21.Jan.2010 The Designers
Notes from the designers of IRT’s 2010 production of Romeo and Juliet Gordon R. Strain Scenic Designer Romeo and Juliet was one of the first Shakespeare plays I read. We read it in high school English and then watched the Zeffirelli film. Several years later, I remember viewing and enjoying the Baz Luhrmann film. I have since re-read [...]
14.Dec.2009 Now playing at IRT: Renoir
IRT’s production of A.R. Gurney’s LOVE LETTERS has begun previews (get your tickets here!). Sharing the stage with Priscilla Lindsay and Patrick Clear is a work by Pierre Auguste Renoir called Sketch after Danse à Bougival. The work, a “sketch” by the artist from this larger work, was chosen by director Janet Allen and scenic [...]
17.Nov.2009 Snow Forecast 2009 Part 2
The skilled artisans of IRT have once again defied nature and created a frozen icescape on the Mainstage. 24 or so 25-pound bags of shredded plastic bags have been dumped onstage to form snowdrifts of formidable proportions. More bags of wintery wonder will be added throughout the next month as the ersatz snowflakes find their [...]
12.Oct.2009 Production notes from the designers of THE GIVER
James Schumacher Scenic Designer As a team, we began this project with several things in mind. The Sameness of Ms. Lowry’s world is not a prison, even though it must be escaped. It is not actual Sameness; there are small differences, shades and gradations. People have different talents; some people are valued more than other [...]
02.Oct.2009 Program Notes/The Designers of The Heavens Are Hung in Black
Russell Metheny Scenic Designer This play is conceived of historical fact and fiction to reveal a most powerful parallel between the late nineteenth century America of Lincoln and the twenty-first century today. I love the idea of characters on stage from different eras: past, present, and future, living and dead. My challenge is to support [...]
27.Sep.2009 Lincoln Blogs: Hard Hat Zone
This week we begin a close look at our first production of the season: James Still’s The Heavens Are Hung in Black. We’ll go back to the scene shop to see the skilled artisans of IRT bring designer Russell Metheny’s set to life. Stay tuned!
23.Sep.2009 Get ready for the Lincoln Blogs
James Still’s new play, The Heavens Are Hung in Black, opens IRT’s 2009-2010 Season on October 6. If you haven’t yet purchased your tickets, do so now. Better still, make this remarkable play the first of a whole season of great productions with an IRT subscription. From now until the opening of the play, keep [...]
29.Aug.2009 A colorful backdrop part 5
Big words indeed! This drop is HUGE, as long as the entire width of the IRT Mainstage. In the third photo you can see the steps in the lower left, giving you an idea of the scale of this thing. It’s from the IRT production of Cyrano and was designed by Rob Koharchik and painted [...]
24.Aug.2009 A Colorful Backdrop part 4
If you go down to the woods today… There are a lot of woodsy backdrops in IRT’s collection. Here’s the latest, from James Still’s Interpreting William: It was designed by Ann Sheffield and painted by Claire Dana. If you saw Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest a few seasons ago, you’ll remember the spectacular set depicting [...]
17.Aug.2009 A Colorful Backdrop part 3
Today’s backdrop was created for the 1996 production of A Christmas Carol. It was designed by Russell Metheny and painted by Troy Longest. This drop was mounted in a lightbox which served as a “window” on the large Mainstage set. The attention to detail is staggering!