Final answer:
A floor plan or ground plan is crucial for actors and directors to navigate movements and blocking during rehearsals and ensures technical elements are integrated seamlessly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The development of a floor plan or ground plan is an extremely important step in preparing for the show to begin rehearsals so that the actors and director know how their patterns of movement will be affected by the placement of scenic elements and/or furniture. A ground plan is a detailed and technical phase of design, which includes mechanical scale drawings that illustrate the exact size, shape, and minor details of the whole set. These drawings help the director block the show, create stage pictures, manage transitions and serve as a reference during technical rehearsals when the whole ensemble of the production comes together.
When rehearsals take place, the director and actors must work out the blocking, which is all the movement actors do on stage, within the constraints of the set as dictated by the ground plan. The production prompt book, maintained by the stage manager, contains the finalized blocking and is continuously referenced throughout rehearsals and performances. This process is vital to ensure that the story is served and the audience is immersed in a unified world that supports the actors in telling the story, with the help of other design elements such as lighting and costumes.