Cassandra Phillips: Scenic Artist
 
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Today we open our production -a world premier of a new adaption of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull"  directed and adapted by the former Artistic Director of both The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Indiana Repertory Theatre, Libby Appel.  Awesome, awesome Scenic Design by Christopher Acebo.  Photograph by  Jenny Grahm.

 
Today, we open our production of Animal Crackers, based on the Marx Brothers play and movie.  

Above are some beautiful set shots by the talented Jenny Grahm, set design by our Richard Hay.  It's a very funny show.  Mark Bedard  plays a fantastic Groucho, and below, Bruce Jennings, the construction superviser for the show talks about the construction process.  

  
 
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Our World Premier, The White Snake, Directed and adapted by Mary Zimmerman opens today.  Set design by Daniel Ostling.  
As is much of Zimmerman's work, "The White Snake"  is a take on a traditional legend, this time from China.  Below, Mary Zimmerman explains a little of the story of "The White Snake,"  a tale of love, loss, and redemption:

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Above, the main set under light with the chinese cabinet. 

Left is the rain scene on the lake.  

Below, take a peek into the production.

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Here is the chinese cabinet open with the snake puppet inside!!!! 

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Lately around the shop we've been working hard on "White Snake."  There's lots to be done;  furniture and props abound.  

Here, Thayne airbrushes scales on the snake puppet. 

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Gabriel tackles the snake for Thayne to finesse the fine head scales.  

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Me and Tatiana, our Richard Hay Design Fellow, paint details on these three gorgeous dragon boats!  

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Later, I airbrushed on some scales to finish them off.  

Aren't these boats killer?

 
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This week we have been hard at work making the fine furniture of "White Snake"  pretty.  

Here is the Chinese cabinet where the  snake transformation takes place.  This guy has a little bit of every body in it.  Props carps, automation, electrics and of course, us.  Looks great, and magically rises out of the floor!  It's top is bamboo so that it appears as part of the deck.  The front opens as two doors, the lady gets in it and with a poof of smoke reveals herself as the white snake spirit/puppet she is.  Cool, huh?

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Complete with a healthy dose of blocking.

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Another project I've been working on are these two little stools that needed to be woodgrained and aged.  

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I really had fun playing with the age not just in terms of a dirty wash, but also the sheen that comes to well worn finished furniture.  

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I particularly liked the way the grain turned out on this leg.  


Cassandra Phillips: Scenic Artist