A Scenic Design for John Caird and Paul Gordon's "Jane Eyre: A Musical Drama"

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to document and analyze the process of the scenic design for John Caird and Paul Gordon's "Jane Eyre: A Musical Drama" as it was produced at the University of Maryland in October of 2005. The role of the scenic designer is to support the director's conceptual approach to a production via the scenic elements in collaboration with the design and production teams. Chapter 1 is an analysis of the script through a discussion of the original author of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brônte; the adaptation in musical form; and the imagery and symbolism inherent in the text. Chapter 2 details the visual research process and creation of the design in conjunction with the director, lighting designer, and costume designer. Chapter 3 follows the process of the set construction and creation of the design. Chapter 4 provides a critical analysis of the scenic design process and creation in reference to the scenic design. Finally, the appendices provide visual documentation of the design process from research to realization of the final production.