My first set design for the Missoula Children's Theatre Community Series was Ken Ludwig's Moon Over Buffalo. It was an exciting project that gave me the opportunity to create a space filled with entrances, exits, and opportunities for fast paced comedy while paying homage to the grand theaters of the past. The primary objective was to design a 1950s green room. While few green rooms are quite this expansive, I embraced the theatricality of the concept and created a cohesive, story rich playground that gave the actors plenty of space to explore, perform, and bring the production's energetic pace to life.
I think the productions represented on the stage, via these posters, tell a story of their own. Together, they reflect the history of a theater that has accomplished so much while standing on the brink of collapse. I have always loved the artistic style of these older designs, and they make me wish we could take a more creative approach to our show posters in the future. Beyond their purpose as marketing materials, these pieces become part of the theater's history. For the sake of preservation, I believe it is important that the things we create are designed to stand the test of time, both artistically and historically. And they did a wonderful job of placing our set and stage at a very specific place in America's history.
I looked to 1950s interiors for inspiration when imagining how a lively and popular theater might decorate its green room. From there, I studied older theaters and considered what a large, well established venue would include for storage, as well as comfortable spaces where actors could relax between performances. Throughout the design process, I also kept in mind one of the play's recurring themes: a theater that has gradually fallen out of favor and is no longer appreciated as it once was. Bringing these ideas together, I wanted the final design to communicate a simple contrast: this was once a beautiful, thriving place that has not been cared for in a very long time.
These are a few in progress photos of the set during construction. While I was not involved in the physical building process, I played an active role in selecting and placing many of the hand picked set pieces and props throughout the space. Working closely with our props designer, Lesley, we chose pieces that not only paid homage to the history of the Missoula Children's Theatre but also helped create a believable history for the fictional theater at the heart of the play. Every item was chosen with the goal of making the world feel lived in, layered, and full of stories beyond those told on stage.
