"Tuesdays' with Morrie" for City Theatre 2002

Working on this adaptation of the novel was a good time.  The story is touching and beautiful.  Jeff's adaptation works very well and that is why it is produced all over the country.  We used the tree upstage to tell the season but also as a metaphor for Morrie's life.  It was also fun to light an asymmetrical tree and keep it contained to the tree only.

"Intimate Apparel" for City Theatre 2007

Such a beautiful story of a strong women.  As in most contemporary plays there are multiple locations.  This production is no different.   The size of the entire set was massive but we were able to retain an intimacy for each individual location and keep it working for the story.  There were some really wonderful performances from all the actors.

One World Premiere, a musical,a play with music, and just a play. 2004

A set shot of "Chesapeake" 2004.  I am very proud of this production and I love the play.  The director was Lou Jacob and we had a great time working together on this play.  It was not our first time together so there was a short hand that moved the technical rehearsals along.  David was amazing and worked so hard on such a demanding role.  One of my professors saw the production in previews and gave me a big hug after saying how proud he was and how he was glad to be working in the theater.

"Chesapeake" for City Theatre

"The Last 5 Years" for Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh" 2004.  I love this little musical.  It was also fun to do because the entire team from musicians to actors to design and director had a great experience.  It is a bittersweet story and Jason Robert Brown wrote such a beautiful interesting musical.

"Mezzulah 1946" for City Theatre 2007 (world premiere).  This was a lot of work.  It was a world premiere and i had just finished one and was going to do another after this opened.  The paintings of whistler were an inspiration from the director.  Tony Ferrieri gave me a lot of open space to light.  Of course we are in many locations but as in most time budgets are always a bit of "fight" for myself.  In the end my thoughts leave me wishing for more.

"Mondo Mangia" for City Theatre 2004.  This production had many successes for the theater.  It was so much fun to work on.  Sadly Jillene, the writer/actress passed away.  I was quite happy and proud to be part of this production.

"Honus and Me" for City Theatre 2005

Originally Eric Simonson was to direct this but for personal reasons he had to  back out.  Lou Jacob came in and had a blast.  Tony gave me the largest set i ever had to light at that time for City Theatre.  This production was running in pittsburgh before the All Star Game that the pirates hosted.   They were a big sponsor on the production.  Once again it is a multi location play.  The primary backdrop was the baseball stadium.  The wall had many tricks which was fun to unveil as the play moves along.  It has a crazy sequence in the second act that the sound designer and i were exhausted writing cues and teching that section. 

"Blackbird" for City Theatre 2009

This is a challenging play for any audience member.  The setting is an industrial break room. Tony's design ended up with the audience facing each other across the stage.  I asked for a lot of fluorescent practicals.  The director, Stuart Carden, loved the idea.  The theater space has a normal fixed grid height of 15'00".  The deck was elevated 3'00".  We dropped the fluorescents to a trim height of 9'00".  They worked great in the end.  The production had very strong direction and very good acting.  In the end even though i was very happy with my work but the essence of the play does not make it a favorite of mine.

"The Missionary Position" for City Theatre 2007

This was a world premiere. Our production was also produced at Merrimack Rep.  This was the 3rd world premiere in less than 4 months.  I was also designing 2 different production of "Contact" the musical during that time period.  I was glad to get to a comedy.  Really funny performances and strong, clear direction of this world premiere.  We were in seven different hotel rooms.  Of course that would cost a tremendous amount and scene changes might last 90 seconds.  Our solution was pick a "hotel chain" and then we would change the painting over the bed and the maid would have a new costume color.

"Precious Little" for City Theatre 2011

Originally on first reading i was not "touched" by this play.  This was not a world premiere but we were the first real full production.  As some rewrites happened and we got closer to production i started to become quite interested in the play.  During the technical rehearsals I really fell in love with the writing.  We had a multi locale play and it was dependent on sound, light, costuming, and staging to make it work. I would say we were pretty successful and had a great experience working on this play.

"Louder, Faster" for City Theatre 2011

This was a world premiere.  I had designed jeff hatcher plays before.  I had designed an eric simonson play before.  I worked with eric as a director before.  I had designed the other eric and jeff collaboration.  So it was like working with old friends.  This play has a lot of humor and some very funny characters.  Fortunately this world premiere had only one location and was a comedy which made my life much simpler than the norm.

"Long Story Short" for City Theatre 2008

This was a world premiere co-production between City Theatre and TheatreWorks in Palo Alto. The pictures are from the City Theatre production.  The production out in Palo Alto was a little different.  There was no ceiling. I wish i had some pictures from that version.  It looked very similar but would be great for you to see the minor difference.  The musical is based off a play called "The infinite heartbreak".  It is a interesting story of a couple whose life plays out on the night of their first date.  We are in the bedroom of the couple's residence for the entire story.
 

"The Blond, The Brunette, and The Redhead" with Tony winner Michele Pawk for City Theatre 2010

Michelle Pawk played the many characters in this little play.  She is a joy to work with and I wish i had more shots from the production.  Lou Jacob directed this and, as always, was great to work with.  An interesting idea of how everyone can see a single story from a different perspective.

The Credeaux Canvas" for City Theatre 2002

I couldn't post what happens 5 minutes later in this play.  It is a pg rated blog afterall..  This was the first of many productions i have done with director Tracy Brigden.  We have a short hand communication and it makes it easy when we are doing challenging multi-locale plays or musicals.  I wish i had more shots of this production as well.  

"Fuddy Meers" for City Theatre 2002

This is a fun play.  This was the first production i did with director Lou Jacob.  A wonderful set by G.W. Mercier.  A multi-locale wacky play that is touching and twisted at the same time.  Some great performances as well.

"The Underpants" for City Theatre 2005

A shot from the Steve Martin play.   This was a broad set and with any comedy it is bright but you have to be careful to keep the play bright but the action even brighter.  With the shallowness and the broadness it was a bit of a challenge.

"Avenue X" for City Theatre 1996

This was my first official show for City Theatre.  I had designed in the space before and also did a co-prodcution with City.  It is an a cappella musical.  The story of 2 young men and how they meet in the sewers of brooklyn.  It is an interesting piece and would love to do it again.