Scenic Backdrops
Full Resdesign and Paint for The Nutcracker backdrop (8×16ft.), November 2020.
Commissioned to fully redesign and repaint an 8 × 16 ft. theatrical backdrop for Dance Theatre of Wilkes-Barre's production of The Nutcracker. The backdrop uses a folding, storybook-style mechanism, so the paint had to withstand repeated folding and heavy stage use throughout the production's run.
I worked with Liquitex Basics acrylic paint on primed and stretched plastic tarps. The piece was completed in under 1 week and is featured in a 2020 documentary by Umbrella Bloc on the production process.
The Process
1 girl, 1 week, and 1 freezing church — I planned, designed, sketched, and painted a new theatrical backdrop for a local production of The Nutcracker. Working in near-freezing temperatures with a space heater for support, I reworked the design with deeper perspective and richer tones to evoke the warmth of a classic Christmas living room.
The Results
I leaned into contrast to manage the many shades of green throughout the piece, using warm and cool tones to accentuate the depth of the room. Getting the perspective's contrast right was key to making the piece read correctly both live on stage and on screen. It appears in the official taped recording of the performance, and was also featured in Umbrella Bloc's 2020 documentary on the production process.
An offical trailor for “The Story of the Nutcracker” documentary by Umbrella Bloc. The finished backdrop can be seen at timestamp 3:04.