Advanced Costume Design for the Stage--Semester # 1  TPA 5048.01
Fall 1998 T/R--11:00 to 12:15 FAB 204
Colleen Muscha  Associate Professor of Costume Design and History 
Office hours:   T/TH 8:30-10:00 or by appointment 644-7514--FAB 325
E mail:  cmuscha@mailer.fsu.edu
 

DESCRIPTION:   Advanced exploration into the costume design process, including:
researching techniques--library and the Web, script analysis, the costume designer's role
though out the production process.  Design exercises which will explore the elements and
principles of design and their relationship to costumes.  Rendering projects will cover all the
major costume periods from Egyptian to Renaissance.

ART MATERIALS:      9" x 12" or 11" x 14" drawing paper
                                        Tracing paper--9" x 12” or 11" x 14"
                                        Drawing pencils: HB, B, 2B, Ebony, etc.
                                        Color pencils/markers/pastels
                                        Basic set of Watercolors or gouache
                                        Watercolor paper--140 lb.
                                        Watercolor brushes--size 5, 7 round tip Sableline and a
                                             small flat tip brush
                                        Watercolor palette or tray, water jar, etc.

TEXT:          The Costume Designer's Handbook  Ingham and Covey (the 1992 edition)
                                       Heinemann Educational Books

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT:
 
                      Fashion Sketchbook Bina Abling (second edition) Fairchild Publishers

SCRIPTS:    The Bacchae by Euripides
                      Ancrocles and the Lion by George Bernard Shaw
                      King Lear by Wm. Shakespeare
                      Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard

WEB SIGHTS:
 
      http://member.aol.com/nebula5/  The Costume Page
           This page will link you to numerous resource pages including costume books on line and
           museums.
      http://www.costumes.org

CLASS FORMAT:

1.  Classes exploring the design elements and principles, and how they
relate to the costume designer, including analysis of costume design work and projects.
 
2.  Dicusssion classes exploring the production process, including:
Script analysis, researching and library techniques, budgets, organizational skills,
communication skills, working with the shop staff, fittings, dress rehearsals, resumes and
portfolios.
 
3.  Project oriented classes including: design project presentations.

4.  Rendering technique labs.

PRODUCTIONS:   All students will be required to attend all FSU School of Theatre
               productions:  Pippen, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and Doll’s House.

GRADING AND PROJECTS:
 
   The Egyptian Project                                    10%
   The Bacchae                                                10%
   Ancrocles and the Lion                                 10%
   King Lear                                                     20%
   Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead         20%
   Papeer on Professional Costume Designer     10%
   Design Exercise Projects                               10%
   Rendering and Discussion Participation          10%

A    90-100%  B     80-89%       C    70-79%          D    60-69%       F       0-58%

All work is to be finished on day of critique.  Work handed in more than one week late
will be dropped by one half grade.  Any exception to this must be discussed with me
prior to the due date.

ABSENCES: Only TWO unexcused absences will be allowed.  For each additional
absence, the final grade will be lowered by one/third--for example:  an A becomes and A-,
A- becomes a  B+, etc.  Students are expected to arrive promptly.  Excessive tardiness will
be considered as an absence.
 
ADA: Anyone with a disability needs to report to the Student Disability Resource Center for
proper documentation.

FSU HONOR CODE:   Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor code
published in The Florida State University Bulletin and Student Handbook.   Each student
has the responsibility:
 1.  to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work,
 2.  to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the University
         community,
 3.  to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the
         University community.
Violations of this code in any assignment, test, paper, or attendance sign-in will receive a
minimum penalty of a grade of zero for the assignment in question and/or may receive an
"F" for the course at the option of the instructor.

CALENDAR:

Aug.  25      Introduction to class--Design elements and design principles
         27      Continuation of elements and principles and their relation to costume design.
                       Design Excercises:  Line and Shape

          1      Script Analysis--Costume Design Research (Research Scavenger Hunt)
Sept.  3      Project # 1--Egyptian--Research, preliminary sketches and swatches.
                        Directors and  concepts; communication with other designers.

          8      Design Project:  Line and Shape;  design excercises:  balance and scale.
         10     Project # 1--Egyptian--Final sketches and swatches.
                       The production period--charts, plots, swatch sheets and budget.

         15    Design Project:  Balance and scale;  design excercises:  texture.
         17    Project # 2--The Bacchae-- Research, prelimiary sketches and swatches.
                   The actor and fittings.

         22    Design Project:  Texture;  design excercises:  value.
         24    DESIGN PROJECT # 2--The Bacchae--Final sketches and swatches.
                   Production meetings,  rehearsals, and stage management.

         29    Rendering--The Figure--poses.
Oct.   1     Rendering--The Figure--faces.  Buying and renting--sources.

          6     Design project:  Value;  design excercises:  Color schemes--Monochromatic
                   and Analogous.
          8     Project # 3--Ancroclies and the Lion-- Research, prelimiary sketches and
                   swatches.  Pulling and buying clothing.

         13     Rendering--The Figure--hands and feet.
         15     DESIGN PROJECT # 3--Ancroclies and the Lion--Final sketches and
                   swatches.

         20     Rendering--Drapery
         22     Project # 4--King Lear--Research, prelimiary sketches and swatches.
                   First dress, wardrobe and strike.
 
         27     Rendering--Clothing.
         29     Design project:  Color Schemes--Monochromatic and Analagous;  design
                   excercises:  color schemes--complimentary and triadic.

 Nov.  3    Rendering--Textiles and Accessories.
           5    DESIGN PROJECT # 4--King Lear--Final sketches and swatches.

         10    Design project:  Color Schemes--Complimentary and Triadic;  design
                   excercises:  Split complimentary.
         12    Research Paper:  Professional Costume Designers.
 
         17    Rendering--Media Techniques:  Watercolor
         19    Project # 5--Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead--Research, prelimiary
                   sketches and swatches.

         24    Design project:  Color schemes--Split complimentary
                   Portfolios, resumes, job sources, contracts.
 
Dec.   1     Rendering--Work on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and any other
                   portfolio projects.
           3    DESIGN PROJECT # 5--Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead  
                  and discussion of FSU Costume Designs and Design/Technology Exhibit.