A Designer’s Perspective

Posted on July 23rd, 2009 by Corey

In a typical design process, the designer gets the script and reads it once just for plot and to capture that valuable first impression. Then on the second read, a designer is much more focused on practical needs of the script and then they usually talk to the director to see what they’re thinking and what they want. Then the designers go away, come up with their design, it gets finalized and the production gets into full swing.

Brought to Life to life had none of this.

Needless to say it has been a challenge. But of course, I like challenges (how boring it would be without them!). Going into preproduction, there was no script. The whole premise was that it wasn’t going to be a production. There wasn’t a set script, there were no set roles, there would be no lights up lights down applause. Our director, Ben, had very clear ideas in his mind of how he wanted to shape the process, but it was going to be driven by group during their rehearsal meetings.

So for the designers, it was a little like pulling something out of nothing. How do you come up with a set design for something that doesn’t exist yet?

The result was much more collaboration that any other show I’ve worked on. Ben and I talked. Yonit (our costume designer) and Ben talked. Mitch (our lighting designer) and I talked. Yonit and me. Ben and Mitch. Yonit, Ben and me. We did a lot of talking. And what we developed was a framework for the piece to develop within. We discussed a lot about the “visual vocabulary” of the show. What sort of colors? Materials? How would these things work together?

After we had that finalized, we visited rehearsals frequently; we had to know what was happening with the piece. Thing that we thought were decided were thrown out the window, and throwaway suggestions became essential. There was (and still is) a fantastic collaborative energy: performers responding to costume pieces, lighting responding to ideas from actors, scenery evolving based on costumes that came out of rehearsal. That sort of energy is something I haven’t felt before.

Going into our final week before we present this experience, things are still changing. Things are being restructured, repainted, redraped and rethought. And even as we continue finalizing things this week, I’m certain things will continue to be fluid and changing. But that’s what is exciting and makes it live theatre, and part of what makes this project so unique.

Be sure to check out other behind the scenes photos and our trailer here or on Facebook. And for the latest “play by play” updates, check out our Twitter stream.

Tags: Brought to Life, design, production | Posted in Brought to Life