In the summer of 2023 I was Scenic Designer for the Sitka Fine Arts Camp’s 3-week Musical Theater Camp production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The small scale of the program meant that I also built and decorated the set, but it was a joy to work with such an amazing crew:
CINDERELLA MOMENT — Musical Theater Camp students run through a dress rehearsal of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” Wednesday night at the Performing Arts Center. The show, which features elaborate costumes, set and lighting as well as a live pit orchestra, opens 7 p.m. Friday. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
Again this year we had technical theater students as part of the production: Aren Buchheit and JT Gurney were Assistant Stage Manager, Lee Orozco was Light Board Operator, Hawlet Cohen, Kade Kompkoff and Zoe Lessard operated cameras, and all were ace scenic builders and artists. The front of the castle platform was done in marble, completely done by our teen-age scenic crew.
The rest of the technical crew included the amazing Claire Shea Duncan on costumes. Look that those costumes. She built from scratch multiple “Transformation” dresses that magically before your eyes transformed from rags to a ball gown fit for a princess! She had assistants Amelia Pillifant and Rita Christianson. Lighting design was by J. D. Hopper. It was such a pleasure to be able to work with J.D. and Claire, who just graduated from the Carnegie Mellon University, and the choreographer and music director to make Magic. Technical Director was lovely Joe Burck, with Hannah Anderson-Brownlee a phenomenal Assistant TD. There is nothing she can’t do! Stage Manager was Alicia Jeffrey, the best. Drew Sherman worked with Joe Burck on Sound Design and tech, and Audio Assistant and all-around booster and supporter was Shannon Haugland, props were lovingly crafted by Anja Brooks-Schmidt, and the gorgeous and inspiring poster art was by Angie Kang. (Check out her work here, you will be glad you did!) We also could not have done it without the scenic painting and screw gun talents of Lucy Poulson and Linda Mae Kristofik. Thank you!
Documenting the Magic in his magical way: photographer Alex Hamm @alex._.hamm.
On stage, the Director was Zeke Blackwell, incredible amazing outstanding Music Director was Katy Green, and wow just wow Erin Coffey’s choreography. Vocal coaches were Rhiannon Guevin, Mina Brooks-Schmidt, and Benhur Mosazghi. Jordan Phillips was Acting Coach and Lucy Poulson was the Dance Coach.
Susan Reed and Jake Berran were the rehearsal pianists, and played keyboards in the Full Pit Orchestra! who also included Dorothy Orbison, Claire Brazeau, Julia Klein, JJ Sechan, Amy Sanchez, Abigail Webster, Brian Neal, Drew Larson, Rogher Schmidt, Dristen Klehr, Paul Cox, Franz Felkl, Elena Levi, Katie Avery, Richard Reed, Rebecca Osborn, Annika Krafcik, and Drew Dembowski.
It was fun.
Photo by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammCinderella’s Cottage, Linda Mae and LucyThe CoachThe other side of the Coach, a garden and wellColumns on the other side of TreesPriceless China actually made of paper platesMaking Trees
The Sitka Fine Arts Camp did High School Musical spring 2023! With two casts and two versions, one for the middle school and up kids and one for the elementary school kids. Director was Zeke Blackwell, Choreography Melissa Hantke, Music Director Hannah Cummiskey, Vocal Coach Rhiannon Guevin, Technical Director and Lighting Design Denush Vidanapathirana. And Set Design! by Rebecca Poulson! I didn’t do a whole lot of painting, but I did make the Wildcat and cinderblocks.
In the summer of 2022 I was Scenic Designer for the Sitka Fine Arts Camp 3-week Musical Theater Camp production of Mamma Mia. The small scale of the program meant that I was also Scenic Charge, Master Carpenter, and, along with the other six technical theater adults, an instructor for the seven Fine Arts Camp Technical Theater-track students.
Mamma Mia set designed (and built, and decorated) by Rebecca Poulson
This year that expanded staff meant I did not have to put in so many hours working alone! and, the students had the benefit of a one-to-one ratio of instructors to students. That was really fun, seeing the students just eat it up, the excitement of getting to do real things, in a beautifully-equipped theater.
For me, also, it was glorious to have a lighting designer as artistic and skilled as Terry Eikleberry. Elle Campbell, the Technical Director, is an incredible teacher, creating a space where students are valued and can grow as they get real skills. The Videographer and Audio Tech, Andrew Rutledge and Joe Burke, are also skilled and willing carpenters and a joy to work with. Sharon Morgan, our Costume Designer (and, being a tiny program, also the creator of the costumes) is absolutely phenomenal. She not only nailed each character and the era (1990s, y’all) but created beautiful compositions of color and form. The technical crew is rounded out with Lauren Petrocelli, our Sound Designer.
On stage, the incredibly talented Josh Euten, who also is a mean set dresser, was Stage Manager, Zeke Blackwell Director, Chris Coffey was Music Director, and Erin Coffey the Choreographer for a cast of 23 young performers. The technical theater students, Amelia DeSentis is a natural at carpentry and a joy to work with, Campbell Pillifant operated the light board, Hal Sufrin helped with sound, Kade Kompkoff, Lee Orozco, Téa Neilson and Aren Bucheit did it all but specialized in scenic painting, with a shout out to Téa for finishing the courtyard “rocks” and washing a lot of brushes! I really enjoyed working with these young people, seeing them grow, and enjoyed their spark and willingness to interact. For decorating the stage deck, I gave them paint and tools and techniques and had them try it out, they chose the treatment they wanted, and they did it, going up to the balcony as they worked to see what they liked. I helped with the “Beach” because it was a trickier technique, but that was it. They and a community volunteer painted the dock, beautifully, again all I did was show them some techniques and give them the paints.
More crew: Susan Reed and Misaki Saito rehearsal pianists, Shannon Haugland Audio Assistant, Haley Aronow was Props Master (and Master of Bougainvillea!), Rhiannon Guevin Vocal Coach, Jordan Phillips Acting Coach, Diane Cervelli Assistant Choreographer, and volunteers Reese Gasque, Noatak Post, Julien Riviere, Linda Mae Kristofik and Christina Van Den Hoogen helped out the scenic crew (and that was fun too, seeing these folks stretch), and Isla Morgan, Carole Knuth and Lisa Moore were Costume Assistants. In the Pit Band in addition to Susan and Mikaski, Alicia Jeffrey and a young man from Anchorage were on keyboards, Chris Coffey played drums, Abe Landa and Austin Patterson were on Guitar, Julien Riviere played Bass and Ethan Zawodny did the Percussion.
Building the setA lighting lessonTables I designed and crew builtA vanity I designed and built in a day, the Director’s idea to have “mirror” emptyPhoto by Alex HammA moment Photo by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammThe streetlamp, involving a tin can, tape, foam and wood Photo by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammDonna’s bedroom Photo by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex HammPhoto by Alex Hamm
Earlier this year I volunteered to design and build sets for the Sitka Community Theater production of Clue and the Young Performers Theater (an after school theater program run by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp) production of Matilda the Musical. It is really fun to design sets and utter bliss to work with and collaborate with other people, tho tbh next year we need more volunteers in the program! In this post-pandemic year we are still figuring out how to get the word out!
Those doors got a work out! So many rooms! It was very fun, the actors really did it up. I designed and built and decorated the set (all those doors . . . ) with assistance from the students in the after-school Young Performers Theater technical theater class and community volunteers, Shannon Haugland produced, Sotera Perez directed, Elle Campbell did lights and was Technical Director, and the YPT tech students did tech! We also had a gajillion really cool props by Jack Peterson.
Matilda the Musical was the play done by the high school students in the Young Performers Theater program in April 2022, directed by Zeke Blackwell. I volunteered to design and build and decorate the set, with assistance from parents, Technical Director Elle Campbell, and the technical theater students in the after school Young Performers Theater program! Elle Campbell did the lights, we had a pit orchestra which sounded amazing, with Music Director Hannah Cummiskey conducting, and Choreography was by Melissa Hantke. Since it was such a small workforce (and cast), I combined the students’ desks with the alphabet cubes they use for one of the songs, the set consists of just three platforms and four mobile flats, three of which reverse to show a corridor of “Chokeys.” I didn’t get a picture of one of the flats, that had Matilda’s bedroom on one side and Miss Honey’s shed interior on the other.
Oklahoma! by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp Musical Theater Camp, 2019
Directed by W. T. McRae. I designed and built this with the Best. Crew. Ever. Performed at the Sitka Performing Arts Center.
9 to 5, Sitka Community Theater, Spring 2019
My design, also at Sitka’s Performing Arts Center. Again had stellar crew, all community volunteers. Lighting design by J Bradley!
Fuddy Meers, Sitka High School Play, Spring 2019
This was also at Sitka’s Performing Arts Center. Did this in pretty short order, using as much as we could pieces from 9 to 5 – the Xerox machine is now the kitchen sink, and the “bed” from Once Upon a Mattress is transformed into the kitchen stove. That’s a real refrigerator, but we gave it the Avocado Green treatment. Created by community volunteers and the Sitka High School Drama class, directed and taught by Christian Litten.
Photos is with the upstage curtain open, right after I finished touching up the paint. It was closed for the show.
Once Upon A Mattress, Young Performers Theater, Spring 2019
Sets in 2017, for the Young Performers Theater (at Odess Theater, Allen Memorial Hall) and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp Musical Theater Camp at Sitka’s Performing Arts Center, and for Sitka Community Theater, also at the Performing Arts Center.
Alice In Wonderland, Young Performers Theater, Fall 2017
The Wall, the House, the Roses and the Mushroom come off the backdrop to cover the front of a small platform. When they are removed, they reveal sections of text from the book.
A minimal set for the fall play! Inspired by the original drawings for Alice In Wonderland by John Tenniel, as translated by the Dalziel Brothers into wood engraving illustrations.
Sense and Sensibility, Sitka Community Theater, Spring 2017
Another minimal design, from Spring 2017 for the Sitka Community Theater’s production of Kate Hamill’s Sense and Sensibility. The entire set – tables, chairs, walls, doorways and windows – was on casters, stealing from the original staging. Fun, and some engineering.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Sitka Fine Arts Camp Musical Theater Camp, 2017
This one I just contributed a few elements: the crow’s nest (fully functional!) and a statue of Prince Eric – modeled on the production’s Prince Eric. Did I capture a resemblance?
What a wonderful production! As you can see the costumes and performances were just wonderful . . . Under the Sea! Photographs by Clarice Johnson, except the one of me with that heavy statue, by Tracy Turner.
Oliver, Young Performers Theater, Spring 2017
For this one I built the set, and did acres of decorative painting.
So yeah I paint and jigsaw sets – and the occasional piece of giant cutlery. The Young Performers Theater productions are all in the Odess Theater, Allen Memorial Hall. The Sitka Fine Arts Camp Musical Theater Camp productions are at Sitka’s Performing Arts Center.
Wizard of Oz by the Young Performers Theater, Spring 2016
Young Performers Theater Wizard of Oz. Photos by Christine Davenport.
The Emerald City – 16 feet wide, Pete Weiland engineered sets with 8-foot-wide “pages” that turn.
The Wicked Witch of the West home, also 16 feet across, two pages that turn.
The gate for Oz.
The Yellow Brick Road pages! Yellow bricks by Jennifer Carter
Wizard of Oz. The house is on casters, and has the house interior on the other side, complete with wall paper.
Peter Pan by the Young Performers Theater, Fall 2015
A “table” and a “barrel” for Young Performers Theater production of Peter Pan. Below: the house the Lost Boys built for Wendy
Guys and Dolls by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp Musical Theater Camp, Summer 2016
Broadway, the set of Guys and Dolls by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp Musical Theater Camp. These signs are lit from behind, thanks to the tech crew at the Sitka Performing Arts Center. I laid out and made the signs from plywood, using hole saws and jigsaw to make them look in perspective (they are all parallel with the stage). J Bradley and his team stretched white fabric on the backs and cleverly aimed lights, and figured out how to “fly” them so they stayed flat.
Beauty and the Beast, by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp Musical Theater Camp, Summer 2015
Nice silverware
Beauty and the Beast: I painted according to models the pillars and trees (trees on one side, columns on the other!)
Didn’t have much to do with most of this but it’s just awesome pictures.
Robin Hood by the Young Performers Theater, Fall 2016
This was a real collaboration – the director found a picture and projected it onto the backdrop, where I stylized it into a “paint by number” for our volunteers. It was fun, and surprising! we also recycled and repurposed things from previous shows.
Sitka Art Blog 