August: Osage County, 2012, Arden Theatre. Photo courtesy of Mark Gavin.

Philadelphia, PA: 2012 - 2013

Arden Theatre Company

Master Carpenter

The Arden is a member of the League of Regional Theatres that produces in 2 spaces, the F. Otto Haas Stage, which is a 360-seat fully configurable black box, and the Arcadia Stage, a 175-200-seat studio space. As the Master Carpenter, my main responsibilities included, but were not limited to, building all required scenery and large properties and assisting the Technical Director with loading in scenery.

HIGHLIGHTS

Robin Hood

By Greg Banks
Directed by Matthew Decker
Scenic Design by Tom Gleeson

One major highlight of my time at the Arden was designing and producing an effective “appearing arrow” effect for Robin Hood.

This set was intended to be a forest jungle-gym and was built mainly with structural pipes and cardboard tubes. The main area in the middle had green recycled rubber to act as the dirt. As you can see in the photos, I was able to solve a production issue that arose early on: the director wanted arrows to not be actually shot, but to appear as if they had been and “from nowhere.” I achieved this goal by modifying rat traps to hold an arrow shaft. I then designed a simple trigger that was activated by actors on stage.

This effect was very persuasive in surprising the audience because the arrow and device would be covered with rubber mulch, and when tripped, the arrow would fling rubber chunks into the air like an explosion.

For USITT 2014, this design was submitted this for the Scene Design Poster Session and was accepted, however, due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to actually present the poster.

View of Robin Hood set under construction.

Early prototype of arrow appearing device made with plywood and a soldered copper tube to hold the arrow.

Final product of arrow appearing device, only one more change was made during tech. That was to angle the back of the block to make it safer for actor’s feet.

View of device with trigger engaged.

Aerial view of center mulch area showing the trigger pathways installed. 1/16” Aircraft cable was used as the trigger line inside these tunnels.

2012 - 2013 Season

The gallery below presents select process images from the following productions:

A Raisin in the Sun
By Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Walter Dallas
Scenic Design by Daniel Conway

Endgame
By Samuel Beckett
Directed by Edward Sobel
Scenic Design by Kevin Depinet

Freud’s Last Session
By Mark St. Germain
Directed by Ian Merrill Peakes
Scenic Design by David P. Gordon

Cinderella
By Charles Way
Directed by Whit MacLaughlin
Scenic Design by David P. Gordon

An Arden Theatre blogpost I wrote detailing the build of Cinderella.

Cinderella set

Cinderella set in progress

Cinderella scenic detail of pivoting post made for the two large swinging panels SL and SR.

Panoramic view of Freud's Last Session set.

House Right view of Freud's Last Session set.

House Left view of Freud's Last Session set.

Freud's Last Session curio cabinets at installation.

Freud's Last Session curio cabinets fully dressed.

Freud's Last Session curio cabinets under construction.

House Left view of A Raisin in the Sun set under construction.

House Right view of A Raisin in the Sun set under construction.

Endgame set under construction.

House Left view of Endgame set under construction.

Endgame was set in a destroyed parking garage, so we made broken pieces of concrete. These pieces used pine frames and lauan skin with 2-part expanding foam to act as the raw concrete substitute. Here they are seen under construction.

House Right view of Endgame set under construction.

2011 - 2012 Season

The gallery below presents a selection of process images from the following productions:

August: Osage County
By Tracy Letts
Directed by Terrence J. Nolen
Scenic Design by Daniel Conway
Lighting Design by Thom Weaver

The Whipping Man
By Matthew Lopez
Directed by Matt Pfeiffer
Scenic Design by David P. Gordon
Lighting Design by Thom Weaver

Charlotte’s Web
By Joseph Robinette
Directed by Whit MacLaughlin
Scenic Design by David P. Gordon
Lighting Design by Drew Billiau

Clybourne Park
By Bruce Norris
Directed by Edward Sobel
Scenic Design by James Kronzer

Cyrano
By Edmond Rostand
Translated and Adapted by Michael Hollinger
Adapted and Directed by Aaron Posner
Scenic Design by Daniel Conway

Charlotte's Web finished set.

The show used an actual pit of dirt and mud, a fun production challenge for sure!

Charlotte's Web set under construction.

Almost all parts of this set were made with fresh, rough cut Poplar. Posts and trusses were made in the hollow box style.

The Charlotte's Web set under construction.

The actual webbing of Charlotte's Web, which I produced.

Clybourne Park set under construction. This set had to time travel decades between acts, so all fixtures and molding were removable.

Clybourne Park set under construction.

Cyrano set under construction.

Nearly complete Cyrano set with mirror wall and spiral stairs installed.

The August: Osage County house under construction on the F. Otto Haas Stage.

The August: Osage County house on the F. Otto Haas Stage as seen during a performance.

Aerial view of August: Osage County flooring made up of ripped sheets of stained lauan, makes for a good facsimile of hardwood flooring.

August: Osage County groundrow made up of individual wheat stalks.

The Whipping Man set built and painted, just waiting to be dressed.

Detail of flooring and rosette for The Whipping Man, all made with individual pieces of stained lauan.

The finished set for The Whipping Man