Holiday Inn
SUNY Cortland Performing Arts Spring 2020
Dowd Main Stage
Holiday Inn, based on the movie of the same name is about an actor who decides to give up his touring life, he buys an Inn in the country and decides to revive it through his friends in show business. The musical takes place over and year and half featuring big musical numbers for every Holiday.
This was a complicated show to design. Each Holiday carried a traditional theme as well as had to encompass a big musical number. Through my research of the 1940’s time period I discovered postcard artwork that captured the feel of the show. The look and color palette I used came from this postcard research.
Sadly, COVID put an end to Holiday Inn and no amount of tap dancing could save it. We were hoping to recast and produce it in the Fall but the spike in cases in campus prevented that.
1940's Bell Postcard - inspiration for the look and feel of Holiday Inn
research- Look and feel for the Inn
1940's potcard research, look and feel of the show. Warmth, color palette, mood.
research- look and feel of the Inn
1940's Christmas research, look and feel of the Inn. Warmth, color palette, mood.
Holiday Inn Exterior Sc. 1_3a We get to see the Inn for the first time.
Heat wave Sc. 1_4 Transition from the Inn to the Night Club
Sc. 1_6 K.E.N.O. radio Thanksgiving number
Sc. 1_8a transition from radio station to Interior Inn.
Sc. 1_9 Decorating for Christmas. The cast prepares for the Christmas spectacular. Following this is a large Christmas Tap number, fully decorated. This tree was half decorated and half bare for a quick transition.
Sc. 2_2 in Town. The young couple stroll through town and sing about Spring and falling in love.
Sc. 2_6b Easter parade. A Sunday Easter bonnet song and dance number.
Sc. 2_11 the Hollywood ending. The story of the Holiday Inn has been turned into a Hollywood movie. This scene was an interesting mix of live action and a film.