The New York Times: If the gypsy-cab drivers who work out of the storefront office at 2046 Wylie Avenue are hungry, they can fill up on prime rib at the Red Bull Inn. The Super 71 drive-in is a hot spot for the latest disaster movie. For something more racy, there’s the L’amoure Theater (“It’s Better Than Burlesque”). And of course a Pirates game and an Iron City beer make for a perfectly Pittsburgh pairing.
3 comments:
I've known for years that August Wilson wrote a series of plays that took place in Pittsburgh, but it wasn't until I came here that I realized the significance August Wilson has in the city. David Gallo did an amazing job researching the city and understanding its history. I find it particularly interesting that he has been the designer for all of the premieres of Wilson's most recent plays. I'm sure that relationship the two of them had was an extremely important factor when considering the designer for this production. I'm not exactly sure where David Gallo is from, but I wonder how this design would be executed by a designer who is from Pittsburgh. August Wilson had such a strong, personal connection to this city, and that connection is integral to his work. I would love to see his plays designed by somebody with a connection to the city as strong as his.
This is absolutely beautiful, and I agree with Antonio that David Gallo did an incredible job doing research and creating something so intricate. What really astounded me in the article, though, was the amazing attention to detail that David Gallo and his team put into the scenery and each individual piece. Each piece on the set dressing was so well researched and thought out--and while the average viewer seeing the show 10 rows back would absolutely not think twice about the photo on the fridge, or the tiny font of the newspaper on the door, I think that it really adds to the character of the scenery, and it makes it all seem real. While I am not interested in studying scenic design, this article did make me consider it, just because of the sheer amount of amazing thought and care that was put into this design and show.
I was so glad to see this article get written because the scenic designer I worked with this summer is an assistant on this show, and I have watched the process through the lens of her facebook for the past few months, so I am excited to see her work getting so much press. I think Alex is right in saying that the detail is what makes this set so unique and fantastic. What constantly fascinates me about scenic design is the way that people can look at a large space and see the big picture and all of what that is, but still have the ability for focus in on small details like decorations on a fridge or what sits on a table. It all ends up being seen together but the ability to zoom in or out as much as needed and see everything as both individual pieces and a part of a bigger picture is what I believe makes a good scenic designer, and this show has absolutely succeeded in doing that.
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