Tectonic Theater Research

The section that I read in Tectonic Theater’s, moment work was about lighting, (pgs 76-90). It made me think differently about how lighting can have a profound effect on a performance. The book gave a lot of details about all of the things that lighting can do. It creates mood, shapes the space, directs your eye, and conveys the time of day. All of these aspects should compliment the narrative being portrayed by the actors. In Tectonic Theater’s process, lighting is just as important as the narrative. Lighting sets the tone from the moment someone sits down in a theater. The way the stage is set before the play and the first few lighting cues set the tone for an entire production. 
The book also gives several exercises that help you to develop the lighting of your production. First, each actor brings in a light source. This can be any portable light source, a lamp, christmas lights, a lantern or a flashlight. Then everyone makes scenes surrounding these light sources. These scenes do not have to be narrative based, the only requirement is that you say “I begin” before you start and “I end” when you are finished to indicate the length of your scene. Throughout this exercise the actors should just be looking for how a light source speaks, and what it makes you think about. Next the moments are developed into more narrative based scenes. Throughout this stage actors should be exploring how you can use the light to interact with the audience, or be multi purposeful. After this add more people to the scene and see how that changes the scene. Then add different colors of light and see how the narrative is affected, the last two elements to add are props and costumes. This scene is not based in dialogue but there can be a narrative. These scenes should also be tried many different ways as you add more and more elements. For example you can change how an actor interacts with the props, or how actors interact with each other after more than one person is in each scene.  
In my section theatrical tension vs dramatic tension was also touched upon. Dramatic tension is conflict between characters and creating a plot. Theatrical tenison is how the other elements can create tension. Tectonic theater puts equal emphasis on these elements, they feel that the narrative is just as important as the elements of the stage and surroundings of the actors. 
Notes On Other People’s Sections

Caroline: Section 1: pgs 25-53
  • Talked a lot about how anyone can make a moment 
  • All people are involved in all aspects of theater 
  • Write performance instead of writing text
    • Create a plot around the space/stage that you have
  • Pick a favorite moment in theater and why 
    • Gesture not text related
  • Actors have to be aware of the room and space that they are in
    • How do yours enses react naturally to these things 
  • Experimentation is a big part of moment work
  • “I begin” “I end” 
    • Exercise is the foundation for moment work


  • Helena: Section 2: pgs 54-75
  • Props are items actors use to illustrate behavior
  • Props can affect how you think about a scene 
  • You can observe the texture of props 
  • Props can make you feel different things 
  • You need to experiment with many different things before you find what is really important about an object
  • Aha moment 
    • Our aha moment was when we pushed the people over and which lines we choose to incorporate into the show
  • Costumes can help you to develop identity 
  • Primary vs secondary elements 
    • Which elements do you want to have the most effects 
  • Discursive 
    • Each element has a different role
  • Be a generous collaborator 
  • Step up step back 
  • Pay attention to others in the stage and how they are contributing

  • Joyce: Section 3: pgs 91-124
  • Sound and text 
    • Evoke emotions and create mood or tone
    • Sound is text because the audience imagines the story
  • Sound can explore narratives
  • Create mood and atmosphere 
  • Change in volume tempo or rhythm can create a shift
  • Makes the audience use their imagination
  • Dynamic change
    • Rhythm
    • Volume 
    • Tempo
  • Emotional underscoring 
    • Build tension
    • Build emotional foundation
  • Text 
  • Can be a voice over 
  • Poetry or verse 
  • Text handed out to the audience 
  • Text written in real time onstage 
  • Dialogue between characters 
  • In all moments text is a contributing line but it doesn’t completely overtake the story****

  • Pacificia: Section 4: pgs 125-150
  • After creating moments how to we craft into a narrative 
  • Consecutive sequencing putting moments in order A,B,C 
    • When one moment happens the others freeze
  • Moment layering 
    • Moments can happen simultaneously
  • Context 
    • Creating backstory or knowledge/background that helps shape the narrative
    • Making a new moment before or after 
    • Helps with clarity or beginning middle and end 
  • Techniques
    • sketching :practice then improve/revize
    • The ticking time bomb creates tension
    • Keeping information from the audience; don't over explain let them imagine
    • Creating confusion, conflict/problem
    • Keeping several balls in the air 
    • Trust --- the audience will trust us until we give them a reason not to --- clarity
    • Joe x test ---  imagine a person called joe x is watching your performance 
      • They have to be able to understand something

  • Ruth: Section 5: pgs 176-212
  • A lot of people were really hesitant to go because they were gay
    • Everyone had to be in pairs for interviews
  • Interviewed people by different categories or location
  • After they got back to ny, they were trying to make moments 
    • Struggling with the fence 
      • Line of chairs and people 
  • A lot of trial and error 
    • Five different openings that the tried 
  • Didn't want the story to be about matt 
    • They wanted to be about the town
  • Company through line / mathews through line / laramie or community through line 
  • Have a third act or no
  • Act three is short in the movie 
    • How useful or appropriate is the third act 

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