A LIGHTING DESIGN PROCESS FOR A PRODUCTION OF WILD STAGES: KABARETT MFA! CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY PROFESSOR JOHN GIFFIN AND THE 2009 MFA ACTING CLASS 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 Jordan Elizabeth Kardasz, B.A. * * * * * The Ohio State University 2008 Masters Examination Committee: Approved By Professor Mary Tarantino, Advisor Professor John Giffin Professor Daniel Gray Advisor Graduate Program in Theatre ABSTRACT Wild Stages: Kabarett MFA! conceived by Professor John Giffin and the 2009 MFA Acting Class, was a theatrical production presented during the spring quarter of 2008 at The Ohio State University produced by the Department of Theatre in the Roy Bowen Threatre. This thesis is a documentation of the process of the lighting design for Wild Stages: Kabarett MFA! The first chapter is a discussion of the Roy Bowen Theatre and the situation in which the cabaret was produced. The second and third chapters discuss the design ideas for the production and the pieces that were chosen to be a part of the production. The last two chapters discuss the lighting design process from the preliminary stages to the final execution, as well as an evaluation of the design. The concept for the production was to look at the world of European cabaret from 1890 to 1933 including the various artists and writers who were a part of this piece of performance history. From this research the script was created under the concept that the production would not be a piece about cabaret but an actual cabaret experience for both the audience and the performers. As part of my lighting concept I chose to incorporate the entire space of the theatre, keeping the audience lit throughout the performance so as to feel a part of the show. I also used a flexible light plot and a variety of technology to accommodate for the individual performances that took place throughout the evening of cabaret. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to first thank all members of the production team: John Giffin, director, for his ideas, encouragement and helpful dialogue; designers Elinore Loomis, scenic, Elisa O’Neal, costume, and Adrianne Varwig, sound, for their collaboration and support; Jen Kramer, stage manager, Doug Davis and Kristin Blazek, assistant stage managers, Jim Knapp and Chris Zinkon, technical directors, and Mark Shanda, producer, for making this show a reality; Matthew Yde, dramaturg and assistant director, for providing facts; the MFA Actors and Susan Chess for being wonderful performers and creators; my electricians, Kristin Jones and Andrea Schimmoeller for turning the lights on and keeping me sane. Also a special thanks to my traveling companions, Elinore Loomis and Julie Ann McMillan, for research and Christmas markets. I can not say thank you enough for the support, friendship, memories and laughs I have received from my colleagues, Greg Owen, Matt McCarren, Anthony Pellecchia, and Jason Banks. Many more thanks go to Matt Hazard for helping me believe that I actually can do this and for being a good friend and listener along the way. I also wish to thank my parents and family, for encouraging me to learn everything and for always being there for me. Their love and support has kept me going. I extend thanks and high fives to my friends and fellow creators, Kim Kozak, Dustyn Martincich, Sophia Rodriquez and Melanie Mac, for their support, encouragement and good times throughout this process. Finally, I would like to thank the design/tech faculty at Ohio State for pushing me to learn and inspiring me to do my best. I would especially like to thank my advisor, Mary Tarantino, for not letting me slide and for motivating me to be both an artist and an academic. I have learned so much since I have been at OSU, and Mary has helped make that happen. iii VITA 10 May 1982 ..................................................Born – Chicago, IL 2004................................................................B.A. Social Philosophy and Theatre Arts Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 2005-Present ..................................................Graduate Teaching Associate The Ohio State University Department of Theatre, Lighting Studio 2006................................................................ Escuela del Mundo 2006................................................................ The Grey Area (Smith College, Northhampton, MA) 2006................................................................International Matching Travel Grant Recipient 2007................................................................ Our Town 2007................................................................ Mary Stuart 2007................................................................ TiMe (OSU Department of Dance) 2007................................................................ Vendetta Chrome 2007................................................................International Matching Travel Grant Recipient 2007................................................................The Aida Cannarsa Snow Endowment Fund Recipient 2007................................................................The John C. Morrow Memorial Fund Recipient 2008................................................................ Wild Stages: Kabarett MFA! Italicized items are creative projects done while at The Ohio State University iv FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field of Study: Theatre Other Studies: Lighting Design and Technology, International Theatre, Dance Lighting, Photography, Film History, Avant-garde Art v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments..............................................................................................................iii Vita..................................................................................................................................... iv List of Production Paperwork ........................................................................................... vii List of Figures..................................................................................................................viii List of Plates ...................................................................................................................... iv Chapters 1. The Production Situation ............................................................................................... 1 2. The Director’s Concept and Design Approach.............................................................. 8 3. Script Analysis............................................................................................................. 18 4. The Production Process................................................................................................ 50 5. Evaluation of the Design.............................................................................................. 69 Appendices A. The Director’s Concept............................................................................................... 81 B. Show Order ................................................................................................................. 83 C. Production Paperwork................................................................................................. 86 D. Figures....................................................................................................................... 122 E. Plates.......................................................................................................................... 127 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 149 vi LIST OF PRODUCTION PAPERWORK Shop Order........................................................................................................................ 87 Final Budget Sheet............................................................................................................ 92 Channel Hookup ............................................................................................................... 93 Instrument Schedule........................................................................................................ 102 Cue Orchestration ........................................................................................................... 112 Magic Sheet .................................................................................................................... 119 vii LIST OF FIGURES 1 Ambassadeurs: Aristide Bruant by Henri de Toulous-Lautrec...............................19 2 At the Café by Paul Gauguin...................................................................................23 3 "Petronella" color research .....................................................................................28 4 Hugo Ball cardboard costume from the Cabaret Voltaire ......................................30 5 Photo of Mata Hari..................................................................................................35 6 Sebastian Droste and Anita Berber.........................................................................36 7 William Bendow as Lydia Smith............................................................................41 8 The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse ..........................................................43 9 “A Little