I just returned home from an almost two-week jaunt to the south and the mid-west. Occasionally I freelance with an AV production company; last week’s trip to the South was for a US Chambers Convention in Orlando. Almost all of my five days was spent setting up lighting in one of several ballrooms. Following strikeContinue reading “Inspired travel”
Tag Archives: Theatre
Foam, Foliage, and Paint Cans
This past weekend I was hired as a crafts person to create an evocative patch of wheat grass for a production of Dancing at Lughnasa. The morning began by rescuing some paint cans from the dumpster to use as the base. We weighted the cans with wood blocks and scavenged some packing foam that alsoContinue reading “Foam, Foliage, and Paint Cans”
Visions of sugar plums
It was the first real snow of the season, and it just perfectly set the mood for the first public performance of Neglia Ballet’s Nutcracker this past Saturday evening. In conjunction with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Shea’s Performing Arts Center, year four of this annual event was a sparkle covered whirlwind of giant presents,Continue reading “Visions of sugar plums”
City of pubs and lowly desires
Final Dress tonight for A Couple of Blaguards . Theatre in the round at the Irish Classical has been a welcome challenge. Laying a laminate wood floor was a new and rewarding endeavor. Glowing lanterns and rustic furniture transport the audience to an Irish pub where these characters tell their tales. A balance of makingContinue reading “City of pubs and lowly desires”
Tools of the [model box] trade
Where has a month gone? Mr & Mrs Nobody enjoyed a wonderful opening, I began another semester of teaching, I did the lighting design at the wedding of some dear friends, I stage managed a music festival in the woods, and today was the first production meeting for A Couple of Blaguards at Irish ClassicalContinue reading “Tools of the [model box] trade”
Mr. & Mrs. Nobody
To kick off the regular theatre season I am designing the set (and some props) for a production of Mr. & Mrs. Nobody at The New Phoenix Theatre. Construction and painting are 90% complete. I hired a student of mine as a painter and we spent the day yesterday making a mess of some plastic,Continue reading “Mr. & Mrs. Nobody”
Baking for the theatre
Today is the final dress for Cinderella. There have been many a prop added and a few were cut. I’m fairly certain my favorite crafting moment from the last three weeks are the pies below. I got the “recipe” from a rather talented student’s blog: here. A few modifications of my own and I proudlyContinue reading “Baking for the theatre”
The Midas touch
I have done scenic painting in a variety of conditions outside of your everyday scene shop: from the side of a hill in blazing sun to a frigid warehouse where we needed space heaters to keep the paint from freezing. Today was a day of near perfect painting zen:: mild temperature warm enough to openContinue reading “The Midas touch”
Don’t let the food spoil
More often than not, I am working on a production that necessitates any number of faux food items. Cinderella is no exception. The opening scene is a bustling town square with fruit vendors, a butcher, a baker, and florist (among others) selling their wares out of carts and baskets. For me, this means new adventuresContinue reading “Don’t let the food spoil”
the thrill of the hunt
This past Friday was the first full production meeting for Cinderella that goes up at Artpark (Lewiston, NY) in August. My role is props designer, and during tech I will also be ALD to LK. This show is not intensely prop heavy, but there are a fair amount of period furniture pieces to be found.Continue reading “the thrill of the hunt”
Dyan Burlingame 