Close Encounters of the Hairy Kind

[wildmaven]

So, I'm the new set designer and painter for our local theater company and yesterday I began painting the scenery for an upcoming production of "Close Encounters of the Hairy Kind," a play about Bigfoot. This is about 3 hrs of work so far.

The panels on the floor are drying and waiting to be hung. The material is a semi-opaque vinyl that will be lit from behind so that some light shines through. The production is mostly in the dark, so the tree silhouettes will be illuminated from behind giving depth and spookiness.

Have you ever participated in a theater production? If so, in what capacity?

[Patrick [ASE]]

In senior school, i was a lighting tech for my last 3 years, the last year was in charge, i know one production was 'the royal hunt of the sun' where our woodwork and metalwork teachers created a sun that started as a circle, but opened up as a star shape for 'attawulpa' to emerge from, and a spotlight illuminated it at the same time
I also remember getting a spotlight and adding a spinning disc with holes to make it look like lights flashing by on a train scene in another play.
Before a production, all the lighting needed checking and erecting.
Later i joined a local theatre company as lighting tech for a couple of years before it closed down.

[Wesley2005]

Jan 22, 2023 8:46:49 GMT -8 wildmaven said:

So, I'm the new set designer and painter for our local theater company and yesterday I began painting the scenery for an upcoming production of "Close Encounters of the Hairy Kind," a play about Bigfoot. This is about 3 hrs of work so far.

The panels on the floor are drying and waiting to be hung. The material is a semi-opaque vinyl that will be lit from behind so that some light shines through. The production is mostly in the dark, so the tree silhouettes will be illuminated from behind giving depth and spookiness.

Have you ever participated in a theater production? If so, in what capacity?

First of all. This goes without saying. This is absolutely STUNNING work! I mean.. I am in awe of it.. that is beautiful!
I participated in all productions in my local theater until it shut down.
I was an actor primarily, but did musicianship on the side for them as well.
I played Romeo in our reenactment of Romeo and Juliet which is probably the highlight of it. Over 300 in attendance and I will never forget it.

[HoudiniDerek]

In junior high, I did. I was the main lead and love interest.

In high school, I tried. But the drama teacher and I were not simpatico, so I helped a little behind the scenes with set building, but that didn't last long. I turned to sports.

[wildmaven]

Jan 22, 2023 16:50:14 GMT -8 Patrick [ASE] said:

In senior school, i was a lighting tech for my last 3 years, the last year was in charge, i know one production was 'the royal hunt of the sun' where our woodwork and metalwork teachers created a sun that started as a circle, but opened up as a star shape for 'attawulpa' to emerge from, and a spotlight illuminated it at the same time
I also remember getting a spotlight and adding a spinning disc with holes to make it look like lights flashing by on a train scene in another play.
Before a production, all the lighting needed checking and erecting.
Later i joined a local theatre company as lighting tech for a couple of years before it closed down.

A good lighting tech can make or break a play. So much goes into the design, keeping sensitivities of the actors and audience in mind, and highlighting the good and downplaying the bad. It's a great skill and art.

Jan 22, 2023 21:49:27 GMT -8 Wesley2005 said:

First of all. This goes without saying. This is absolutely STUNNING work! I mean.. I am in awe of it.. that is beautiful!
I participated in all productions in my local theater until it shut down.
I was an actor primarily, but did musicianship on the side for them as well.
I played Romeo in our reenactment of Romeo and Juliet which is probably the highlight of it. Over 300 in attendance and I will never forget it.

Thank you so much!   
Shakespeare can kill an actor. It takes talent to turn archaic words into natural speech. 

Jan 23, 2023 5:58:34 GMT -8 HoudiniDerek said:

In junior high, I did. I was the main lead and love interest.

In high school, I tried. But the drama teacher and I were not simpatico, so I helped a little behind the scenes with set building, but that didn't last long. I turned to sports.

I hated drama when I was in school. I suck at improv, especially. When we broke into groups of 3 and had to put on short plays for a grade, I hated that my grade was dependent on the willingness of others to put in the work. 

[Knightly Celt]

In High School, The King and I, Captainn Orton, then a vocal coach for the cast member playing Lun Tha, then mostly tech.
Also in High School, Teahouse of the August Moon, tech again.
In college, My Fair Lady, multiple supporting roles as a butler and street vendor (singing parts), a guest at Ascot, and waltzing guest in the ballroom scene
In the US Army, Godspell, playing James and singing "All Good Gifts"
In the Army, Jesus Christ, Superstar, playing the part of Annas, a Pharisee (a "speaking singing" part)
The Late, Great, Potentate playing the lead.

[HoudiniDerek]

Jan 23, 2023 10:19:05 GMT -8 wildmaven said:

Jan 22, 2023 16:50:14 GMT -8 Patrick [ASE] said:

In senior school, i was a lighting tech for my last 3 years, the last year was in charge, i know one production was 'the royal hunt of the sun' where our woodwork and metalwork teachers created a sun that started as a circle, but opened up as a star shape for 'attawulpa' to emerge from, and a spotlight illuminated it at the same time
I also remember getting a spotlight and adding a spinning disc with holes to make it look like lights flashing by on a train scene in another play.
Before a production, all the lighting needed checking and erecting.
Later i joined a local theatre company as lighting tech for a couple of years before it closed down.

A good lighting tech can make or break a play. So much goes into the design, keeping sensitivities of the actors and audience in mind, and highlighting the good and downplaying the bad. It's a great skill and art.

Jan 22, 2023 21:49:27 GMT -8 Wesley2005 said:

First of all. This goes without saying. This is absolutely STUNNING work! I mean.. I am in awe of it.. that is beautiful!
I participated in all productions in my local theater until it shut down.
I was an actor primarily, but did musicianship on the side for them as well.
I played Romeo in our reenactment of Romeo and Juliet which is probably the highlight of it. Over 300 in attendance and I will never forget it.

Thank you so much!   
Shakespeare can kill an actor. It takes talent to turn archaic words into natural speech. 

Jan 23, 2023 5:58:34 GMT -8 HoudiniDerek said:

In junior high, I did. I was the main lead and love interest.

In high school, I tried. But the drama teacher and I were not simpatico, so I helped a little behind the scenes with set building, but that didn't last long. I turned to sports.

I hated drama when I was in school. I suck at improv, especially. When we broke into groups of 3 and had to put on short plays for a grade, I hated that my grade was dependent on the willingness of others to put in the work. 

Are you kidding?!  I LOVE Improv.  Get me a shot to be with Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, and Ryan Stiles.  (People said I resembled the latter in high school).  I used to teach some basic improv in speech classes too.  Now, I wish I was as famous and fun as the IMPRACTICAL JOKERS.  

C'est la vie. 

[Wesley2005]

Jan 23, 2023 10:19:05 GMT -8 wildmaven said:

Jan 22, 2023 21:49:27 GMT -8 Wesley2005 said:

First of all. This goes without saying. This is absolutely STUNNING work! I mean.. I am in awe of it.. that is beautiful!
I participated in all productions in my local theater until it shut down.
I was an actor primarily, but did musicianship on the side for them as well.
I played Romeo in our reenactment of Romeo and Juliet which is probably the highlight of it. Over 300 in attendance and I will never forget it.

Thank you so much!   
Shakespeare can kill an actor. It takes talent to turn archaic words into natural speech.  

It was DEFINITELY a mouth full! Hahaha, I loved it though!