On Set with The Circle
If you are anything like me, at least once you’ve sat in a theater and been completely awed by the set and begun to wonder what it took to put it all together. How long did it take? How many people worked on it? To answer those questions, both for you, our wonderful readers, and for myself, I followed our talented design team and production staff through the intricate and exciting process of creating the set for The Circle.
Traditionally, the initial designs for a set are submitted to the theater about 6 weeks before the start of the show. Typically, a few rounds of adjustments are made and a final design is submitted 4 weeks out along with the delivery of a model of the set.
Finalized set designs submitted by Alexander Dodge, the scenic designer for The Circle.
In addition to the designs of the set, this scale model of the set was also created and delivered to the Playhouse.
The set doesn’t just stop at the walls and floor - it also includes the furniture, especially important in a period piece like The Circle which is set in at the dawn of the 1920s in the home of a wealthy politician and fastidious furniture buff.
|
Here is a look at some of the research done by the scenic designer into chairs and sofas of the 1920s.
|
In our April newsletter, technical director John Mosele explained a little about the process of turning the initial designs into blueprints for the WCP carpenters and welders.
|
|
 |
| John uses AutoCAD to create the necessary blue prints... |
which are then printed out....
|
|
And the finished product is handed over to the shop carpenters to begin building.
|
Three weeks before the first preview, the carpenters take the blueprints and get to work!
While Kevin, Andrew and John are hard at work in the shop, our scenic painter begins the process of painting the set. A lot of these pieces will be painted right on the stage - the only large flat space available to hold the large set pieces.
 |
 |
The beginning stages of painting the stone patio.
|
Our scenic artist paints the large drawing room walls. |
This plastic stone was made specifically for the theater and film industry. Real stone would have been too heavy to use.
May 31st:
Approximately one week before the first preview performance, our crew, production staff and interns move the pieces they have built in the scene shop over the last month and begin to assemble the set onstage.
 |
 |
The carpenters and one of our summer interns on the set.
|
Recognize the walls you saw getting painted just a few weeks ago?
|
|
|
|
To make the drawing room look authentic, crown molding is added to the top of the walls.
|
A peek through one of the side wall doors at the activity onstage.
|
|
|
Each tile for the floor was had cut from plywood by the carpenters and painted to resemble marble.
|
June 1st:
|
|
Panels are added above the crown molding to give the illusion of depth in the ceiling.
|
June 2nd:
|
|
| What’s new? Did you notice the chandelier now hanging from the ceiling? How about the column located on the right side of the room? Or the stone wall added just beyond the outside door? |
As the set is being constructed on stage, new pieces are still being produced back in the shop.
 |
 |
What good would a door be without handles? These have been painted to look as if they came straight out of the 1920s.
|
The crew continues to consult the blueprints as additional accent pieces are built.
|
|
|
Looks like we need some more molding!
|
June 3rd:
We got lucky today and happened to walk in as the crew was installing one of the five columns that surround the room. Fun fact – The columns are made of fiberglass and each can hold up to 18,000 pounds!
June 3rd also marked the arrival of The Circle’s cast at the Playhouse and the first time they got to see the set they would be calling home for the next 3 weeks. With only four days remaining until the first performance, pieces of furniture and props will start making their way to the stage.
June 6th:
With just one day left until the first preview performance, the paint on set gets a touch up! You may also notice that over the weekend a sconce as well two hooks to hang a photo above the fireplace and a cartouche, an architectural name for a decorative niche in a wall, has been added above the set of double doors.
Well, this is where our tour ends. I hope you’ve enjoyed your backstage peek at creating a set! If you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to attend our Backstage Pass on Wednesday, June 22nd following the 2:00pm matinee as John Mosele gives further insight to the process of building this beautiful set!
 |
The final set!
|
Beth Huisking
Associate Director of Marketing
