Crazy for You

SUNY Cortland Performing arts 2017

Crazy for takes place in many locations and requires large set that change quickly. I had to create storyboards to track all the changes and make sure I had the physical space and enough lineages to handle the flying scenery from NYC to Deadrock Nevada.

The main set for the show is Deadrock Nevada. The is an old western street that has to transform from exterior street to interior saloon and back again, effortlessly. I enjoyed the research and architectural styles of the old west. The two mani units for Deadrock, the Gaiety Theatre, a grand victorian theatre and the Saloon were designed to utilize the front and backs of the same set pieces. the exterior street bacame the interior saloon. I played with a cinematic idea of using the saloon doors transition into a dance sequence in the open desert. The two main characters are inspired to dance, to have a dream ballet. Director, Kevin Halpin and I designed the sequence so they would move from the saloon interior, dance through the saloon doors and out into the desert as the unit spun off stage and left us with a wide open playing space. As they moved onto the set unit and went to exit the unit was moved off stage while spinning 180 degrees. This created the image that they were transported through the saloon and into the middle of the desert.

This was a great project to work on. As the Charge Scenic Artist I was able to create beautiful painting effects on the floor of the stage and buildings of Daeadrock. I enjoyed exploring the Old West and pushing my artistic abilities. One of my highlights of last year were the weeks in January when we worked on the set and I was able to just concentrate on painting beautiful scenery.