UW Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department

Over the winter break, the technical director and I had talks about the drawings and budgets, after which I went back to the director, who also had some further thoughts, and we’ve modified the set to reflect the conclusions.

We got rid of a set of windows, decided the Hildebrandts and the Buchanans won’t get their own windows (the Hildebrandts are on the fourth floor, after all!). This moved things off center. We also cut one of the lampposts, which is not shown in this image.

Classes started yesterday, the shops are open, and away we go!

Well, we opened yesterday! Here are some photos from final dress.

First, one of the set for “Laundry and Bourbon” under worklights:

And then the run proper:

Then we switch over to “Lone Star:”

On to “Street Scene!”

The week before Thanksgiving, we hosted the Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival. Here’s a bunch of the traffic signage sitting the shop, waiting to be placed around campus:

So, between the Festival and the holiday, we are fairly behind on our work for “1959 Pink Thunderbird”. We forge ahead!

“1959 Pink Thunderbird” is now in the shop! Here’s a picture of assistant ME Nathan heading up the light hang yesterday afternoon:

And here are the two rolling platforms, One is for the “Laundry and Bourbon” porch, and the other will be double sided for both “Laundry and Bourbon” and “Lone Star.”

Now that that show is rolling along, I am back at the drafting table getting “Street Scene” drawn. Working on the groundplan:

Working on the elevation:

Last night was Second Dress, and things are close to being done. Here are a few photos from the rehearsal, featuring the work of student lighting designer Mason Ronan, student set designer Nathan Broege, student sound designer Michael Meschke, and faculty costume designer Tracey Lyons. Student Lauren Severson is the stage manager, and the props team were students Kenneth Ryan and Nathan Hancock. Directed by Bruce Cohen.

Here’s Mason working on some cue notes:

And then board operator Alden waiting for things to get rolling:

The Narrator gets things rolling:

And takes us into the Throne Room:

The captain arrives:

And the Empress enters:

The poor thespians beg for money to rebuild their theatre:

An example of the son’s acting ability:

Booted out of the place, the thespians plan their revenge on the Empress:

The Empress gives a speech to her people:

And then onto tonight and Final Dress!

We’re in the middle of tech week and things keep rolling along.

Here is a pic of students setting up the groundrow:

Austin moves legs to their new positions:

There was a trunk from which two characters were supposed to pop, but it ended up too large for them to get out of. It was cut. So here’s Koy dismantling it:

I did some more work on the loom — here it is before I worked on it:

And then the six students who all pitched in to help paint it:

Finished:

Student set designer Nathan works on painting the library side of the periaktoi:

And then Emily joins him:

That side, all done.

“Toil and Trouble” is up and running, and now our attention turns more fully to “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” our touring theatre for young audiences production. This one also has a student set designer, student lighting designer, student sound designer, student props team, and student stage management.

A pic of the general shop activity earlier today:

Scenic designer Nathan has made a template for his painted trim and starts to lay it out on his flats:

In the shop, Katie works with Intro student Cherrita on building a step unit:

While more Intro students, Colin and Baylee, work on second step unit:

Miriam primes the big throne platform:

Props team member Kenneth works with Simon on creating golden coins:

And then back to Nathan as he fills in the diamonds at the bottom of his flats:

Final Dress rehearsals this weekend. Here are some photos from the run Saturday afternoon. On this production we have a student lighting designer, a student set designer, student props team, student stage manager, student sound designer, and since the director was out of town for a job, a student assistant director.

Top of the play. Adam and Matt banter their way through various schemes:

Beth reports from the ball game:

Beth and Matt steel themselves to stab Adam:

Adam returns as a ghost:

Scene at the tech table as we take ten:

We worked our way through half the show last night during first tech, and since lighting is more or less done with the stage (until notes later on), painting takes precedence.

Here student set designer Lilliana works with Intro student Escher on glazing planks:

Student lighting design has a confab with our TD, Ruth:

And student sound designer, Alex takes a breather.

Lilliana demonstrates her graining technique for the camera:

Finally, Escher glazes planking on the steps:

Forward! “Toil and Trouble” heads into tech next week, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” started rehearsal the other day, and I’m furiously drafting plates for “1959 Pink Thunderbird.”

Today in shop, student set designer Lilliana finalized her paint treatment samples for the floor:

So that I could paint the floor while she planned the sofa and the prop shelf that goes behind the sofa:

After I got the base colors in and grained it, she did some spattering:

At the same time, lights are being circuited:

And in the shop, Nathan works on the loooooong ramp:

The director (Angela Iannone) requested a larger coffee table, so here’s the improved version as the primer dries:

Then to round things out, one of the elevations for “1959 Pink Thunderbird,” on my drafting table, waiting for things like borders and a title block.