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  3. Grade 12
  4. Theatre
  5. Use a resume and portfolio of works created in technical theatre

Grade 12 · Theatre

Use a resume and portfolio of works created in technical theatre

Quarter 4 · Week 6 · TEKS

Standards Alignment

  • TEKS.117.326.05A primary
    use a resume and portfolio of works created in technical theatre;
  • TEKS.117.326.05B primary
    model appropriate behavior of technical staff at various types of live performances;
  • TEKS.117.326.05C primary
    defend the design and technical elements of theatre as an art form and evaluate self as a creative being;

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Lesson Overview

This Grade 12 Technical Theatre lesson focuses on how students can use a resume and portfolio of works they have created in technical theatre. Students will learn to model appropriate professional behavior as technical staff during live performances and defend the artistic and technical elements of theatre. The lesson supports students in evaluating themselves as creative individuals and prepares them for career and educational opportunities in theatre and related fields.

Learning Objectives

  • Create and use a resume and portfolio showcasing technical theatre work.
  • Demonstrate appropriate professional behavior as technical staff during various live performances.
  • Explain and defend the design and technical elements of theatre as an art form.
  • Reflect on and evaluate personal growth and creativity as a theatre technician.

Success Criteria

  • Students can create or update a resume and portfolio that clearly presents their technical theatre experience.
  • Students demonstrate professional and respectful behavior in simulated or real technical theatre settings.
  • Students articulate reasons why technical theatre elements are important artistic contributions.
  • Students provide thoughtful self-evaluation regarding their creative development in technical theatre.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should have prior experience working in technical theatre roles and basic understanding of theatre production processes and terminology.

Key Vocabulary

  • Resume
  • Portfolio
  • Technical Theatre
  • Design Elements
  • Technical Elements
  • Professional Behavior
  • Creative Evaluation
  • Live Performance

Materials and Resources

  • Sample technical theatre resumes and portfolios
  • Templates for resume and portfolio creation
  • Video clips or live examples of technical staff behavior during performances
  • Reflection journals or self-evaluation forms

Teacher Preparation

  • Gather examples of professional resumes and portfolios from technical theatre practitioners.
  • Prepare scenarios or role-play activities to demonstrate appropriate technical staff behavior.
  • Review key design and technical elements of theatre to discuss with students.
  • Prepare reflection prompts for self-evaluation activities.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Understanding a Technical Theatre Resume and Portfolio

A resume in technical theatre is a document that lists a person's experience, skills, and accomplishments related to theatre production roles such as lighting, sound, set construction, costume design, and stage management. A portfolio is a collection of work samples, such as photographs, designs, production notes, or videos, that visually demonstrate the student's technical skills and contributions. Together, these tools help students present their qualifications for jobs, internships, or educational programs in theatre.

Modeling Appropriate Behavior of Technical Staff

Technical staff must behave professionally during live performances to ensure safety and smooth production. This includes punctuality, clear communication, attentiveness, and respecting the performers and other crew members. Modeling this behavior involves demonstrating how to respond to cues, handle equipment carefully, and maintain focus without distracting the audience or performers. Role-playing common backstage situations can help students practice these behaviors.

Defending Design and Technical Elements as Art Forms

Technical theatre elements such as lighting, sound, set design, and costumes are integral to storytelling and artistic expression in theatre. Students should be able to explain how these elements contribute to mood, character, and plot development. Defending these elements involves articulating their creative choices and understanding their impact on the audience's experience. This also includes recognizing the technical challenges and creative problem-solving involved in production.

Evaluating Self as a Creative Being

Self-evaluation encourages students to reflect on their growth, strengths, and areas for improvement as technical theatre artists. This process involves considering how their work contributes artistically and technically to productions, how they collaborate with others, and how they manage challenges. Reflection journals or guided questions can help students articulate their creative identity and set goals for future development.

Worked Examples

Worked Example 1

Scenario

Review this sample technical theatre resume. Identify three elements that make it effective for showcasing skills and experience.

Explanation

An effective technical theatre resume clearly lists relevant roles, includes specific skills or tools used, and presents information in an organized, easy-to-read format. These elements help potential employers or educators quickly understand the student's qualifications.

Answer Guide

The resume includes specific job titles and dates, lists technical skills like lighting and sound operation, and uses bullet points and headings for clarity.

Worked Example 2

Scenario

During a live performance, a technical staff member notices a problem with the sound system. How should they behave to handle this professionally?

Explanation

Professional behavior includes staying calm, communicating clearly with the team, addressing the issue quietly without distracting the audience, and following safety protocols. This ensures the problem is resolved efficiently without disrupting the performance.

Answer Guide

The staff member stays focused, signals the sound operator discreetly, avoids panicking, and helps fix the problem calmly and quickly.

Worked Example 3

Scenario

Explain why lighting design is considered an important artistic element in theatre.

Explanation

Lighting design sets the mood, highlights actors or scenery, and helps tell the story visually. It influences how the audience perceives time, place, and emotion, making it a key creative contribution to the production.

Answer Guide

Lighting creates atmosphere and directs audience attention, enhancing the storytelling and emotional impact of the play.

Engage

Teacher Activity

Introduce the lesson by showing examples of professional technical theatre resumes and portfolios. Discuss their purpose and importance in theatre careers.

Student Activity

Students share any previous experience they have with resumes or portfolios and discuss what they think should be included for technical theatre roles.

Explanation

This phase activates prior knowledge and sets the context for why documenting technical theatre work is important for career and creative development.

Examples

  • Students identify key components of resumes and portfolios.
  • Students express curiosity about how to showcase their technical skills.
  • Students recognize the connection between documentation and career opportunities.

Explore

Teacher Activity

Guide students in reviewing sample resumes and portfolios, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Facilitate role-play activities simulating technical staff behavior during a live performance.

Student Activity

Students analyze sample documents and participate in role-play to practice professional backstage behavior.

Explanation

Students explore the content and format of resumes and portfolios and practice the behaviors expected of technical theatre staff during performances.

Examples

  • Students critique sample resumes and portfolios with specific suggestions.
  • Students demonstrate respectful and professional behavior in role-play.
  • Students discuss backstage challenges and solutions.

Explain

Teacher Activity

Explain the artistic value of technical theatre elements and how to defend their importance. Lead a discussion on self-evaluation as a creative process.

Student Activity

Students explain how technical elements contribute to theatre as an art form and reflect on their own creative development.

Explanation

This phase deepens understanding of technical theatre as an art form and encourages students to evaluate themselves creatively.

Examples

  • Students articulate the artistic impact of technical elements.
  • Students provide reasons supporting their creative decisions.
  • Students thoughtfully reflect on their personal development.

Elaborate

Teacher Activity

Support students in creating or updating their own technical theatre resumes and portfolios. Facilitate peer feedback sessions and self-reflection activities.

Student Activity

Students create or revise their resumes and portfolios, share with peers, and reflect on feedback and personal goals.

Explanation

Students apply their learning by producing professional documents and engaging in constructive evaluation to improve their work and self-awareness.

Examples

  • Students produce clear, organized resumes and portfolios.
  • Students provide and receive constructive feedback.
  • Students set realistic goals for improvement.

Evaluate

Teacher Activity

Assess students through observation of their resume and portfolio presentations, role-play behavior, and self-evaluation reflections. Provide feedback and ask clarifying questions.

Student Activity

Students present their resumes and portfolios, demonstrate professional behavior in a simulated setting, and share their self-evaluation insights.

Explanation

This phase measures student mastery of creating professional documents, modeling appropriate behavior, and reflecting on their creative identity.

Examples

  • Students clearly explain their work and behavior.
  • Students consistently model professional backstage conduct.
  • Students provide meaningful self-assessments.

Classroom Activity

Students analyze sample documents and participate in role-play to practice professional backstage behavior.

Guided Practice

Guided Practice 1

Prompt

What is the purpose of a resume in technical theatre?

Teacher Answer Guide

A resume lists a person's technical theatre experience, skills, and accomplishments to show their qualifications for jobs or education.

Guided Practice 2

Prompt

Name two types of work samples that could be included in a technical theatre portfolio.

Teacher Answer Guide

Photographs of set designs and videos of lighting setups are examples of work samples for a portfolio.

Guided Practice 3

Prompt

Describe one way to model appropriate behavior as technical staff during a live performance.

Teacher Answer Guide

One way is to communicate quietly and clearly with other crew members without distracting the audience or performers.

Guided Practice 4

Prompt

How does a well-organized resume help a technical theatre professional?

Teacher Answer Guide

It helps employers or educators quickly understand the person's skills and experience, increasing chances of getting hired or accepted.

Guided Practice 5

Prompt

Reflect on your own technical theatre work and identify one strength and one area for improvement to include in your self-evaluation.

Teacher Answer Guide

A strength might be strong lighting design skills; an area for improvement could be learning more about sound equipment operation.

Independent Practice

  1. Foundational: What is the purpose of a resume in technical theatre?
  2. Developing: Name two types of work samples that could be included in a technical theatre portfolio.
  3. Application: Describe one way to model appropriate behavior as technical staff during a live performance.
  4. Analysis: How does a well-organized resume help a technical theatre professional?
  5. Challenge: Reflect on your own technical theatre work and identify one strength and one area for improvement to include in your self-evaluation.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

  1. 1. A resume lists a person's technical theatre experience, skills, and accomplishments to show their qualifications for jobs or education.
  2. 2. Photographs of set designs and videos of lighting setups are examples of work samples for a portfolio.
  3. 3. One way is to communicate quietly and clearly with other crew members without distracting the audience or performers.
  4. 4. It helps employers or educators quickly understand the person's skills and experience, increasing chances of getting hired or accepted.
  5. 5. A strength might be strong lighting design skills; an area for improvement could be learning more about sound equipment operation.

Guiding Questions

  • What should be included in a technical theatre resume and portfolio?
  • How can you demonstrate professionalism backstage?
  • Why are technical theatre elements important to the art form?
  • How can you evaluate your growth as a creative technician?

Common Misconceptions

  • A resume is just a list of jobs without details about skills or accomplishments.
  • Technical theatre work is not an art form and does not require creative defense.
  • Professional behavior backstage means being quiet, but it also includes communication and teamwork.
  • Self-evaluation is only about listing weaknesses, not recognizing strengths and growth.

Differentiation

Support and Intervention

Provide resume and portfolio templates with prompts. Use role-play scripts to guide backstage behavior practice. Offer sentence starters for self-evaluation reflections.

English-Language Learner Support

Use visuals and examples to explain resume and portfolio components. Model key vocabulary with pictures and gestures. Pair ELL students with peers for collaborative activities.

Advanced and Extension

Encourage students to research and include industry-standard resume formats. Challenge students to create digital portfolios with multimedia elements. Facilitate debates on the artistic value of technical theatre elements.

Assessment

  • Students create a draft resume and portfolio for peer review.
  • Students participate in role-play demonstrating backstage professional behavior.
  • Students write a short reflection defending a technical theatre element.
  • List three things to include in a technical theatre resume.
  • Describe one example of appropriate backstage behavior.
  • Explain why technical theatre is considered an art form.
  • Submit a complete resume and portfolio showcasing technical theatre work.
  • Perform a simulated technical staff role during a live performance scenario.
  • Write a self-evaluation essay reflecting on creative growth.

Answer Guide

  • What is the purpose of a resume in technical theatre?
    Answer: A resume lists a person's technical theatre experience, skills, and accomplishments to show their qualifications for jobs or education.
  • Name two types of work samples that could be included in a technical theatre portfolio.
    Answer: Photographs of set designs and videos of lighting setups are examples of work samples for a portfolio.
  • Describe one way to model appropriate behavior as technical staff during a live performance.
    Answer: One way is to communicate quietly and clearly with other crew members without distracting the audience or performers.
  • How does a well-organized resume help a technical theatre professional?
    Answer: It helps employers or educators quickly understand the person's skills and experience, increasing chances of getting hired or accepted.
  • Reflect on your own technical theatre work and identify one strength and one area for improvement to include in your self-evaluation.
    Answer: A strength might be strong lighting design skills; an area for improvement could be learning more about sound equipment operation.

Real-Life Application

Students can discuss their technical theatre experiences and resume or portfolio progress with family members, explaining the importance of documenting their work and professional behavior in theatre.

Homework or Home Connection

  • Students can discuss their technical theatre experiences and resume or portfolio progress with family members, explaining the importance of documenting their work and professional behavior in theatre.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students learn to create and use resumes and portfolios to showcase their technical theatre work, model professional backstage behavior, and defend the artistic value of technical theatre elements. They also reflect on their creative growth, preparing them for future educational and career opportunities in theatre and related fields.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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