie little animated hooha's for you...that's not really my problem.

LINKS TO MY STUFF

Show Photos | Student Handouts | Sharing Zone | Production Trivia

Selected Production Photographs

• AN INSPECTOR CALLS, Wayside Theatre (Virginia)
• AN INSPECTOR CALLS (Act III)
• AN INSPECTOR CALLS (Detail Photos of Drop and Costume piece based on it)
• ARMS AND THE MAN, Theater At Monmouth
• AS YOU LIKE IT (two photos), Theater At Monmouth
• COMMUNICATING DOORS, The Public Theatre
• COMMUNICATING DOORS (Detail of Balcony Window and Ground Row)
• COMMUNICATING DOORS (Detail of Painted Bathroom Floor)
• DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Harbor Playhouse (Texas)
• DEATH OF A SALESMAN, (Alternate View)
• HARD TIMES, Theater At Monmouth
• LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART, The Public Theatre
• THE MARONI NOTEBOOK, Colby College
• THE MARONI NOTEBOOK (Preshow)
• MARVIN'S ROOM, Wayside Theater
• MEASURE FOR MEASURE, Theater At Monmouth
• MISS JULIE (two photos), Performing Arts at Colby
• MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (two photos), Theater At Monmouth
• OLD TIMES (Pinter), Theater At Monmouth
• THE PAVILION, The Public Theatre
• THE PAVILION, (Detail of Parquet Floor)
• PRELUDE TO A KISS, The Public Theatre
• PRELUDE TO A KISS (Detail of Scenic Art for Marble Pedestal)
• SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, Colby College
• THE VENETIAN TWINS, Theater at Monmouth
• THE WINTER'S TALE, Theater At Monmouth

Colby Student Handouts

• TD 131 - Theater Production
• Syllabus
• Required Title Block and Border Information for all TD131 Drawings Handed In
• John's List of Tech Theater Terms
• Links to Images Referenced in the Above List
  • Cutaway of a Proscenium Theater
  • Proscenium Plan and Section
  • Thrust Plan and Section
  • Arena Plan and Section
  • Sightlines
  • Fully Masked Proscenium Theater
  • Skydrop and Cyc

• ANTIGONE-Ground Plan
• ANTIGONE-Center-Line Section
• ANTIGONE-Front Elevation
• ANTIGONE-Framing Plan
• Rules of Scenic Construction
• List of Basic Hardware and Materials Used in Scenic Construction
• Photometrics Example
• Drawing Assignments
• Group Presentation

The T. D. Sharing Zone

This section features information pertaining to shows in progress along with some of my most requested theater production forms and documents. If you don't see what you're looking for, contact me.

SHOW INFORMATION

• Strider Theater Tech Packet
  • Virtual Images
  • Ground Plan (11x17)
  • Section (11x17)
  • Rep Plot (11x17)
  • Light & Sound System Specs

CELLAR THEATER

• Fire Safety Guidelines
• Drawings (if printing, use 11x17 paper in landscape orientation)
• Ground Plan
• Repertory Lighting Plot
• Recommended Seating Arrangements (pre-approved and conforming to code)
  • End On Configuration
  • Thrust Configuration
  • Arena Configuration

DEPARTMENT INVENTORIES

• Cable
• Flats
• Lighting
• Platforms
• Soft Goods
• Staging Equipment

TECH THEATER FORMS AND OTHER USEFUL HANDOUTS

• Cut List
• Expense Report
• Light Cue Sheet (for the Cellar Theater's 24-channel, 2-scene preset light board)
• Prop Plot
• Shop Order - Lights
• Sound Plot
• "Stage Black" Paint Information

FUN WITH THE SHOPBOT

• Cutting a Student in Half (PowerPoint Show)

Technical Production Trivia

The following notes, tips, and otherwise useless blitherings are just some things that might prove useful in the process of technical production. They should never be misconstrued as law, but some come from highly-regarded text books and the rest are things that worked for me and/or how I personally observed them.

• Scenic Construction Notes and Tips
...tools, materials, tricks of the trade...
• Scene Painting Notes and Tips
...recipes, sealing, flame treatments...
• Stage Lighting Notes and Tips
...things you never can remember...
• Sound Production Notes and Tips
...data, gizmos, MIDI commands...

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