Preparations

Its time to start preparing for the big move back to the midwest and for the first couple shows of the summer.  I spent some time exploring the space and lighting positions earlier in the year, but I’ve begun to prepare my plot for the preseason show which opens in two weeks.  This puts me in an interesting position of using a plot I designed 9 months ago, with the design mentality I have developed in the past 9 months.  My standards for my own work have increased, so I hope I don’t let my self down on a children’s show that I have little time to mount.

I’ve also begun planning out my schedule of projects I hope to knock out before we hang the plot for West Side Story.  Some of them are for the bigger picture of the theatre and some are to open up new possiblities for designing lights in the space.  I’m also trying to work out what the Production Manager role will imply.  The summer will be hear very soon, and I plan on being ready to make it happen.

End of Spring Training

What a week.  I’d say it went pretty well.  No fights, no complaints and a pretty decent show.  Phenomenon turned out to be a great choice of a show.  A solid script that had plenty to relate to and some pretty comedic moments.  It called for a simple but interesting set of a cabin in a bog.  The director, actors and other designers all brought something positive to a show that could have been a train-wreck.  It turned out to be a great experience, which is really all I could ask for.

The design process for this show was something that I will probably never come across again.  Living with the director and other designers for 8 months before the show opened leads for plenty of discussions and plenty of distractions.  Also I was forced to design a plot that could easily be hung and focused in under 5 hours.  But after the first tech, I had countless hours to make necessary changes.  It felt more like a college show as opposed to my summer work.

I called this show my spring training because I haven’t designed since last summer, and I knew it would be a simple show compared to the 7 shows I have coming up this summer.  It slowly became more important to me as we got into tech and got feedback from the Director and the Associate Artistic Director.  I realized the set was possibly the best I have ever lit, and I took full advantage of it by adding some lights after the first day of tech.  What started as a show that had some good cues and some moments that weren’t really working, quickly turned into a show I was extremely proud of and got plenty of positive feedback about.

I learned much more from this show than I thought I would.  By having the time to make each moment in the show really work I was able to achieve a new understanding about the choices I made, and what changes can be made a long the way to continue to improve the show.  I really think everything I took from this production and this season should make this summer so much “brighter”.

Time to play ball…

#22 and Phenomenon Tech

It may seem like a little thing, but programming a show in tracking mode is a big step.  The show I’m designing is shorter and more simple then what I have been doing the last few years, but the fact that I’m editing light cues with a different way of thinking is big.

That leads me to Phenomenon tech.  The load in process was the fastest turnover I have ever done.  We stuck 2 shows on Sunday, hung lights Monday morning, and installed the set that afternoon.  Tuesday I focused in the afternoon and pre-programmed the show before a 7 tech.  Thankfully the plot started very simple, around 60 lights and the set is quite small.  We finished tech in just under four hours and after some notes today I’m waiting to begin the first dress rehearsal.

This show has been a big step forward in my career.  The support from the staff at Long Wharf has been great, but at the same time I’ve been given most of the responsibility of the lighting for this show. After seeing what we have so far, I really feel like this show is going to help my grad school chances next year.

More on this after opening…

NY Times

Phenomenon of Decline was mentioned in the New York Times on Sunday.  I didn’t get my name in the paper, but they did comment on how the Next Stage residents come from all over the country, including Missouri.  I start hang for the show tomorrow and it opens on Thursday.  Exciting stuff!

Not Ready for Grad School Designer

I can finally move on from my grad school pursuits because I got my rejection letter from Yale today.  It would have been an amazing experience to get accepted to the drama school, but I’m kind of relieved that I can start looking for a real job finally.  I have been out of high school for 6 years now and this is the first time that I will be looking for a full time job that isn’t an internship or a summer job.

I’m looking into touring first, because I want to travel and see the country (read:the inside of a tour bus).  But I also have friends on the road who seem to be doing well, and as long as my back can hold up I think I would enjoy some time on the road.  If the road thing doesn’t pan out I’ll be checking out my options in Chicago and New York and hopefully doing some freelance designing and assisting for a while.

I’m still very glad that I have my summer job to work and play before I take my next big career step.

I wonder how I will feel if I get the same letter a year from now…

Update

Its been a slow couple weeks, but I have my Resident Show coming up in 2 weeks which I will have plenty to blog about.  I turned in my light plot and saw a rehearsal this week, but I’m anxious to get this show up.

I have tickets to the Mets/Nationals game on Thursday.  I have only been to baseball games in Missouri, so it will be fun to check out Shea Stadium before they tear it down.  I’m not sure I’ll be able to catch a game in St. Louis this summer, but I’ve really enjoyed following them online so far this summer.  They are tied for the best record in baseball, and they are pitching like no one would have ever expected.  Of course they are being no-hit as I type this, but 8-3 has been a great start to the season.

I’m down to my last month in Connecticut.  Its been a educational but very long season for me and I’m still waiting to discover what my next career step is.  But I’m really glad I’m returning to a company I like to work at and can continue to grow as a designer and a theater professional.