{"id":22893,"date":"2023-11-14T14:40:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T19:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/1780\/?p=22893"},"modified":"2024-03-28T11:21:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T15:21:33","slug":"transylvania-tempest-staging-offers-opportunities-for-theater-design-and-technology-majors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/1780\/2023\/11\/transylvania-tempest-staging-offers-opportunities-for-theater-design-and-technology-majors\/","title":{"rendered":"Transylvania \u2018Tempest\u2019 staging offers opportunities for theater design and technology majors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo courtesy of Joseph Rey Au.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Preparing for Transylvania University\u2019s production of William Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe Tempest\u201d has been a magical undertaking for junior Sofia Ricketts. Ricketts, who is pursuing the university\u2019s new theater design and technology major<\/a>, is serving as the production\u2019s assistant designer under Daniel Bennett, instructor of theater and production technical coordinator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ricketts\u2019 responsibilities include serving as the assistant scenic and production designer, leading the paint charge for the play\u2019s scenery and serving as the props master and set dresser. Since the play is set on an island, Ricketts put a lot of attention into small details intended to bring the sea ashore in Little Theater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome parts of the island are gross and some are magical, so I\u2019ve had to think about what \u2018gross but magical\u2019 looks like,\u201d she said, adding that the pier and dock used in this staging also offered a unique challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve made it so that the pier can split into parts and move about the stage,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s also a lot of fun projections that we\u2019re doing. I\u2019m really excited.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to her work with Bennett, Ricketts also worked closely with Melissa Gilbert, Transylvania\u2019s resident costume designer and instructor of theater, whose designs added an additional layer of texture to the island.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When creating the show\u2019s costuming, \u201cwe really got to do some very exciting dyework,\u201d Gilbert said, adding, \u201cWe have had so many students come into the shop, which has allowed us to put lots of detail into this show.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are so many crew members on this show,\u201d Ricketts emphasized, noting that theater program director Tosha Fowler remarked that \u201cThe Tempest\u201d boasts one of the largest crews she\u2019s ever worked with at Transy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sizable crew may be due in part to the opportunities Transy gives students who are interested in the \u201cback of the house\u201d aspects of theater to develop their craft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love all of the opportunities that have been created for tech people recently,\u201d Ricketts said, noting that while the theater performance major<\/a> is wonderful, she wants to pursue a career in tech design and production. \u201cI was looking for every opportunity I could find. I chose Transy because I knew I would get the opportunities I was looking for. The classes that are part of the theater design and production major give me all of the experience that I really need. I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m lacking anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gilbert sees the theater design and technology major<\/a> as an opportunity for faculty to collaborate closely with their students on work that will prepare them for their future careers. \u201cIt\u2019s much less \u2018Go get me coffee\u2019 and much more \u2018How do you want to do this?\u2019,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe\u2019re able to really prepare them to take on assistant positions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the major\u2019s required courses include a guided participation component that allows students to transfer what they are learning in class to the university\u2019s staged productions. \u201cIt\u2019s not just classroom work; it\u2019s stuff that\u2019s more tactile and creative,\u201d Bennett added. \u201cThat\u2019s the way we envisioned the whole major \u2014 to make sure that students felt comfortable taking on that next project.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that Ricketts has not just taken on the physical staging of the show, but has also participated in in-depth research to learn how to use new technologies and implement original content. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of research and learning new skills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ricketts used YouTube tutorials and trial and error to teach herself Adobe AfterEffects, while also incorporating knowledge she gained from the graphic design class she is currently taking into her role as assistant designer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love learning and knowing,\u201d Ricketts said. \u201cI like arts and crafts, so I enjoy gathering all of my information and being able to put it into something that is a product that can be viewed and touched, like props.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her efforts to visually add to an already-rich text have paid off handsomely, according to Bennett. \u201cWhen I saw the set dressing under lights, I knew we had taken it to the next level,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s those little details that someone may not notice in the audience, but as people who are seeing it every day, that\u2019s the stuff that I think is really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe audience will only be in the space for two hours, but we want them to really be immersed in the world that our students have been creating,\u201d Gilbert added. \u201cEvery single thing they see \u2014 it\u2019s not just one paint stroke. It\u2019s all of these layers, all of these hours.\u201d

Tickets are still available<\/a>.The show will run from Nov. 15-19 in Little Theater. Check out the show’s teaser video for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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