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I from PHILADELPHIA to BAGHDAD FROM PHILADELPHIA TO BAGHDAD - A JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME A SCENIC DESIGN FOR BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO A Thesis Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts by John Michael Eddy May 2015 Thesis Approvals: Fred Duer, Thesis Advisor, Head of Design Department of Theatre Robert Hedley, Department Chair Department of Theater i © Copyright 2015 by John Michael Eddy All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT The goal of this thesis is to document, analyze and interpret the process that led to the realized scenic design of Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, produced by Temple University Department of Theater, and presented at the Adrienne Theater as part of the Philadelphia Fridge Festival. I will discuss each part of the design and the production process, as well as the technical rehearsal process, while objectively analyzing the choices made by the production team and myself. iii To my mom, Sheila who always believed, but who always let me find my own path. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to borrow a line from a Stephen Lawrence Schwartz song to help express my heartfelt gratitude, [GLINDA:] I've heard it said, that people come into our lives, for a reason. Bringing something we must learn. And we are lead to those who help us most to grow if we let them. And we help them in return. Well, I don't know if I believe that's true but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you. To those in my life who have helped make me the person I am today: First, my brothers: JT, Joel and Ian; my cohorts in crime, Aaron, Apollo, Cat, Daniel, Kabrina, Katie, Mandy, and Michelle; the person who started me on my journey of Scenic Design, Kara Thompson. Daniel Boylen for taking a chance on an old guy; and finally, Fred Duer for his wisdom, experience, passion – and most importantly, for taking time to inspire, guide and occasionally provide a good kick in the rear to help make me the artist I am today. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 Seventh Row Center ................................................................................................2 2. COMMITMENT ............................................................................................................4 Analysis and Research .............................................................................................6 3. DEVELOPING THE DESIGN ...................................................................................10 Sharing the Design .................................................................................................13 Achieving a Break Through ...................................................................................16 A Setback to Achieve Something Greater .............................................................24 The Final Design, Finally ......................................................................................28 4. REALIZING THE PRODUCTION ............................................................................31 Load-in and Technical Rehearsals .........................................................................33 Opening Night -One Final Hurdle .........................................................................41 5. EVALUATION............................................................................................................44 Conclusion .............................................................................................................45 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..............................................................................................................47 vi APPENDICES A. RESEARCH IMAGES – BAGHDAD AND ARCHES .............................................48 B. RESEARCH IMAGES –STONE AND TEXTURE....................................................49 C. RESEARCH IMAGES –JERSEY BARRIER WALLS ..............................................50 D. RESEARCH IMAGES – GRAFFITI AND WALL TEXTURE .................................51 E. GROUND PLAN .........................................................................................................52 F. SECTION .....................................................................................................................53 G. STAGE LEFT MOVING ARCH UNIT ......................................................................54 H. STAGE RIGHT MOVING ARCH UNIT ...................................................................55 I. MOVING ARCH UNIT DETAIL ...............................................................................56 J. JERSEY BARRIER WALL ........................................................................................57 K. JERSEY BARRIER WALL DETAIL .........................................................................58 L. TOPIARY WALLS .....................................................................................................59 M. TOPIARY WALLS DETAIL ......................................................................................60 N. FLOOR PAINT ELEVATIONS AND LAYOUT .......................................................61 O. ¼” SCALE MODEL IN DIFFERENT ARCH POSITIONS.......................................62 P. LOAD-IN PHOTOGRAPHS .......................................................................................63 Q. PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS ........................................................................ 64-68 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Collage of Baghdad architecture research..….……………….……………….… 7 2. Painting - The Juggler….….…………………………………………………….. 8 3. Painting - The Arrow of Time.………………………………………………….. 8 4. Collage of Magical Realism research…………………….…………………….. 9 5. Initial Rough Sketch of set design….………………………………………….. 10 6. Rough Sketch and Notes……………………………………………………….. 10 7. Ground Plan – Adrienne Theater…………..………………………………….. 12 8. SketchUp Wire Frame of First Rough Draft ………………………………….. 14 9. SketchUp of First Rough Draft with Texture………………………………….. 14 10. Video Mapping Examples……….…………………………………………….. 17 11. Disneyland Haunted Mansion Spacial Augmented Reality.….……………….. 18 12. Collage of Wadi Al-Salaam Cemetery research………….………………….. 19 13. Sketch of set with tombstones as projection surfaces….…………………….. 20 14. Sketch of set with jersey barrier walls and zoo gate….…..………………….. 21 15. Sketch of set with masking options………………….….…………………… 22 16. Collage of Zoomorphic calligraphy…………….…..……………………….. 23 17. Ground plan from final design presentation, including floor treatment …….. 25 18. Sample of color and texture………………………………………………….. 26 19. Final Floor Paint Elevation………………………………………………….. 26 20. Final jersey barrier and topiary wall model pieces………………………….. 26 21. Top view of full color model……………………………….……………….. 27 22. Front view of full color model ……………………………………………….. 27 viii 23. Moving Arch Unit…………………………………………………………….. 31 24. SR topiary wall unit A……………………………………………………….. 32 25. Far SL jersey barrier wall unit F…………………………………………….. 32 26. Day one of load-in .………………………………………………….……… 33 27. Final ground plan with correct position of topiary wall units ……….…….. 35 28. The original “just send me what you have” copy of the ground plan .…….. 35 29. Uday’s entrance for end of Act I..………………………………………….. 38 30. Rear view of boarder………………………………………….…………….. 39 31. Front view of boarder……………………………………….……………….. 39 32. Stage right after dirty wash applied………………………………………….. 40 33. Stage left after dirty wash applied……………………….………………….. 40 ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The goal of this thesis is to document, analyze and interpret the process that led to the realized scenic design of Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, produced by Temple University’s Department of Theater. I will discuss each part of the design and the production process, as well as the technical rehearsal process, while objectively analyzing the choices made by the production team and myself. I find myself needing to add that my intent is not to offer this as a dry, dull, clinical analysis of the process; but instead, as a means to tell the story of my personal journey from Philadelphia to Baghdad. In considering the stated goal of this document, the realization of the challenge laid before me is daunting. The objective analyses of any artistic endeavor is difficult enough; it is that much more difficult when it is your own work, and that work is part of a much larger collaborative effort. A larger realization that has occurred to me in reflecting on these experiences is that my work, the scenic design, while playing a central role in the overall piece is not a compete work. That is to say, it does not and cannot stand-alone. The scenic design, however good or bad, is an incomplete work of art. As a piece of art, it cannot exist without the author’s text, the director’s vision, the actor’s characterizations, and the contributions from all the designers that help to bring the world of Bengal Tiger to life. The
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