LaShay Lucas

Theater 200L
11/16/15
Poster Project
Poster for Twelfth Night
A. Research
1. Choice- Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
a. Attraction- I picked this production because I have been cast as
the role of Viola in this show, and the production needed a
poster. I thought what better way to contribute than to help
come up with an original poster for the show in which I am
staring.
b. Unique Selling Point- The unique selling point is the art. The
poster focuses on the fact that this is a Shakespearian. There is
no allusion to who is staring in the production just an allusion to
the plot and story line of the art.
c. Target- The target audience of the poster is the Tidewater
general arts community and audience. The Tidewater Repertory
Theater Company is an up and coming theater company and
does not have a pre-registered audience, this will be the premier
show for the company, which will build loyal audience members.
2. Competition
a. External-

1. Graphic- This poster of Twelfth Night focuses more on the

artist and not as much on the art, it uses the image of the
actress. The use of an actual image entices audience
members to come and see a specific person, rather than
focusing on the play that is being presented. This is an
advertising technique. In addition to the advertising technique

employed the poster also alludes to the plot by placing the

mustache on the actress. I think that this is a very appropriate
presentation for a University production. It is appealing to the
specific community and target audience group.
2. The typeface of this poster seems appropriate. It is very clear
and understandable. The typeface has a sense of elegance
and class to it, but it is not fanciful or over the top. A very
good choice for a Shakespearian piece.
3. Color- The colors in this poster are very warm. The graphic is
somewhat illuminated by the colors and the outlining glow.
The colors are also very feminine which reflects the female
lead role and contrast with the mustache painted on the
actresss face in the poster. I find the colors used very
appropriate.
b. Internal- There is no internal competition.
B. Result
1. Realization
a. Graphic-

1. Elements
a. Primary- I wanted to employ a very simplistic poster. I
chose a series of straight and curvy lines to represent the
contrast between masculine and feminine features of the
play. I chose to use this technique to present the unique
selling point of the plot. The use of line represents the
conflict that is shown throughout the play.
b. Essential- I chose the maintain simple colors as well. The
black, white, and red also allude the the masculine and

feminine qualities of the play. In addition, I chose to use a

different color for the name of the theater company
because it allows it to stand out just a bit, so that
audience members can easily identify the company that is
putting on the production.
2. Principlesa. Cohesion- I believe that my poster has a sense of unity to
it, along with the repetition of symbols. There is a sense
of cohesion in this poster. Although there is not much
repetition, the use of the lip and mustache twice brings
about a sense of cohesion and unity. Also the use of the
plus symbol brings about a sense of unity. The symbol
subconsciously presents the idea of connection and unity.
b. Stability- I think that this poster is balanced. The images
along the top forms an upside down triangle, and the text
fills up the rest of the image, keeping in mind that cast
and location will fill the remaining space of the image.
While I believe that the poster is balanced, I must
recognize that there is also a sense of imbalance between
graphic and text. All of the graphic is at the top, while the
text is loaded at the bottom, but I feel that this structure
is appropriate for a theater poster.
c. Flow- I think that the organization of graphics provides a
sense of flow, pointing down to the text of the poster, but
other than that, there is not movement in the poster. The
only movement is in the directional optical push caused
by the organization of the graphics.
d. Stylization- This poster uses a sense of abstracted images
to represent the plot of the play. The images are not
abstract in a sense of abstract art, but in a manner in
which no actually images of reality are used. I think that
this is most appropriate for the premier presentation of a
theater company, especially when there are no heavy
hitters on the playbill.
b. Typeface1. Elements
a. Primary- I chose to use a specific typeface Bodoni
72. I chose this typeface because it is very classic,
which represents the Shakespearian play genre, in
my opinion. I kept the typeface consistent
throughout the poster to represent a sense of
cohesiveness and structure.
b. Essential- As I mentioned earlier, I chose to use
mostly black in the typeface to promote simplicity
throughout the poster. The only time I stray away
from this concept is with the name of the Tidewater

Repertory Theater Company, I strategically chose to

change the typeface color so that the name of the
new theater company stood out. I chose navy blue
because that is the main color in the logo of the
theater company.
2. Principles
a. Cohesion- The typeface of the poster is consistent
throughout, this indicated a level of cohesion. Bodoni 72 is
used and will continue to be used for the additional text
that is to be added once rolls are filled. This also ties back
into the unique selling point because Shakespearian plays
are associated with high quality and class, I think that this
typeface embodies this c sense of class. If is just right, not
too fanciful and a certain level of simplicity.
b. Stability- The typeface and the text in the poster is
balanced and structured, much like the art which is being
presented. It is consistent with a twist (color change) to
allude to important things that call for the audiences
attention.
c. The typeface is very static, it does not move, it is
consistent so that the audience is not confused. The
organization of the text and the text that is to be added
later is a structural one that reflects the structure of
Shakespearian plays and the classic embodiment of grace
and prestige.
d. Stylization- In the case of typeface the stylization is very
actual, there is no abstracted language or fonts,
everything is simple and clear to avoid confusion or
misunderstandings.
2. Reflection- I really enjoyed writing this paper and being able to
create this poster, I feel more involved in the process of the play that I
will be staring in. I appreciate Dr. Godwin for allowing me to stray away
from the original assignment a bit in order to help the Tidewater
Repertory Theater Company. I have been informed that upon the
completion of this poster it will e used every time that this play is
performed by this theater company. I feel like I have been able to do
something that will matter and last. I feel like I have been given the
opportunity to be apart of and invest in something greater than myself
and I know that it will last.