Scenic Design for Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Victor E. Shonk Graduate Program in Theatre The Ohio State University 2010 Master’s Examination Committee: Professor Dan Gray, M.F.A., Advisor Professor Jimmy Bohr, M.F.A. Professor Mark Shanda, M.F.A. Copyright by Victor E. Shonk 2010 Abstract Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams is being produced by The Ohio State University Theatre Department in the autumn quarter, 2009. The production will be in the Thurber Theatre and directed by faculty member Jimmy Bohr. As the scenic designer, I will provide the atmosphere and environment of the play as well as the physical requirements determined by the action described in the script. This document records my involvement in the production process. Briefly, Bohr’s concept for this production is focused on the love story that happens between the characters Alma and John. The story is set in a small fictitious town in Mississippi named Glorious Hill, just before World War I, a time when the last of Victorian social propriety was becoming extinct and the world was about to change forever. This love story is a bittersweet description of that loss of innocence. The director is focused on the “Poetic Realism” of Williams’ writing. Aesthetically, it is important to the director that the heat of the Deep South is represented on stage. I will accomplish this with a canopy of trees, Spanish moss, and other plant life indigenous to Mississippi. The lighting design will also enhance this effect. Another major concern of the director is to have seamless scene shifts. This will be accomplished through the use of three wagons that will move without any visible means of control. The ever- present ii angel fountain, named Eternity, needs to be center stage for the entire show. Finally, the American Gothic style needs to be represented in the architecture of the two houses on stage. iii Acknowledgements I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the faculty and staff at The Ohio State University, without your guidance I would never have been able to navigate the program. I would like to thank the production team of Summer and Smoke for making my thesis project an enjoyable experience. A special thanks to all of the friends and colleagues I have made in the past three years, who have all played a part in shaping me as an artist and educator. May we all excel in what fulfills us. I thank my family, who has been very understanding of my absence for the past three years, especially my parents, two of the dearest people in my life. My deepest love and appreciation goes to Lewis Frum, whom I could not have done without. His love, care, and guidance has been the constant throughout my graduate studies. Thank you all. iv Vita 1988……………………………………………………….Fisher Catholic High School 1996……………………………………………………….B.F.A. Theatre, Ohio University 1996 – 2007……………………………………………Freelance Scenic Designer 2007 – 2010……………………………………………Graduate Teaching Associate, OSU Department of Theatre Scenic Studio 2007……………………………………………………….Labyrinth of Desire, Scenic Design 2008……………………………………………………….Pangea, Scenic Design 2008……………………………………………………….The Marriage of Figaro, Scenic Design 2009……………………………………………………….Summer and Smoke, Scenic Design 2010……………………………………………………….O Pioneers!, Scenic Design Fields of Study: Major Field: Theatre Area of Emphasis: Design v Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………ii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………iii Vita…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….iv List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………....…………………………………………vi List of Plates……………………………………………………….......………………………………………………..…………….vii Chapter 1: The Producing Situation…………………………………………………………..………………………………..1 Chapter 2: A Brief Analysis of Summer and Smoke………………………………………………………….….………5 Chapter 3: Director’s Concept and Design Approach………………………………………………………………..19 Chapter 4: The Production Process……………………………………………………………………………………………32 Chapter 5: Evaluation…………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………..39 Works Consulted……………………………………………………………………….………………………….…………..……..44 Appendix A: Director’s Concept………………………………………………………………..…………….………..………47 Appendix B: Preliminary Visual Research………………………………………………………..……...………..………53 Appendix C: Renderings, Model, Paint Elevations…………………………….………….…………………..………57 Appendix D: Final Drafting…………………………………………………………………………………………………………65 Appendix E: Production Photos…………………………………………………………….…………….…………………….76 vi List of Figures Figure 1. Mielziner Design (1947)……………………………………………………………………………………………….8 Figure 2. Rectory Research……………………………………………………………………………………….………………25 Figure 3. Doctor’s House Research………………………………………………………………….……………………….25 Figure 4. Spanish Moss Canopy Research………………………………………………………………………………..27 Figure 5. Angel Fountain Research……….……………………………………………………….…………………………28 vii List of Plates Plate 1. Research: Trees and Spanish Moss……………………………………………….………..……………….54 Plate 2. Research: Palmetto Plant………………………………………………………………..…………….…………54 Plate 3. Research: Rectory Interior……………………………………………………………….…….……….……….55 Plate 4. Research: Doctor’s House Interior……………….……………………………….……………….…………55 Plate 5. Research: Anatomy Chart ………………………………………………………………..………….…………..56 Plate 6. Research: Anatomy Chart ……………………….……………………….…………………………..………….56 Plate 7. Sketch of Park …………………………………………………………………..….………………………………….58 Plate 8. Sketch of Houses …………………………………………………………….……………………………………….58 Plate 9. Sketch of Arbor at Moon Lake………………………..………………………….…………………..………..59 Plate 10. ¼” Scale White Model of Park ……………………………………………….……………………………….59 Plate 11. ¼” Scale White Model of Houses ………………………………………….………….…………………...60 Plate 12. ¼” Scale White Model of Arbor ………………………………………….……….………………………...60 Plate 13. Tree #1 Paint Elevation ……………………………………………………….………………………………….61 Plate 14. Tree #2 and #3 Paint Elevations ……………………………………….……………………….…………...61 Plate 15. Tree #4 Paint Elevation …………………………………………………….…………………………..………..62 Plate 16. Tree #5 Paint Elevation ………………………………………………….………………………..……………..62 Plate 17. Rectory Paint Elevation ………………………………………………….………………………..……………..63 Plate 18. Doctor’s Office Paint Elevation …………………………………….………………………………….……..63 viii Plate 19. Palmetto Paint Elevation ……………………………………………………………………………………….64 Plate 20. Brick Paint Elevation ……………………………………………………………………….….………………….64 Plate 21. Park Ground Plan ……………………………………………………………………………..…….……………..66 Plate 22. Houses Ground Plan …………………………………………………………………….….….………………...67 Plate 23. Arbor Ground Plan ……………………………………………………………………...………………………..68 Plate 24. Park Section ……………………………………………………………………….……….….……………………...69 Plate 25. Houses Section …………………………………………………………………………..…….…………………...70 Plate 26. Arbor Section …………………………………………………………………………..………..…………………..71 Plate 27. Angel Wagon Elevation ……………………………………………………………..…….…….……………...72 Plate 28. Center Platform Elevation ………………………………………………………..…….……………………...72 Plate 29. Apron Extension Elevation …………………………………………………….…….……..………………….73 Plate 30. Rectory Wagon and 15 ½” Platform Elevation ………………………..……………………………...73 Plate 31. +7 ½” Platform and Stoop Elevation ………………………………………..………………………………74 Plate 32. Doctor’s Window Detail …………………………………………………………….……..……………………..74 Plate 33. Doctor’s Paneling and Upper Window Detail …………………………….……..…………………….75 Plate 34. Rectory Window Detail ………………………………………………………………..………………………….75 Plate 35. Rectory Roof and Flats Detail ……………………………………………………….………..……………….76 Plate 36. Tree #1 and #2 Elevation …………………………………………………………….…………………………..76 Plate 37. Tree #3 and #4 Elevation ………………………………………………………….………………….………….77 Plate 38. Tree #5 and Palmetto Elevation ……………………………………………………………………………...77 Plate 39. Ground Row and Arbor Elevation …………………………………………..….……………………………78 Plate 40. Angel Fountain and Lamp Post Detail …………………………………………..………………………...78 Plate 41. Production Photo: 4th of July in the Park ……………………….……………..………………………...77 ix Plate 42. Production Photo: Interior of Doctor’s Office …………………………..…………………………..77 Plate 43. Production Photo: Interior of Rectory ………………………..………………………………………...78 Plate 44. Production Photo: Arbor ……………………………………….……………………………………………...78 Plate 45. Production Photo: Doctor’s Office at End of Play ………………………………….……………….79 Plate 46. Production Photo: Park at End of Show ………………………………………………………………...79 Plate 47. Production Photo: Final Moment of the Show ……………………………………………………….80 x Chapter 1: The Producing Situation On November 12, 2009 The Ohio State University Department of Theatre opened its production of Tennessee William’s play, Summer and Smoke. The play took place on the Thurber Theatre stage in the Drake Performance and Event Center. The members of the Production Team were: chair of the theatre department and producer Mark Shanda, faculty director Jimmy Bohr, undergraduate assistant director Megan Corbin, production stage manager Eric Mayer, undergraduate stage manager Kiley Morgan, undergraduate assistant stage managers Margaret Glasser and Kyler Moore, staff production coordinator and sound supervisor Jim Knapp, graduate lighting designer Alex Kyle-DiPietropaolo, graduate costume designer Catherine Schmeal-Swope, undergraduate sound designer Mike Lillie, undergraduate assistant sound designer Lowrie Sion, staff technical director Chris Zinkon, and scenic studio supervisor Chad Mahan. The scenery was constructed by the students of the theatre