Scenic Design

UHSAA Technical Theatre Competition

SCENIC DESIGN GENERAL INFORMATION

Read through all the instructions before starting your project.

Students must work alone - no collaborations.

Designs can be for theoretical or realized productions.

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Students will select a straight play or musical to design for.

You must have legal access to the script.

Students will research and create two or more elements to showcase their design of a unit set.

Students must read the play/musical and analyze the script for scenic needs.

There are 3 parts to the Scenic Design Project:

TRI-FOLD PRESENTATION

VERBAL DEFENSE

Show Summary - Summarize the show in 50 words or less.

Complete research & sources of inspiration for design and color palette. Include reference number. Put numbers by the images for your bibliography (references).

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The scenic design for Pirates of Penzance captures the operetta’s playful romance through a versatile unit set. A whimsical coastal world blends rocky outcrops, sandy shores, and ocean blues. Stylized Victorian backdrops suggest ship, seaside, and estate, enabling seamless transitions while heightening humor, charm, energy, and comedic timing throughout staging.

Design Statement - Analysis of script and your unified design concept or theme of the show

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The Pirates of Penzance is a comic operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan following Frederic, a young man apprenticed to pirates by mistake. Torn between duty and love, he navigates absurd rules, mistaken identities, and satire of honor, romance, and authority, all set to witty music and playful humor.

TRIFOLD ELEMENTS

Preliminary sketches - seeing your process is very important!

Citations

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CITATIONS

1. https://sewcoordinated.com/2014/10/06/my-vintage-ironing-board-recovered-a-pictorial-tutorial/
2. https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/rugs-carpets/persian-rugs/early-20th-century-malayer-rug/id-f_11461743/
3. https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/1920s_bentwood_hat_and_coat_stand_a218/as294a218
4. https://www.vintagehardware.com/proddetail.php?prod=ANT-355
5. https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/stylish_1930s_floor_lamp_with_ebonised_banding_a2883/as342a2883

DESIGN ELEMENT OPTIONS

Participants will be required to include at least TWO of these elements,

but may do as many as will fit on their display, if desired.

Only including one element will be grounds for disqualification.

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*If you are in High School, Liahona will require you to do a colored model. This is because we want all High School students to have the best chance if you are chosen to compete at the Region/State level, and that is the most informative and effective way to showcase your design.

• Colored model*
• White model
• Ground plan

• Elevations
• Digital drawings
• Collage

COLORED MODEL*

A three-dimensional scale model of a theatrical set that shows the final look of the scenery exactly as it’s intended to appear onstage.

Check out the video tour of this scenic design by Kylie Christensen, 2024; 3A State 2nd Place.

• Built to scale (often ¼” = 1’–0” or ½” = 1’–0”)
• Fully painted and textured to represent real materials—wood grain, stone, fabric, metal, etc.
• Includes all scenic elements: walls, platforms, stairs, furniture, drops, and major props
• Shows the color palette, mood, and style of the production, not just shapes

WHITE MODEL

A white model is a three-dimensional, scale model of a stage set made entirely in white or neutral materials that shows the layout, structure, and spatial relationships of the design—without color, texture, or decorative detail. Think of it as the architectural blueprint in 3D—the bones of the set, not the final look.

GROUNDPLAN

A ground plan is a to-scale, overhead (top-down) drawing of the stage and set, showing where all scenic elements are placed on the floor. It includes:

• Walls, platforms, stairs, and major set pieces
• Doors, windows, and entrances/exits
• Furniture and large props
• Stage boundaries (proscenium, center line, plaster line)

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ELEVATIONS

An elevation sketch is a to-scale drawing of a set viewed straight on from the front or side, showing the vertical surfaces and heights of scenic elements. It shows:

• Height and proportions of walls, platforms, stairs, and levels
• Doors, windows, railings, and trim
• Surface details like paneling, moldings, or texture ideas
• Paint treatments and finishes (in later versions)

← This is a side elevation, which is

also very helpful to include.

DIGITAL DRAWINGS

Digital drawings are theatrical design drawings created using computer software instead of hand drafting, used to plan, communicate, and refine a set design. They are typically made with programs like Vectorworks, AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Photoshop.

COLLAGE

In theater set design, a collage is a visual storytelling tool designers use to communicate the feel of a world before building it.

It’s usually a single page (or board) that layers:

• images (photos, paintings, textures)
• colors
• architectural details
• patterns or materials
• sometimes words or quotes

All together, it shows the mood, style, and emotional tone of the set.

INITIAL SKETCHED DESIGNS

This is not a required element, but greatly helps to have on your trifold

so that the judges can see your thought / design process. These could also be included in your collage or elevation elements.

Prepare a 2-3 minute explanation of the design to be shared in front of the judges:

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• Slate (My number is (Entry Number), and I have created a scenic design for (Title of Play), written by (Author).
• History and research for your show choice.
• How your design choices enhance the mood/tone of the show (design, color, vibe).
• Anything else you want to mention regarding why your design is unique.
• Be prepared to answer clarifying questions from Judges with any remaining time.
• Watch an example of a verbal defense by Ryan McGirr, 2024; 3A State Champion. (But be under 3 minutes!!)

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Tips:

• Use/show your folder, groundplan and/or model to solidify your designs as you defend your choices from start of the process to finished product.
• Memorize this just as you would a monologue. You can use notecards if needed.

VERBAL DEFENSE

MEASURED SKILLS:

• An understanding of scenic design.
• An understanding of the artistic and practical constraints that impact design.
• An understanding of the relationship of scenic design to a unifying concept.
• The ability to carry out research into style, period, locale, and genre of the show.
• The ability to present and explain design choices.
• Attention to detail.

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GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION:

• Missing any of the following items: groundplan, scale model, folder, verbal defense.
• Provable plagiarism: The intent of this competition is for students to read a play, then create a design based on their own research of the source text. "Research" does not only mean googling previous productions and copying another person's design: that is plagiarism. If students choose to use another person's designs as inspiration (original Broadway production or otherwise), their sources must be cited to give credit to the original designer. Direct replicas of designs, even if credit is given, is discouraged in all aspects of the competition.

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JUDGING

JUDGING RUBRIC

SCENIC DESIGN CHECKLIST