Date of Graduation

7-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts in Theatre (MFA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Theatre

Advisor/Mentor

Michael Riha

Committee Member

Shawn Irish

Second Committee Member

Jason Burrow

Keywords

A Little Night Music, Design, Musicals, Scenic Design, Theatre

Abstract

A Little Night Music by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim was produced by the University of Arkansas Department of Theatre in 2018-2019 academic school year. The scenic design process entailed a series of private meetings, design meetings, independent research, and analysis that all culminated into a full scenic design package. The show itself has many locations that quickly transition into one another. It was my challenge as the designer to cohesively design the scenery so that it could be transitioned easily and in time with the music. The major themes of the show that I based the design around were magic vs. mortality and femininity vs. masculinity. I represented these themes using wrought iron as a symbol of femininity and softening it with the elegant drapery. The grandeur of the scenery and the art nouveau style wrought iron represented the magical world in which the mortal characters lived. The numerous scenic transitions challenged me as a designer to communicate my ideas effectively. Overall the show was a success. The design came together to be a beautiful and grand representation of the world created by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim.

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