Have you ever wondered where the beautiful sets that decorate the stage during a CharACTers production come from? Each show has different demands in terms of scenery. CharACTers works hard to give each scene the special attention it deserves - both in the performers' performances and with excellent scenery.
Scenic design starts early in the planning stages of a production. The whole production team will read the script and study the show (setting, time period, etc.) to try to get a better idea of what the show will require. In some cases, a show may have a scenic designer that will work with the director to come up with a design that will both be pleasing to the eye and functional for the performers.
Currently, CharACTers has two scenic designers, myself (Cody Carlton) and Santana Carlton. I have had the honor of designing the set for most all of the shows that I have directed. Santana designed the set for her recent directorial debut, Winnie the Pooh. Santana also serves as CharACTers Charge Artist and is in charge of the painting (both as a manager for others painting and as a muralist for many of our more difficult pieces) for each and every set piece that has ever been used in a CharACTers production.
After I have read the script and figured out how many scenes and what type of set I am wanting to do (static or moving), I begin collecting images, videos, and items that I use as inspirational pieces before I begin sketching. There are times that I will have 100's of inspirational pieces for a single show. I will then begin sketching the set. I am not much of an artist but I do okay if I have a ruler to draw straight lines.
When I began working on The Civil War, I decided that I wanted a static set that would have many different levels and lighting opportunities. I started sketching the set and this is the final product -
Scenic design starts early in the planning stages of a production. The whole production team will read the script and study the show (setting, time period, etc.) to try to get a better idea of what the show will require. In some cases, a show may have a scenic designer that will work with the director to come up with a design that will both be pleasing to the eye and functional for the performers.
Currently, CharACTers has two scenic designers, myself (Cody Carlton) and Santana Carlton. I have had the honor of designing the set for most all of the shows that I have directed. Santana designed the set for her recent directorial debut, Winnie the Pooh. Santana also serves as CharACTers Charge Artist and is in charge of the painting (both as a manager for others painting and as a muralist for many of our more difficult pieces) for each and every set piece that has ever been used in a CharACTers production.
After I have read the script and figured out how many scenes and what type of set I am wanting to do (static or moving), I begin collecting images, videos, and items that I use as inspirational pieces before I begin sketching. There are times that I will have 100's of inspirational pieces for a single show. I will then begin sketching the set. I am not much of an artist but I do okay if I have a ruler to draw straight lines.
When I began working on The Civil War, I decided that I wanted a static set that would have many different levels and lighting opportunities. I started sketching the set and this is the final product -
Civil War set design - Cody Carlton
Once this part is done, I make a scale floor plan on the computer.
Civil War scale floor plan - Cody Carlton
Then a team of volunteers begin constructing the set. Over the past several shows, our new DIT's members have been taking turns being in charge of the construction of each set. For the Civil War, Amanda Russell is in charge of set construction. We have been working for the past several days putting together platforms, legs, and ramps for this production.
CharACTers also reuses, salvages, and recycles scenery for each show. When you are watching a CharACTers production, you may be seeing scenery that has been used in every production we have ever done BUT you will never know it because of the awesome painting abilities of our scenic artists. Set construction can take months to finish!
CharACTers also reuses, salvages, and recycles scenery for each show. When you are watching a CharACTers production, you may be seeing scenery that has been used in every production we have ever done BUT you will never know it because of the awesome painting abilities of our scenic artists. Set construction can take months to finish!
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Once the set is constructed, our scenic artists will begin painting the set and truly bring it to life. Once the set is completely painted, the set will be taken apart and removed from our workshop and loaded onto numerous trailers, trucks, and vans.
Music Man 2012 Set Load-In
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The scenery then makes the trip down the interstate to Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center and is completely reassembled. Touch ups are made and the scenery is ready for opening night!
Various Set Designs and Load-Ins
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Great care is taken to make sure that each show is terrific both as an acting performance and scenically. Next time you join us for a night of THEATRE be sure to think about all of the hard work that went into the making of the scenery as well as the awesome performances by all the local talent!
A few other sketches from our past 3 shows
 Peter Pan Portal  Captain Hook's Ship - Peter Pan |  Seussical Set  Orphanage - Annie |
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