"Bolero" for Pittsburgh Symphony 2012

I was approached by the Pittsburgh Symphony in August of 2011.  They told me about a festival that was going to be happening in the spring of 2012 and they wanted to add the "element" of light to one of the concerts.  The piece that was picked was Ravel's "Bolero" and was I interested in this idea.  YES.  I was very excited and interested.  I was given approximately 2 weeks to come up with ideas.  I had 3 budget levels in mind knowing that the "rolls royce" was going to cost too much and the "ford pinto" would be boring.  I did a lot of research on Ravel and this piece and that got me going.  So i went back for a meeting and set out my ideas.  The gig was a GO.  Over the course of the year some refining happened and at the end of April we went into production.  I had 10 solo "chair" specials for the 1st 10 movements.  I had washes of varying shades and directions but primarily red.  There were 5 "viole" panels in the back that were individually rigged to fly in on my call during the piece.  Here is the end result.  A couple of the shots i played with in "photo-shop".  One picture was taken after the concert on a "bare" stage.

"Pop!" with Anthony Rapp for City Theatre 2012

This was a relatively new musical written about Andy Warhol and his shooting in 1968.  The story really focuses on how did the shooting effect Andy Warhol.  As in any new musical there is much to go over.  Many designs were introduced and thrown out with the bathwater.  Revisions upon revisions.  Finally we had a design and the rehearsal process started.  The writers were in rehearsals the entire time right up to press opening.  The tech process was long and arduous but in the end we had a very fine product.  Audiences and critics enjoyed this production.  Like most new pieces this needs a little work but when/where that happens i am not sure.

"In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play" for PICT 2012

I was going to be working with Alan Stanford, Gianni Downs,  and Pei-Chi Su who i really enjoy working with.  There is an ease and trust when you work with colleagues that you "gel"  well with.  This was a very strong overall production with some fine acting, directing, and design.  The play takes place at the turn of the 20th century and electricity has just come into being.  We had quite a few practicals of varying styles throughout the setting.  There are 3 locations and the last location was a bit of surprise and quite exciting for the audience.  Even though subject matter is delicate the playwright has written a beautiful piece and there is nothing shameful or x-rated about the story.