Shop Talk = Sharing Stagecraft
Posted: January 24, 2011 Filed under: 2010-2011 Season, About Florida Stage, Videos | Tags: backstage, Florida Stage, Goldie Max & Milk, sound design, stagecraft, technical theater Leave a commentDid you hear the one about the crying baby? Stephanie Kelly shares a little bit of theater magic. Note that we release Shop Talk videos for every production (though sometimes we have to wait until the production is over so we don't give away too much too soon). Go to our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/FloridaStage) to see them all.
Through the Eyes of an Intern: Tech Week
Posted: October 21, 2010 Filed under: 2010-2011 Season, About Florida Stage, Interns | Tags: Andrew Rosendorf, Cane, Florida Stage, sound design, technical theater, West Palm Beach Leave a commentThe week before tech week – so intense!
Well, we officially moved into the Rinker space bright and early on Sunday morning — and for the production crew, this has meant a flurry of activity as we load and unload trucks, disassemble and reassemble the set, and bring all of our equipment out of storage and into our new home. 12 hour days are the new norm, which leaves just enough time for a shower and a quick bite to eat before this sleepy intern passes out each night — and therefore, has not been blogging! Bad intern!
In all seriousness, this week is a great example of the work that audiences never see, but is so crucial to the entire process of theatre. Everyone here is working super hard to make sure their piece of the project is completed, and the results have been amazing. There are lights in the air! The set is up! I've run hundreds of feet of audio cable! And we haven't even hit first tech yet! I have already learned so many new and fancy tricks, from scenic painting techniques to new tools to soldering and programming. Speaking of programming, I have to go do that tomorrow morning. Time is a precious commodity this week, so we use every single available moment. For the sound department, this means a graveyard shift – but it's quiet, and the theatre will be calm, and I've always loved watching the sun rise.
— Posted by Emma Gustason, Sound Intern
Through the Eyes of an Intern: Week 1
Posted: October 7, 2010 Filed under: 2010-2011 Season, About Florida Stage, Interns | Tags: Emma Gustason, internship, technical theater Leave a commentHey there Florida Stage! Hello patrons! In case you didn’t notice, there are some new happy (sometimes lost) faces floating around the Kravis Center, scene shop, costume shop, and the greater West Palm Beach area. These would be your new batch of interns, all shiny-faced and fresh from school, eager to jump head-first into this vibrant company. And I’m one of them!
I guess I should pause to introduce myself. My name is Emma, and I am the sound intern. I hold the illustrious title of being the intern who traveled the furthest to be here, as I came from Olympia, Washington. I grew up doing technical theatre, stretching back to the day when baby Emma, at the tender age of ten, turned down the role of Aunty Em in The Wizard of Oz (brought to you by the local elementary school) because she wanted to design programs and decorate the set instead.
I’m going to do my best to be a fairly-regular commentator on this blog. When I was in school, I scoured the Internet looking for interns who had the jobs I wanted, hoping to get an inside view. A glimpse inside of a company, a show. So maybe I can do that. If nothing else my entries can serve as proof that I was here, that I learned something, that I got my hands dirty doing something I love. And how many people can say that about their lives, really?
— Posted by Emma Gustason, Sound Intern
Costume Designing Cane
Posted: September 30, 2010 Filed under: 2010-2011 Season | Tags: 1920s, Andrew Rosendorf, Cane, costume sketches, Costuming, Design, Erin Amico, Florida, Florida Stage, Kravis Center, production, Rinker Playhouse, technical theater, theater Leave a comment
One of the most exciting things about designing the costumes for Cane was discovering the amazing history behind the area of the country that I have called home for most of my life. (I’m not sure if I thought that the state of Florida came into existence in anticipation of my arrival, but now I know better.)
There is a vast resource of information and photos from the period of time that Cane examines in Act I, 1928, on the internet. I also explored a few selected histories about the everglades and hurricanes that have made landfall in Florida in the early twentieth century. Studying the environment of the play often gives inspiration to design elements as well as a firm basis in realism for the kind of period drama that we are bringing to life.
After immersing myself in the period research and understanding the silhouette that was appropriate for each individual on stage, it was time to consider the other design elements and the bigger picture that will be the visual representation of Cane. Careful consideration was given to the color pallet for the costumes in order to provide separation from the scenic elements as well as reinforce the character of the person being presented. Working closely with the scenic and lighting designers helps to create a cohesive atmosphere for the play to exist within.
Now that the design phase is complete I have moved on to the second most exciting thing about costuming this production: the creation of the actual costumes. There is much patterning, sewing, fitting, dying, distressing, painting and shopping in myfuture – YES!!!
— Posted by Erin Stearns Amico, Costume Designer
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