SCOTT M. BOYLE
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Spoon River
Conservatoi de Lyon: Lyon, France
University of MN Duluth
Department of Theatre
Lighting Design by Scott M. Boyle
Production Photos
Pictures feature; Ryan Fargo, Luke Harger, Phil Hoelscher, Erik Meixelsperger, Rebeka Meyer, Kayla Peters, Brian Saice, Lauren Schulke and Glee Schultz
Technical Challenge
In Feb of 2015, a group of acting students from the Conservatoi de Lyon came to the University of Minnesota Duluth campus and performed a piece as part of a cultural exchange. The following year, we were invited to journey to France with a production of our own. Spoon River is a show based off of the book Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters. The show is made up of short vignettes of the trials and tribulations of the citizens of a fictional rural Illinois town in the years following the civil war.
The original production (shown below) featured three projection screens and a raked stage. We wouldn't be able to bring any of this to France. For financial reasons we were also not able to bring Wesley Darton, the original lighting designer. I went as technical advisor and lighting designer. It was exciting to go and be apart of the production in a foreign country, in an unfamiliar space, and unfamiliar equipment.
Original Production
Light Plot
After we got the plot hung, the house electrician and I sat down and quickly made this light plot so we could reference the lighting fixtures for light focus and cue building.
Ground Plan Sketch
Once we got to the theatre I made this quick sketch based on our spacing rehearsal. I added the acting areas with a lighting key for reference for the house electricians.
Building the Light Cues
The intention was to recreate the original look and feel of the show. But with a new space different choices needed to be made. So while to the cast it may have felt pretty close to the original, I was happy with the execution of the design.
Technical Schedule
From the time we first gathered in the theatre in until we performed, we had 24 hours spread out over three days to restage the show, hang the lights and do a technical rehearsal. That schedule was broken down as the following;
Wed; 9 - 12 spacing rehearsal in the theatre.
1 - 6 Light hang with myself and house electricians
Thurs; 9 - 12 Focus lights w/o cast present
1- 5 Build light cues and tech the show
Fri; 1 - 5 Dress Rehearsal
7:15 pm Performance