Head Over Heels
SUNY Cortland Performing Arts Fall 2020
Lab Stage
Head Over Heels is based on the Sir Philip Sidney’s 16th century romantic poem, Arcadia. This musical is what’s known as a jukebox musical featuring music from the Go-Go’s, most notably, Vacation, We Got the Beat and Mad About You.
The plot entangles lovers, old and young on an adventure to restore the city of Arcadia’s famous beat. Along the way comedy ensues, with love, lust and mistaken identities.
The Director, Kevin Halpin, envisioned this taking place in a drug induced nightclub experience like the NYC clubs of the 1980’s, such as the Limelight and Studio 54 and Danceteria.
For this design I researched 1980’s clubs, graffiti, street art, artists like Basquiat and Keith Herring and brought all that together inside our Lab theatre.
It was important to bring the audience into the club with us, so we oriented the theatre in its widest form and out had the musicians playing onstage and part of the action. We added a second story so that the singer and musicians could interact and so scenes could take place underneath.
We created 2 go-go cages with bubble tubes that were used for costume changes and character reveals. These units helped aid in the magic of the Oracles arrival and proclamation of the great prophecy.
Research: Limelight advertisement, inspired the Go-Go cages
Concept sketch for the club atmosphere. This shows the two upper screens used for live video of club goers.
Model of the set showing bubble tube platforms and graffiti
Graffiti color and graphic inspiration.
Design layout for the graffiti sections
Danceteria logo used as a nod to the time period
Graffiti wall featuring 80's graphic design and Keith Herring art. I also let the cast come in and tag their names and add to the graffiti layers. I like to utilize the cast in my design work where applicable.
Graffiti wall featuring 80's graphic design and Keith Herring art. I also let the cast come in and tag their names and add to the graffiti layers. I like to utilize the cast in my design work where applicable.
Madonna. This was a fun detail to paint. Madonna was a huge influence on the 80's club scene.
Glitter painted into the floor. I wanted the place to look like it would have on a Monday morning. Glitter, stickers and club fliers were painted into the floor.
We Got the Beat mural served as the main projection screen. I projected videos to support the action and musical numbers.
The club had a upper and lower levels. Here the Oracle is reciting the prophecy as the lovers embrace below photo by Carlita Withers
Keith Herring artwork on the back wall, in silver created additional club goers and club atmosphere. photo by Carlita Withers
Projection screen. The screen was used to enhance musical number or provide location information. photo by Carlita Withers
Video screen behind the orchestra. The orchestra played on the upper level as the "club band" during the show photo by Carlita Withers
Club atmosphere. You can see the floor covers in glitter and flyers. The bubble tubes are in the background. They had 3 tubes that bubbled glittery water. photo by Carlita Withers