by Janine Sobeck, dramaturg
In our production meetings, we've had the privilege of seeing the evolution of the scenic design for The Servant of Two Masters. Designer Eric Fielding and his assistant Logan Hayden have been hard at work at creating a set that reflects director Stephanie Breinholt's concept for the show.
The design accentuates Stephanie's vision of a production where all the visual elements have a timeless feel, with no specific time period. Located in a traditional Italian piazza, the set combines different period from the forced perspective of historical design to the "Laugh-in" style of doors and windows. The combination of these different elements, design styles and periods, creates the perfect stage for this zany production.
Here's a picture of Eric's original design.
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Set Design courtesy of Eric Fielding[/caption]
And currently, if you walk through the tunnel of the HFAC, you can see the different elements under construction.
Before a show opens its doors to audiences, before there are costumes and props, before sets are built and actors are cast, it starts simply as an idea. This idea is known as the ‘director’s concept,’ which a director presents to the designers at the show’s first production meeting. After that, it is the designers’ job to transform that concept from an abstract idea to a physical manifestation that can be seen onstage.
One of the great things about working as a production dramaturg is the time spent in rehearsal working with the actors. For this production of 12 Angry Jurors, we spent quite a bit of time exploring the world of the play. To help the actors interact with the courtroom drama world of Boston in 1953, we created a dramaturgical website for the actors. We put a link to this website on QR codes that were printed and hung throughout the rehearsal space, so that the actors could have access to the website at any time.
One of the first things many people think of when they hear the word Christmas is gifts. Gifts and Christmas have been interchangeable for a very long time in our world’s history. But over time, what people think of as gifts has shifted. Each new era or generation defines it differently. There were monetary gifts such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the days of Christ, when all things were handcrafted and only the wealthiest of people could have precious ore or spices from distant lands. Or perhaps, during the great wars of the twentieth century, a gift of war bonds was precious when patriotism and the survival of the world made things like toys seem trivial to many. Now, everyone wants the latest iPhone or the newest technology. Throughout our lives, what we want also changes. Gifts shift from toys, games, and candy to technology or clothes–all inconsequential things that provide short-term entertainment. However, all of these things fade and have less impact on our true joy. Joy can really be found in the simple things of life.