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
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.
Available for sale, and in select stores! starting mid June 2022. $16 each, discounts start at two at: The Outer Coast.com
Produced by Rebecca Poulson in Sitka Alaska
Printed in Juneau, Alaska U.S.A.
Printed on heavy, vellum surface Natural color paper
Three original wood engraving prints, a scratchboard drawing, rubber cuts of ravens, and seven original watercolors by Rebecca Poulson
Poetry and Quotes by Alaskan poets John Straley, Caroline Goodwin, Robert Davis Hoffman, and Rhonda Bowen, and a quote from John Muir, on the theme of humans
Now available for sale, and in select stores! $16 and discounts start at two at: The Outer Coast.com
Produced by Rebecca Poulson in Sitka Alaska
Printed in Juneau, Alaska U.S.A.
Printed on heavy, vellum surface Natural color paper
Four original wood engraving prints, a drawing,* a print, and six original watercolors by Rebecca Poulson
Poetry and Quotes by Alaskan poets IshmaelAngaluuk Hope, John Straley, Caroline Goodwin, and Pete Weiland, Oregon poet John Daniel, and Ed Ricketts, John Donne, Walt Whitman, Kobayashi Issa, John Muir, and John Keats, on the theme of sweet old world
Gardening Reminders for Southeastern Alaska
Calendar for all of 2023 on last page
Wilderness Anniversaries
*Scratch board drawing is from the upcoming novel for middle grades Whispering Alaska by Brendan Jones, from Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House) in October, 2021
The 2021 Outer Coast Calendar is now available from my website, www.theoutercoast.com, at stores in Sitka, and at bookstores in Alaska and a few select places in the North West.
The Outer Coast calendar, Sitka note cards, and original art are also great gifts, and I can mail directly, with a note, and even with gift wrap if you desire.
I am also at the Alaska Public Market On Line! This is a great way to support artisans and craftspeople in these crazy times!
I also have original wood engraving prints which I can mat and frame, a gift wrap option, and notecards, sold as singles and as sets. And, you can now also buy an 8 x 10 reproduction of any of the watercolor pictures, just contact me through the website or comment on this blog.
Calendars are printed in color on heavy, vellum-surface Natural colored paper by Alaska Litho in Juneau, Alaska U.S.A.
This calendar features my original art (and this year, one by my brother James), poetry by Alaskans and other greats, gardening reminders for southeastern Alaska, and wilderness anniversaries. It opens out to 11 x 17 inches (8 1/2 by 11 closed), has a handy hole for hanging, and, has complete year of 2022 on the last page. The price is $15 but there are discounts starting at two.
This year’s calendar is built around the theme of falling forward into life.
Poetry includes lines from Issa, Whitman, Emerson and Shakespeare.
This calendar also features work by Alaska writerJohn Straley, novelist and poet, and beautiful, new work by Caroline Goodwin.
A Slide Show of Some of the Prints and Cards Available at The Outer Coast:
Watercolor note card Iris Meadows by Rebecca Poulson
framed wood engraving Wild Celery House by Rebecca Poulson
color wood engraving cards by Rebecca Poulson
notecard Woodstove by Cora Dow
Matted wood engraving Sunday Afternoon by Rebecca Poulson
Watercolor note card Lingonberry by Rebecca Poulson
wood engraving notecards set by Rebecca Poulson
Cora Dow note card Christmas Puppy
watercolor note card Rocks by Rebecca Poulson
framed wood engraving Waterfall by Rebecca Poulson
Note card Jam by Cora Dow
Matted wood engraving print First Out by Rebecca Poulson
The 2020 Outer Coast Calendar is available from www.theoutercoast.com, or buy in stores in Sitka, or bookstores in Alaska and a few select places in the North West – including Powells Books in Portland and Elliott Bay Books in Seattle.
I’ll also be at the Alaska Juneau Public Market on Thanksgiving weekend 2019 and at the Sitka Artisans Market December 6-8. I’ll also have original wood engraving prints and notecards, which are also available on the website.
Calendars are printed in color on heavy, vellum-surface Natural colored paper by Alaska Litho in Juneau, Alaska U.S.A.
This calendar features my original art, poetry by Alaskans and other greats, gardening reminders for southeastern Alaska, and wilderness anniversaries. It opens out to 11 x 17 inches (8 1/2 by 11 closed), has a handy hole for hanging, and, has complete year of 2021 on the last page. The price is $15 but there are discounts starting at two.
This year’s calendar is built around the theme of Friends.
Poetry includes lines from Walt Whitman and William Shakespeare.
This calendar also features work by Alaska writer John Straley, novelist and poet, and some beautiful, inspiring work by Caroline Goodwin.
The 2019 Outer Coast calendar is available from www.theoutercoast.com, or buy in stores in Sitka, or bookstores in Alaska and a few select places in the North West – including Powells Books in Portland and Elliott Bay Books in Seattle.
I’ll also be at WhaleFest in Sitka November 2-4, at the Alaska Juneau Public Market on Thanksgiving weekend, and at the Sitka Artisans Market December 7-9. I’ll also have original wood engraving prints and notecards, which are also available on the website.
Calendars are printed in color on heavy, vellum-surface Natural colored paper by Alaska Litho in Juneau, Alaska U.S.A.
This calendar features my original art, poetry by Alaskans and other greats, gardening reminders for southeastern Alaska, and wilderness anniversaries. It opens out to 11 x 17 inches (8 1/2 by 11 closed), has a handy hole for hanging, and, has complete year of 2019 on the last page. The price is $15 but there are discounts starting at two.
This year’s calendar is built around the theme of imperfection – nobody’s perfect, and that’s ok.
Poetry includes lines from William Wordsworth, Shakespeare, and Beat poet Lew Welch (1926-1971).
This calendar also features work by John Straley, novelist and poet, and some beautiful, inspiring work by Caroline Goodwin.
The very beautiful still-life paintings by Ms. Love’s Fifth Grade class in 2015. I’ve been meaning to put these up for a while. The students first learned about color mixing. They did these paintings in one session, painting from still lifes set up with colored cloths and fruit. They are done with tempera paint on canvas board (just because the teacher had some she wanted to get used!).
My pal Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock recently published a young adult novel,The Smell of Other People’s Houses. It’s good! She has a really nice touch, it’s super well done, and gets some of that flavor of growing up in Alaska in the 1970s and 80s, which might be kind of like growing up in a lot of rural places in that era. It’s authentic without trying too hard. I read a lot of young adult novels, reading to my kids at night, and skimming things my kids bring home, and this is the cream. It’s a good book by any standard, a real gem.
Anyway her publisher, Random House/Penguin/Dell commissioned me to make pictures for the “part titles” for the four sections of the book, and a picture for the title page.
This was last summer, and the Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Society commissioned me to make a t-shirt design for the Wooden Boat Festival, for which I did a wood engraving of an Opheim Skiff.
All these wood engravings are available as prints, hand-printed from the block on a vintage 1929 hand-cranked proofing press.
They are all cut from 3″ x 4″ blocks, some of them, like the flowers and the skiff, on the diagonal.
They are $30 each, and can be ordered thru my website www.theoutercoast.com, or send me a message thru this blog, or FaceBook (Rebecca Poulson).
Sitka Art Blog 