UW Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department

We’re starting to think about the Fall already, and the first show up will be “Dracula,” directed by Angela Iannone. Angela’s a director who always comes into the process with a ton of visual research and a pretty firm sense of how she would like to use the playing space. This image is a very preliminary consideration of where her thoughts about how the space might work meet my thoughts about how the space might work. She knows she wants to have a playing space through the audience, though she wants to go diagonally across the theatre (we’re in the black box for this one); this means that audience on the far side has to walk through the set to get to their seats. I asked her to consider a more traditional stadium seating arrangement. We’ll see where we head next!

A couple of photos from behind the tech table during today’s dress rehearsal. Lighting design by student Lexie Strullmyer, which is coming along. Set design by student Keenan Minogue, and yes, the plane will be done tomorrow; other than the plane, we’re in detail land at this point. Oh, and the cornice goes up tomorrow, too. Costumes by faculty member Tracey Lyons.

The second city flat, done. I then headed into cornice madness.

Students working on the umbrella cart. Or at least gathered around it.

Student propmaster Krissy Fisher cutting out clouds.

And those very same clouds getting primed.

Finally, student Mitch Van Dyke working on the wings of the biplane.

I finally finished my Sketchup rendering of “The Coronation of Poppea,” right down to the end table, standards, and benches. The only thing I’m not particular happy with is the direction of the fabric on the side stages — I have figure out how to rotate texture directions. And now, having worked through this, I think I will be giving the Graphics Seminar a much simpler task for their project. . .

Today’s paint project, the second city flat. It’s almost done (and all those fire escapes just about killed me). Tomorrow, we begin tech rehearsals!

Continuing with the city flats. Here they are at the beginning of shop today. . .

. . . and here is the first one, done. Of course, the second one will be harder, what with all the fire escapes. The student designer, Keenan Minogue, tells me that these are manupulated versions of pictures he took on a trip to New York a few years ago.

Also continuing focus. That’s student designer Lexie Strullmyer at the foot of the ladder as student electrician Mitchell Van Dyke climbs down.

Student Propmaster Krissy Fisher working on the spinning plates.

Students working in the costume shop.

Student lighting designer Lexie Strullmyer focussing. The floor now has an exciting checkerboard pattern!

I finished the second garden flat. . .

and moved onto the city flats.

Ever closer on the Sketchup model of The Coronation of Poppea. Now to address the side stages, with their fabric swags and benches.

Still putting together the Sketchup rendering of “The Coronation of Poppea.”

Tech director Steve Chene happy with his work, as he and the students start putting up walls this afternoon.

Later in the afternoon, with more walls up. Focus begins tomorrow.

Student Kelsy Smith cuts out windows.

Student scenic designer Keenan Minogue works on the drinks cart.

My paint project this week. These are the two garden flats that appear beyond windows upstage. When these are done, there are two city flats which also appear beyond the windows. They are currently sitting in the black box theatre, traced out, waiting for me to get to them.