Finally, pictures from the Union College production of “As you like it” uploaded. It was a great ending to a great year. I designed the set to feel very natural as possible. It was suggested many times to use metal; but that took the design further from the natural woods feel. The biggest challenges for this production was the bridge, having it unsupported for 16 feet. The plan was to have it wide open for wagons to come and go under the bridge. In the end we cut all ideas of wagons for lesser furniture the best, to keep the flow from scene to scene fast. I wish I could have made that decision earlier in order to prevent the cutting the white cyc. I would have asked the director (William Ziskin) to have exits and entrances from the sides, then use the background fully textured with shadows of more trees. Speaking of trees… always use fake trees. I waited for the last week to install the real tress in order to make them last longer. They did not even survive the drive form Schuylerville to Schenectady. We tried the tree in bucket idea, but did not accomplish as much as hoped. By mid week the trees looked sickly. Next time I will go back to making trees, and trying to hot glue as many leaves as possible. Enjoy the pics.
Home Made Theater production of “How to Succeed in Business without Trying” closes May 4, 20008. The designs, yes designs, set and lights that I did were based upon some fabulous art deco images. You can get the feeling of the empire state building in the back wall, which is built with muslin, and the front portal walls were based on a door design like a metal railing. The reviews came up very positive for the whole production. I was very happy with how the set turned out. I ended up revising the floor design due to time constrictions, but that was the only revision I needed to make. Check out the new Gallery and see if you like.
Added today was another Gallery, this time for the “Whirled in Flux” Dance Production Produced by Union College Theater and Dance. This production will stay with me forever as an important date. During this production the theater world lost an important person, mentor, designer, and family man; John Miller. This production was dedicated to him. Originally this semester I was only the adjunct professor for Charles Steckler during his sabbatical in which he was going to spend in Rome, and I was designing the scenery for this production and next semesters As You Like It. February 14th that all changed, when John Miller past away. I was asked to finish his lighting design and his lighting design class. He has big shoes to fill, as he has been at Union for almost a quarter of a century. I hope I did him justice in the end. I used a lot of color in the design, but kept the cues simple. I believe it was a beautiful show, and hope to always put all my energy into every show, 120% or more, just as John did.
Opening January 11, 8:00; A FEW GOOD MEN written by Aaron Sorkin, creator of TV’s West Wing, at Curtain Call Theater, Latham, NY, till February 9th. REGIONAL PREMIERE-A RIVETING COURTROOM DRAMA
Keeping the audience on the edge of its seats, the plot skillfully unravels the path to justice as two lawyers fight to save a wrongfully imprisoned Marine. The heat is turned up on traditional, judicial thrillers with strong doses of military intrigue, sexual tension, and conflicting dilemmas of duty honor and the law.
I designed the set with minimal pieces. I started out with 3 tables and 12 chairs, during rehearsals we talked it down to using only 2 tables and 6 chairs and a stool. The show when rehearsing felt like musical chairs, but the limited space on stage felt better with less chairs. It moves better now that the chair movement has been choreographed and cleaned up. The show was also edited down with the design of the backdrop. Originally I had designed text and barbed wire on the back painting of the American flag. After finishing the painting of the flag itself, I felt that it would be cleaner to cut the other layers, and stick to just the flag, and I am happy with that decision. The show is clean, and crisp, from the uniforms to the text. The set needed to match those ideas.
If you can make it to the show, don’t miss it.