Lighting Design, Self: Same

On of my favorite things, and one of the jobs I long and dream about is lighting design for theatre.  I use to do a show here and there, but in I haven't designed since 2009.  Wow, I actually didn't realize that my last design was that long ago.

I was lucky enough to have a directing student at one of the local schools here in Philly ask me to work on their senior project and I accepted.  Her project was a new work by an Irish play write who she met while she studied abroad for a semester.  The show is called Self: Same, it's a monologue play with three characters that takes place in two different bars one in America and one in Ireland.  I am really excited to get back to lighting design, it is perhaps one of my favorite things to do (next to knitting).  Here are some shots from the show.

Photos by Brey Ann Barrett

This show has gotten me excited about design again and I am itching to do some more.  I hope this will open up some doors to other design opportunities.  I also loved working with Brey the director and hope that we can work together again in the future.   

An Opening Night Dress

I have an opening night coming up and this usually means I sew a dress.  Lately, with my schedule being what it is, this means that I am frantically sewing a hem about an hour before curtain.  This time around I have a few hours to actually sew something more than a sheath dress.  I'm going to aim for the middle ground and pick a simple yet tailored dress.

The first coffee date dress I sewed

I'm going to sew another coffee date dress.  I made one about two and a half years ago and think that I can whip one up in an afternoon.  I am however going to sew one with out the front ruffle and in a printed fabric that I've had for ages.  

Wish me luck!  Hopefully I will have it done long before Saturday night!

No Longer the Intern

320 masonite floor tiles. 

Remember when I was all stoked to be the Production Intern at Theatre Exile?  You remember I posted about my life as an intern.  I know it was mentioned in a recent post, but I am no longer the intern, but was hired to be the Assistant Production Manager for Theatre Exile's up coming production of The North Plan.  This week is load in week which means I have been and will be busy busy busy building a set, painting a set, focusing some lights and all anything else that Paul (he's the Production Manager) needs me to do.

One of the big projects for this show that I helped with was making a tiled floor.  Because of time and budget we couldn't get real tile for the stage and instead made our own tiles out of painted Masonite   Our painter Sherri painted the sheets of maso and then I cut them down into 1'x1' squares.  Sadly I kept track and after 3 hours off ripping and chopping I had 320 square tiles and a ton of maso dust.  Note to anyone who is going to cut maso, it makes a huge mess.

I was also in charge of installing the floor, so I feel I am an expert on laying maso floor tiles down.  This project has also solidified my love for the narrow crown stapler.  Next up on the load in schedule walls.

Did I mention that there are cages in this show?