Theatrical Events/Theatre in Everyday Life: Reflecting on Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Design in Relation to Theme and Mood
On the first day of class, we talked about a number of events that incorporate theatrical elements: religious and civic rituals such as weddings, funerals, graduations, or elections; and paratheatrical entertainments such as concerts and sporting events. In this moment when many public events are being canceled, I invite you to reflect on the theatricality of an event you have experienced in person or on television. This could be something like the NCAA Basketball tournament, the Super Bowl, a Panic! at the Disco concert, your high school graduation, your sibling’s wedding, etc.
Identify a theme or mood for the event and use this theme to craft a thesis statement. Themes or moods might include celebration, family, or competition. Consider theatrical elements based on our definition of theatre: is there a performer or group of performers? Is there an audience? Are the performers engaged in impersonation?
The bulk of your essay should focus on design elements of your event, and on how these design elements support the theme or mood of the event. Do the participants wear costumes? How is scenic design involved? How are lighting and sound used to enhance the audience experience? (Some examples: Scenery for athletic competitions is designed to enforce rules, but can have other purposes. Most football fields are green, but Boise State’s is blue; basketball courts may feature team names and logos. Backgrounds for rock concerts are often made from lighting or media; the stage set includes space for the musical instruments. Wedding parties wear specially designed clothing; music is chosen for the ceremony and reception; even food can be designed for this type of event.)
This essay should be 500-800 words. Papers should be formatted using standard MLA formatting.

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