Visualizing the Design

As many of you know, I am studying at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for my MFA in Lighting Design. At the beginning of the 2009 Spring semester, I was assigned a paper project on William Inge’s Come Back, Little Sheba. It was to be my last assignment for the semester, and although I had all the materials to begin my research for the production, I chose to wait until I had cleared my plate. However, what I forgot at the time was that this semester was to be a seven-course meal, and the largest course, Come Back, Little Sheba, was to be the last course. So, before I had cleared each plate, another larger plate would be served. Needless to say, I wasn’t prepared for my first seven-course meal. I was able to get to the seventh course, but once I got there I couldn’t finish it. Luckily, my advisor, Penny Remsen, gave me a doggy bag to take home with me, but she is coming back in August to make sure I have taken in and digested the production.

I have met with Penny a few times this summer to discuss the my progress and the production, but each time I walk away wondering why I can’t move forward. During our last visit, Penny suggested I create a model to help me visualize the set and the arch of the production. Over the past eight years since I started exploring the world of light, I have always been able to observe the development of a production from the first reading to each rehearsal and the final run. This kind of attention and deep involvement has resulted in a few successful designs and many wonderful experiences, yet it is not a method that I will be able to practice as I move into the professional world. The hope is that by creating a model I will be able to visualize the action of the play in relationship to the scenery. By seeing the space 3-dimensionally, I will be able to calculate the desired angle and direction of the light, as well as, developing a light and color scheme that will enhance the overall production.

Here are a few photos of the model I built from the scenic designers draft…


Living room, the "x" means you can see through that part of the wall...


The designer, James Noone, removed the wall separating the living room from the kitchen...


The finished set!