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SD Extras

Anatomy of the Clocktower Sequence for ‘Back to the Future’ on Broadway

How do you get a DeLorean up to 88mph, strike it with a jolt of lightning and send it ‘Back to the Future’ on a Broadway stage… Set Designer Tim Hatley and Video Designer Finn Ross know how and they are now nominated for a Tony Award for their clever design work. In this anatomy of the clocktower sequence they, along with Lighting Designer Hugh Vanstone, Illusions Designer Chris Fisher, Sound Designer Gareth Owen, and Director John Rando give a detailed explanation of how they collectively make the sequence work to the amazement of theatergoers.

A Look at the Designs of ‘Wicked’ as it Celebrates 20 Years on Broadway

‘Wicked’ is celebrating its 20th anniversary today, having opened at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway October 30, 2003. Directed by Joe Mantello, the show’s incredible design work and production elements have brought Oz to life for 7,718 performances on Broadway. Eugene Lee’s scenery; Susan Hilferty’s costumes; Kenneth Posner’s lighting; and Elaine J. McCarthy’s projections, are as spellbinding today as they were when the Emerald curtain rose two decades ago. In this wonderful series of videos the ‘Wicked’ designers and associates take us inside their stunning work on Broadway’s fourth longest running show.

Photo Gallery of The SMA’s 2021 Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management

 

New York, NY – On Monday, October 25, 2021, the Stage Managers’ Association presented its annual Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management in a hybrid ceremony, live from NYC and Las Vegas, and Virtually Everywhere. Here is a slideshow photo gallery from the evening’s event.

Read More »Photo Gallery of The SMA’s 2021 Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management

The Phantom of the Opera Chandelier Rises Again on Broadway

 

It’s been 586 days since the last performance of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Here’s a video from the Phantom team showing the crew prepare the chandelier backstage for it’s preset position and the cast coming back into the theater and witnessing the chandelier being hoisted into position for the show’s reopening:

Read More »The Phantom of the Opera Chandelier Rises Again on Broadway

Theater Panelists Discuss Impact of Long Technical Rehearsals on Small Theaters

 

Here’s the video replay for USITT and NO MORE 10 Out Of 12’s webinar discussing the impact of 10/12 rehearsal days in smaller theaters and covered the issues that small theatres face in terms of long technical rehearsals. This panel featured five leaders of small theaters who can talk specifics about how and why they made the commitment to NO MORE 10 Out Of 12’s. In case you missed it, or would like to rewatch it, here is the video of that session:

Read More »Theater Panelists Discuss Impact of Long Technical Rehearsals on Small Theaters

Perchance to Dream…How CCM Professors Used an Obstacle as the Way to Profit Their Program

 

Following the COVID-19 emergency shift to online teaching, The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) professors Stirling Shelton, Professor of Technical Direction and Steve Miller, Associate Director of Theater Operations knew they didn’t want a repeat of the spring 2020 going into the fall of the 2020-2021 academic year. Their plan? To find a way to work around the obstacles and provide their students with the best learning options imaginable. Joined by fellow faculty, Mark A. Halpin, Associate Professor of Scenic Design and Kathryn M. Miller, Technical Theatre Specialist, the group found a way to offer all their technical classes in-person lab work and skills-building projects.Read More »Perchance to Dream…How CCM Professors Used an Obstacle as the Way to Profit Their Program

A 1776 Happy 4th of July

 

Happy July 4th! This year brings with it renewed attention and consideration of what America stands for as we look towards making diversity, inclusion and equity important measures of our efforts towards realizing the best of those ideals. Theater as well must during our reopening look to tangible ways to bring diversity, inclusion and equity to our community and work, moving from ideal to realization.

1776, with a book by Peter Stone, music & lyrics by Sherman Edwards and directed by Peter Hunt, opened on March 16, 1969 at the 46th Street Theatre, now known as the Richard Rodgers Theatre, (which in a wonderful moment of theatrical symmetry, is the current home of Hamilton.) Both are examples of theater, both entertaining and thought-provoking and are rather timely reminders to us that America has a history of ideals that emerged from open debate and the  exchange of ideas essential to its core existence.

The Egg performed by Ken Howard (Thomas Jefferson), Howard Da Silva (Benjamin Franklin), and William Daniels (John Adams) reprising their Broadway roles in the film version of 1776.Read More »A 1776 Happy 4th of July

S*P*A*Minar Replay | How to Build Safe Stage Combat Weapons with Thomas Fiocchi

 

In this month’s Society of Properties Artisan Managers’ S*P*A*Minar, S*P*A*M welcomed Thomas Fiocchi of Ohio University who provided an introduction on how to build safe stage combat weapons in your prop shop. Fiocchi is the resident Props Technologist at Ohio University as well as creator at Fiocchi Swords. This S*P*A*Minar took place on Sunday, June 20, 2021. In case you missed it the first time, or would like to go back and re-watch it, here is a video replay of this S*P*A*Minar:

Read More »S*P*A*Minar Replay | How to Build Safe Stage Combat Weapons with Thomas Fiocchi

Backstage Video | Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre Upgrades its Flying System

 

Hidden behind the State Theatre’s famous hand-painted curtain at the Arts Centre Melbourne, is the flying system – a crucial component of any theater. Made up of a system of battens, wire rope lines, pulleys and computer-controlled electric hoists, the flying system enables the stage crew to lift or “fly” components of a production on and off stage. Here’s an inventive backstage video of this new flying system:

Read More »Backstage Video | Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre Upgrades its Flying System