Lighting Design Concept and Development of Spring Awakening By Frank Wedekind A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Fine Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Alex Kyle-DiPietropaolo Graduate Program in Theatre The Ohio State University 2011 Thesis Committee: Professor Mary Tarantino, Advisor Assistant Professor Jimmy Bohr Assistant Professor Janet Parrott Copyright by Alex Kyle-DiPietropaolo 2011 Abstract This thesis documents the design process for the production Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind, as translated by Jonathan Franzen. The show was produced in The Ohio State University‟s Thurber Theatre from February 24th through March 13th, 2011. The design concepts for the production were developed as informed by an adolescent‟s perspective on the world, and the representation of that viewpoint through lighting design. Modern theatre techniques were employed to address issues raised in the play. One such modern technique was the use of live video to reinforce the emotional impact in key scenes, which required researching lighting design for the medium of film, and how to adapt it to the stage. Working within these design ideas, color and the positions of instruments were used to develop a hyper-reality where the adolescents‟ emotions and feelings are echoed in the world around them. ii Dedication This document is dedicated to those people who never let me get away with mediocrity. iii Acknowledgments First, I would like to acknowledge my parents. They accepted my floating through reality after reality, and only momentarily balked at my choice to make a career in theatre. My sister and brother always accepted that choice in stride, but otherwise make sure that I never take myself too seriously. Without my family, I would have never been able to complete this thesis, or for that matter been in a position to write a thesis at all. For them, I am thankful every day. I acknowledge and am grateful for the help and support of all my friends over the years, far too many to mention. They have seen through my boisterous façade to find out who I am. To all of my teachers who allowed me to learn with them, and helped me see the world from their perspective, I thank you. Specifically, I would like to thank Nick Vassolo, who gave me the gift of recognizing my love of history, and both taught me and helped me understand that even though grades may only matter to academics: they are still important. Thanks to Benny Gomes, who saw talent in me and showed me how to transform the visions in my head to reality. Also thanks to Janet Parrott, who may not have been my teacher directly, but seemed to always to have time to talk and toss around ideas. Finally, I thank Mary Tarantino, who taught me a language to express my ideas, and also that a design doesn‟t exist without a well thought-out plan to execute. iv Finally, I would like to thank the cast, crew, and design team of Spring Awakening for putting on a wonderful production; without that, this thesis would not have been possible. Specifically, I thank Jimmy Bohr, for without his vision and conviction I would never have been able to complete the design. v Vita 2004 to 2008 ..........................BFA Theatrical Design, Northern Illinois University 2008 to Present .......................Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University Department of Theatre 2009........................................Lighting Design, Just Like Us, The Ohio State University 2009........................................Lighting Design, The Sand Box, The Ohio State University 2009........................................Lighting Design, Summer and Smoke, The Ohio State University 2010........................................Lighting Design, Men in White, The Ohio State University 2010........................................Completed Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Fundamentals of Lighting 2010........................................Lighting Design, Long Christmas Ride Home, The Ohio State University 2010........................................Internship with The Lighting Design Group in New York 2010........................................Lighting Design, King of Bohemia, Main Stage New York 2010........................................Lighting Design, Hereafter, Stage IV Theatre New York 2010........................................Co-Lighting Design, On the Shore of the Wide World, The Ohio State University vi 2010........................................Lighting Design, Spring Awakening, The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Field: Theatre Other Studies: Art History, Lighting Design and Technology, International Theatre, Dance Lighting vii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iv Vita ..................................................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... x List of Figures .................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: The Producing Situation ................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Director‟s Concept and Design Approach ........................................................ 7 Chapter 3: Script Analysis ................................................................................................ 19 Chapter 4: The Production Process ................................................................................... 34 Chapter 5: Evaluation of the Design ................................................................................. 50 References ......................................................................................................................... 58 Appendix A: Director‟s Concept ...................................................................................... 60 Appendix B: Lighting Design Research ........................................................................... 64 Initial Lighting Design Research................................................................................... 65 viii Maya Pre-Visualization Pictures ................................................................................... 88 Appendix C: Lighting Design Paper Work ....................................................................... 96 Spring Awakening Tech Request .................................................................................. 97 Spring Awakening Shop Order ..................................................................................... 98 Spring Awakening Final Budget ................................................................................. 109 Spring Awakening Channel Hook Up Spring Awakening Instrument Schedule Spring Awakening Cue Orchestration ..................................................................................... 110 Spring Awakening Magic Sheet .................................................................................. 142 Spring Awakening Front of House Drafting ................................................................ 143 Spring Awakening On Stage Drafting ......................................................................... 144 Appendix D: Production Photographs ............................................................................ 147 ix List of Tables Table 1. Inventory of Thurber Theatre ................................................................................5 x List of Figures Figure 1. A graffiti angel http://www.myspace.com/147037472 ..................................... 11 Figure 2. A scene from The Wall http://www.myspace.com/eddie6687 ......................... 13 Figure 3. Early 3D rendering of a forest look ................................................................... 17 Figure 4. A pre-visualization of the Hayloft Scene .......................................................... 17 Figure 5. A scene from The Lady in the Water ................................................................ 20 Figure 6. An intimate embrace http://bodies-of-art.tumblr.com/ ...................................... 25 Figure 7. “Deep in the Forest” .......................................................................................... 27 Figure 8.“Suicide” Altered in Photoshop by the author ................................................... 28 Figure 9. The war room from Dr. Strangelove ................................................................. 29 Figure 10. Centerline Section ........................................................................................... 36 Figure 11. "Franken Light" Drafting ................................................................................ 40 Figure 12.First Rendering Session: Lights coming from upper doors .............................. 88 Figure 13. First Rendering Session: Colored lights coming from upper doors ...............