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:
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.
Sitka Art Blog 