One goal as a lighting designer was to create a sharp contrast between Kansas and Oz. I wanted Kansas to look very one dimentional and almost boring (no cyc color either) without detracting from the strong opening of the show. I also wanted to make the entire Kansas segment look like an old sepia tone photograph, but still utalize warm colors that evoke feelings of comfort and "home".
The costume and set designers worked with me to help create the sepia look, painting the sets in black, off white, grey and browns while dressing the characters in plain clothing. Dorothy is even wearing a black and white cover over her blue dress.
Without use of smoke, the Twister was one of the more challenging segments of the show. I used video projections (incorporating green screen technology) and sound effects which I filmed and edited myself. I also give the actors a lot of credit for acting like they were in the tornado so well! The videos were also in sepia to add to the overall opening look.
Dorothy is now in her iconic blue dress and the opening of Munchkinland incorporates almost every lighting trick in the book to simply look like the complete oposite of Kansas!
The witch's entrance also had to be a contast to the beauty and fun of Munchkinland. I took out the blue and replaced it with red and green washes to capture an almost sickly yellow tone while enhancing her green skin. The red backtrop was more than a mood changer, though. It was also a tribute to the lighting in the show Wicked for the Act II scene where Glinda and Elphaba are in Munchkinland in what is supposed to happen AFTER this famous scene.
One of my favorite special effects was this part when the Yellowbrick Road "magically" appeared in the middle of the audience. I loved watching the kids and parents excitedly pointing to the road (I also had it on in the house for intermission and after the show. I loved watching kids and adults skip down the isles!)
Scarecrow: early afternoon in Oz
They've been traveling a while...
"I don't like this forest. It's dark and creepy"
The Poppies!
It's snowing!
We're off to see the Wizard!!
Bell out of Order. Please Knock!
A glimpse inside the emerald city!
The green light on his face is actually a spotlight that fluxuated whenever the Wizard spoke! Also gotta love the light up LED eyes!
I do believe in spooks! I do I do I do!
The Jitterbug!
How are we going to get into the castle?
As opposed to Kansas I wanted the Witch's castle to look cold and unforgiving, incorporating cool colors.
Melting the witch with dry ice and a worklight with a blue gel over it! It's kinda ghetto but it did the trick!
I love our hot air balloon!
