This document provides details about the set design for a stage production of the play "Bus Stop" taking place in Alvin, Ohio in 1957. The set designer chose small-town Ohio because blizzards are common there, fitting for the play, and wanted to convey a small town feel rather than large city. The main sets include the exterior and interior of a 1950s-style diner where most scenes take place, as well as the bedroom of the character Grace, keeping within a limited budget. Lighting, sound effects, and period details will be used to further immerse the audience and enhance mood.

1. BUS STOP
-SET DESIGNPRESENTATION BY:
MAKAYLA GATSON

2. WHAT IS SET DESIGN?
The set designer works with the director and
other designers to establish an overall visual
concept for the production and design the stage
environment. They are responsible for
developing the sets and objects that will appear
on stage, the lighting that will be used and also
the sound.

3. THE LOCATION
ALVIN, OHIO
I decided to have the play take place in
Hamiliton, Ohio for multiple reasons. First, the
winters up nor th are ver y cold and blizzards are
more common than in the south. Since a blizzard
o c c u r s d u r i n g t h e p l a y, w e t h o u g h t t h i s wa s a
perfect location. I also chose a small town
b e c a u s e I wa n t e d t o g i v e o f f t h e s e n s e o f a s m a l l
t o w n a n d n o t a h i g h l y p o p u l a t e d , l a r g e c i t y.

4. I chose to have Bus Stop take
place in the 1957. In this time
period, many people were in
the lower class and uneducated.
During this time period
film, art movements, television
and and music such as Elvis
Presley were popular.
America was also in conflict
with many countries as the
Cold War, Korean War, and
the Vietnam War all took place
during this decade.
Lastly, posters and signs started
to become more colorful and
vibrant with neon lights.

5. STAGE LIGHTS
Function:
allow us to see what is happening on stage
Focuses attention on the critical area of the stage at a given time by
using such instruments like a spotlight or dimming the lights
Mood Setting:
Lighting can change the feel of a production
During a tragic moment in the play we would not use bright and
colorful lights. Instead the lighting would be dark, dull and gloomy.
Physical Labor for Set up:
in order to set the lights in the right places where scenes are going to
occur, someone must climb a ladder and adjust where the lights are
to aim.
They may also need to add gels (colored transparent film) and gobos
(frames that produce different shapes or patterns on stage, such as
snowflakes) in order to correct the look

6. EXAMPLES OF LIGHT
EFFECTS WITHIN A PLAY

7. EXAMPLE: TRAGIC MOMENT
During a tragic moment in the play, such as when Bo and Will were in a
physical fight, we would not use bright and colorful lights. Instead the
lighting would be dark, dull and gloomy. It would also be a nice touch to
flash the bright lights on whenever they clashed so it would bring more of
a dramatic effect.

8. EXAMPLE: SHUTTING DOWN LIGHTS ONE
AT A TIME
The last scene of the play shows Grace in the diner after all
the other characters have left. She starts to shut the diner
down in order to prepare for a new group of people the next
day. She is sad because everyone is gone and she is alone and
by herself. To show the diner shutting down, I plan for the
stage lights to shut off one at a time, as if Grace is turning
them off herself. This will give a more dramatic effect to the
scene and end the play off in a good note.

9. EXAMPLE: SPOTLIGHT MOMENT
A scene that we decided to add to the play is where Grace brings Sherie up to her bedroom to talk. At
the time Sherie was stressed about Bo pressuring her to marry him so Grace decided to have a talk with
Sherie. As the two women sat on her bed, Grace told Sherie about her past husband and how she loved
him although things did work out. When Grace takes out her old wedding ring and shows it to Sherie
while they are sitting on her bed, Grace tells Sherie how the wedding ring represented love and how it
took time for her and her husband to feel that way about each other. This relates to our theme of the
play and how it takes time to get to know and love another person. With Grace showing Sherie the
ring, Sherie made up her mind that she did want to marry Bo.

10. SOUND EFFECTS
By having sound effects in
a play, it helps create the
desired mood and
emotions you want the
audience to explore. It
adds an extra effect that
makes the play come to
life.
Examples of when I will use sound effects in the play:
1. Auto effects of the bus pulling up to the diner and leaving
the diner at the end
2. I will also have sound effects of loud smacks and punches
that will either happen backstage or with auto effects during
the scene when Bo and Will are fighting. I will also have
dramatic, deep and fast past music playing during that scene
as well
Some sound effects can be too vast in
scope, too expensive or too dangerous to be
presented on stage
Many effects are performed offstage behind the
curtains or on the side
Examples of off stage sounds
blasts, shouts, clashing
weapons, shots, explosions and crashes
Examples of Sound Effects In A Play:
music in the background (often times
composers are hired to play instruments to
make it more realistic)
help "spot" cues in a play (decide when and
where should will be played to make the
scene more dramatic). Some plays only use
music during scene changes

11. EXTERIOR OF THE
DINER
Grace’s
Diner
I decided I wanted the diner for the play to look like the picture above. I chose this style
of diner/building because it reminded me of what the buses looked like during the
1950s. Also, considering during the 1950s many people did not have a lot of money, this
diner clearly shows that it is not a top of the line, fancy place to dine. I also liked how
the picture looks like it is taken at desk which fits perfectly with the play since the scenes
take place late at night. I plan to have a neon, light up sign like the picture above as a
prop on stage as well. It would make the set "pop" and add the the 1950s period of
colorful and bright signs.

12. INTERIOR OF THE
DINER
I specifically chose these two images to show the inside of what I plan the diner to look like
inside. I plan to hire an inexpensive interior designer that can help me make the interior of the
diner resemble the period of the 1950s closely. I think the interior of the diner is the most
important set because this is where the majority of the scenes take place. I plan to focus most
of my attention on this set.
The two pictures above have great elements from the 1950s such as the checker board
flooring, red leather car seat sitting booths, chairs and stools, as well as common table topper
found in the 1950s.

13. INTERIOR OF THE DINER
CONTINUED…
Other design elements that I
would like to incorporate are
popular 1950s pictures and
memorabilia hanging on the
walls of the diner. During the
play, Grace did not have a lot
of money but she tried to
make the diner look as nice as
possible but adding pictures
and posters on the walls.

14. INTERIOR OF GRACE’S
BEDROOM
To the left is a picture of what I plan the final
outcome of Grace's room to look like. Like I
mentioned before, I plan to spend the majority of
my budget on the interior of the diner since that is
where the majority of the scenes will occur, so I
want to spend less money on Grace's bedroom.
This means that I will have to have simple
decorations and a simple set. This picture resembles
a basic 1950s bedroom. It is not fancy which is
perfect considering Grace is not wealthy and most
of her income goes into running the diner.
Grace's bedroom is a very important scene where I
plan for Grace and Elma to be sitting on the bed as
Grace shows Elma her old wedding ring. This is one
of the main scenes in the play so I feel the setting
should fit it well.

15. CONCLUSION
As the set designer, I hope to make the play
come to life with the objects I use as sets, as
well as the lighting and sound that I chose
will best fit each scene of the play. By doing
so, I am able effect the audience while
conveying the message of the play and also
give them a memorable experience they will
not forget.