Building a visual world for the stage
For the Utah State University Theatre production of Eugene O’Neill’s “Ah, Wilderness,” set design was headed by Troy Cadwallader, a graduate student in the theatre arts department.
“There is an average of about eight people on the actual shop staff,” Cadwallader said.
Additional labor is provided by the students in the department’s 1500 and 2750 classes. The average stage set usually takes about six weeks to construct, Cadwallader said.
“The amount of time spent on construction depends on the show and it varies from show to show,” he said.
The initial design of the set is formulated after production meetings between the director, costume designer and set designer.
“I met with the director and costume designer and we discussed the concept of the scenic elements and how to incorporate that into the show through the set,” he said.
The USU theatre department uses a variety of materials to construct their sets.
“We use woods, steel, foam, plastic – nothing is off limits. We use whatever we can find,” Cadwallader said. “The materials we use varies from show to show. We try to capture the script in that particular time period through the set.”
The actual design process takes place over the course of several weeks. The designer first does sketches of the set which have to be approved by the director.
After the director has approved the sketches, a small scale model of the set is built.
“We build a model so that we can see exactly what the designer wants the set to look like,” Cadwallader said.
The designer then makes detailed drawings which show the specific placements of doors, windows and specifies dimensions.
After this, the construction begins and continues over the course of several weeks. Ericka Ensign, a senior majoring in International relations, attended the show of “Ah, Wilderness.”
“The set facilitated the actors in portraying the issues addressed in the play,” Ensign said.
“Because the set allowed you to see both onstage and off stage at the same time, it was easier to understand the major theme addressed [censorship],” said Mike Austin, a sophomore majoring in physical education.
During scene changes, the actors arranged the set in front of the audience instead of behind a closed curtain. All the actors remained on stage for the duration of the play.
“The actors that were not in the scene acted as part of the set. It kept you in contact with the characters, even as they switched parts and played more than one character,” said Tiffany Peck, a freshman theater major.
The major set props consisted of several door frames, wood tables, small wood chairs and platforms on either side of the stage.
“The simplicity and arrangement of the set design complimented the themes of the play tremendously. I really didn’t understand the set design at first, but as the play progressed, the themes became more apparent,” said Shukria King, a freshman majoring in education.
Eugene O’Neill’s “Ah, Wilderness” will show through Saturday.