I had a group of highly talented student actors who were also nationally recognized improv artists. This scene is a long monologue delivered by the thief recounting the dark history of the Hope Diamond and all the people affected by its famous curse. We used mask and improvisation to choreograph an elegant complement to tell story. The image on the video wall is its 'point of stasis', a smoky blue moving image we used whenever the wall was not directly affecting the story. The wall was always active--even when it affected inactivity.
University of Georgia
Dept. of Theater & Film Studies
2012
Dark Ride was produced under the aegis of the department’s Interactive Performance Laboratory in conjunction with the Theatre and Film Studies’ Dramatic Media MFA program, offering an opportunity to design, produce
and direct a live stage production integrating electronic and human media within the theater event frame.
My intention here is to share the experience and insights gained regarding this process.
Acting & Directing
As Trissotin in Moliere's
Learned Ladies
As Tilden in Sam
Shepard's
Buried Child
Directorially I approached Dark Ride as a compositional discourse between
the primary elements of electronic media and live performer bolstered by secondary elements:
lights, set and sound. I took responsibility for set, sound, costume and light design as well as
helming the production as director-producer. The responsibility for media design I shared with fellow student
Josh Marsh, who held the position of media director.
This is the final scene; A waltz with all of the characters from the Dark Carnival Ride.