Here is a short rant about a few thoughts which came up during my viewing of this year’s awards….
I am not sure what the rest of the world has to say about the Tony Awards, but each year I look forward to hearing the winners of the scene design and lighting design awards. But why can it not be SEEING the work of the visual artists work? Last year I missed the pre-awards which I believe were on the local PBS station; luckily this year I was able to catch them on the web cast of the pre-awards. But I do have to admit I knew very little of the productions voted on this year, but expect on looking up most if not all the winning or nominated productions and reading them, then adding them to my ever growing library.
I would also like to ask if there was a way that stations, like PBS or maybe the Arts and Entertainment channel, present more plays from Broadway. I feel that Broadway believes that If the productions are filmed and recorded for the public; then who is left to see them live. I feel the die hards will continue going to the theaters; it is for people like myself, who cannot find the cash or more so the time to head down to the city and see the shows. I remember when I was younger, watching a lot more theatre on PBS than what I can find on the station now. For example, I remember “Billboards,” a presentation of dance done to the music of Prince and liking it so much, I went to the show when it toured to a theater near Buffalo. A good example that presenting theater on video is not a substitute for the live presentation, but more an advertisement. I do wish that I could see more theater; any theater. The only problem has been, I am too busy working IN IT, to see IT.
My goal this year is to to change that by trying to see more theatre in the capital region this year, and try to get to the city again for a Broadway production.
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.
Striking the “As you like it” set; and starting to design the next “As you like it” set for the summer
This week ends the year of work at Union College. It has been one of my best years to date, and has shown me that I really do want to end up in the education system; when I feel there is no more to learn out in the real world freelancing. I did make the effort though to stay in the system while I was here, with a position that had opened up, but was denied to one single item. The MFA. Okay for some not a minor thing, but I believe with the experience that I have since my BFA in 93, as a bigger accomplishment and a great learning tool. I do not want to insult those with an MFA and say they wasted their time; but in the years I have seen better work in some without the MFA than some with the extra piece of paper. Again this is an art field. Some things just cannot be taught. With the leaving of Union I will be on to my search for the best MFA program for myself, to provide myself with the next level that employers are looking for. I never said I knew everything, and I know I will learn a lot more going back into school. I can focus on the designs and learning; instead of getting the design done so I can pay my next bill, which is how it feels sometimes. I have put together designs in one day with one reading, and still felt the show worked. I would like to put a design together and feel each one has come from in depth soul searching. I put it off for so long because of the general debt I built up with low paying theater jobs; but I have to find ways round that. Even if I have to sell my truck and anything else. Except the computers, of course. I am going to compact my life even more to one room, or to what can be put in one large trunk. Just stay tuned for what is coming next. Also stay tuned for pictures from Union’s production of “As You Like It” with my set design of a forest and bridge (unsupported by 16 feet). Very proud of the design, but I have even better ideas that could be added for the next forest design I work on. Oh, and I will try to remind people forever, It is usually better to make the fake tree, than keep a tree alive, or find one that is the exact dimensions you are looking for.