UNDERSTOOD BETSY set drawings

Rather than do an intensively detailed set, with fully realized units, I've chosen to do the set as a "sketch", with the pieces reduced to framework. Primarily, this started with the need for the train car. Most of the first scene is spent on the train, and I wanted to give a sense of enclosure. At the same time, we need to see the action going on in the train, and we don't have the budget to spin it around.

All the pieces have direct inspiration from real images of the period.


The inspiration for the Vermont station.






















The train station at the top of the show and its inspiration






Our version's "bricks" are made of lattice, in keeping with our translucent construction.

National Children's Theatre Festival (NCTF)

Activities for Thursday, APRIL26TH

10 am………UNDERSTOOD BETSY

12-2 PM Symposium

7 pm…………Playwriting/Composition Symposium – Coral Gables Library

Activities for Friday, APRIL 27TH

10 am…………. UNDERSTOOD BETSY

12-2 PM Symposium

Activities for Saturday, APRIL 28TH

10 am …………..CHARACTER BREAKFAST Sponsored By IHOP – MAIN LOBBY

Special appearances by Madeline, Miss Clavel, Charlotte, Templeton & Wilbur

10 am………….. Story time with Books & Books - MAIN LOBBY

10:15 am………..MAGIC SHOW - MAIN LOBBY

10:55 am……….Welcome Speech by the JR. ORANGE BOWL COURT – MAINSTAGE THEATRE

11 am………...... UNDERSTOOD BETSY - MAINSTAGE THEATRE

12-2 pm………...Interactive Theatre Fun! - MAIN LOBBY

City of Coral Gables ANTIQUE FIRE TRUCK display, Interactive Arts & Craft Tables,

Face Painting & Balloon Art, Acting & Makeup Workshops, Lunch available to purchase

APPEARANCES BY: OBIE, U of M IBIS The Jr. Orange Bowl Royal Court, Madeline, Miss Clavel, Charlotte, Templeton & Wilbur

12:30 pm……….Acting & Makeup classes – BLACK BOX THEATRE – Please preregister!

12:30 pm……….”ROCK MUSICALS THROUGH THE AGES” - Actors’ Playhouse Musical Miracles -

MAINSTAGE THEATRE

1 PM…………….GEMZ - Girl’s Pop Singing Group – MAINSTAGE

1:15 pm…………Acting & Makeup classes – BLACK BOX THEATRE – Please preregister!

1:30 pm…………HIP HOP KIDZ - MAINSTAGE

2 pm…………….SEUSSICAL, JR. - Actors’ Playhouse Musical Miracles - MAINSTAGE THEATRE

Activities for Sunday, APRIL 29TH

1 pm ………….. CHARACTER BRUNCH Sponsored By IHOP – MAIN LOBBY

Special appearances by Madeline, Miss Clavel, Charlotte, Templeton & Wilbur.

ALSO: Face Painting

1 pm………….. Story time with Books & Books, Face Painting - MAIN LOBBY

1:30 pm………..”ROCK MUSICALS THROUGH THE AGES” - Actors’ Playhouse Musical Miracles -

MAINSTAGE THEATRE

2 pm ………….. UNDERSTOOD BETSY - MAINSTAGE THEATRE

3:30 pm…………SEUSSICAL, JR. - Actors’ Playhouse Musical Miracles - MAINSTAGE THEATRE

Auction Update

I sat in on an auction meeting last Thursday.

This year, the event will start earlier, in terms of catering and tickets. the Live Auction will start later. THERE WILL BE NO ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE SILENT AUCTION BREAKDOWN.

We will need to bring over the bar stools purchased for I LOVE YOU BECAUSE so that Dave and Bob can sit during the Live Auction.

LIGHTING:

• Barbara would like better lighting for the artwork. To allow for this, all artwork will be hung on the walls of the theatre ON BOTH SIDES - no artwork will be displayed on the tables set up on the seats. Neal also suggested that the artwork could be hung on Friday, instead of waiting until Saturday. This way, the artwork will be in place for the focus call.
• There will be a small jazz combo onstage during the silent auction
• We will run the slide show during the live auction, as usual.

SOUND: (Lane & Chris)

• We will be using wireless handheld mics for this event.
• Run coax from the booth to the grand staircase landing, for a live camera feed of the auction.
• Sound system (mic) set up at the base of the stairs for announcements. Portable powered speakers will service the main and outer lobbies.

AUDITORIUM SET-UP (Shop staff, Lane, & Chris)

• Install pit cover.
• Setup chairs and plywood Friday afternoon, as usual.
• Remove
• the front row,
• the couches from the rear
• 1 sofa from lobby
• Add additional run of 1/16" wire rope to House Left wall (along trim)
• there should be a pick point every 6' (that is more than currently installed)
• Set up SCREEN as rear-projection, and mask (fold up center panels of purple drop?)

LOBBY SET-UP (Chris, Shop Staff, Costume/wardrobe Staff)

• Set-up folding tables (EVERYONE)
  
• table cloths (Ananda, Dario & Jillian)

MISC. STUFF:
One table gets setup house right for the auction clerks: every year, we get complaints that they can't see the paperwork. This year, we will setup desk lamps on the table so they can see their paperwork. The lamps will be tucked away by the SL speakers until we clear the Silent Auction.

SILENT AUCTION BREAKDOWN
As usual, everyone will have to help breakdownt the silent auction. Once again, we'll be closing down the outer aisles FIRST, and clearing the tables to the sides. We will then pull the remaining tables across the seats, and clear those tables to the sides, as well - this allows the audience to immediately fill in where the tables were while allowing us to run things out to the lobby without running into patrons.

Mostly, this will be the same mess it is every year. All we have to do is clear the silent auction without killing anyone.