Lighting Design for Appetite

This semester, I've been focused on the SMC Theatre Department's spring mainstage, a devised theater piece called Appetite. The lighting design that I create for this production will be my senior showcase project, which is monitored through the senior seminar class.

Appetite has been an interesting challenge because it is a devised theater piece, not a scripted play. Devised theater can consist of any actions that tell a story in order to state a message, including (but not limited to) movement, dance, dialogue, music, sounds, pictures, and videos. We saw a show called Icarus Project at ACTF this year that was a great example of devised theater, using little dialogue but much movement and interesting makeup, with the strong base of the Icarus myth as a storyline.

Unlike with a normal production process, I had no script to work from, but instead was able to contribute to the theme and the story in meetings and rehearsals as the cast and director worked out the storyline. Attending rehearsals was the most important thing I did for most of this semester so far, because so many elements have changed and I wanted to get a feel for what kind of play this was. With the theme of technology and our reliance on devices and apps, there are many different directions the team could have chosen, and if the designers are not all on the same page the show will not be cohesive.

We are hoping with lights and projections/videos to create an integral, well-blended performance. The set is minimal, but with audience seating onstage the set building class had a big project of making risers and a ramp. We have a long tech process coming up because of how the school calendar worked out this year, and also because with such a innovative project and several student designers we want to have plenty of time to nail things down.

Tech rehearsals start in a week, and I am at the happy place of having just finished ("finished") my lighting plot, the map that shows where all the lighting instruments go and how they are plugged in and where they are pointed. With this show, I'm sure I will have to make changes right up until opening, but it's good to have a basic setup ready to go in advance so I can program the light board and make changes and choose colors.

Appetite performs April 11-14 and 18-21 at 7:30pm in the McCarthy Arts Center. Seating is limited, so please email appetitesmc@gmail.com for your reservation. 20 Saint Michael's College students are featured in this unique project; it is Liz Levenson's and Amanda Mulligan's senior showcase project for acting as well as my own for lighting design.

Another post to come soon about the story and the end result of this piece!