Live Design's fourth annual 31 Days Of Plots features one production per day during the month of December 2021, highlighting a different lighting design, from across theatre, concert tours, corporate events, live for broadcast, and more, as we wind down 2021 and head toward the new year.
On Day 25 of 31 Days Of Plots we visit The Public Theatre in New York City, where Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew designed the lighting for the world premiere of Erika Dickerson-Despenza's play, Cullud Wattah this past fall. Looking at how we make the best choices for our families’ futures when there are no real, present options, the production also comprised scenic design by Adam Rigg, costume design by Kara Harmon, and sound design by Sinan Refik Zafar;
"At the core of Cullud Wattah is the struggle of a matriarchal family desperately trying to take care of and love each other in ways they know how and can, in spite of them being victims of political circumstances. This is the primary reason why the home is at the center of the stage. While it is at the center, it is also tenuously situated, elevated from the ground and surrealistically surrounded by an explosion of water bottles containing tinted poisonous water. In a sense the home is also an island. It is this concept that inspired the lighting design. It is very important to me that even though the characters are victims in this crisis, there are joyful moments, with the home environment that feels warm and welcoming. This is the reason I chose the warm version of the Martin Mac Encore," explains the LD.
"To address the Afro-surrealism of this play, I first addressed the water bottles installation surrounding the main performance area with multiple types of LED sources from many directions, allowing them to sprinkle and heighten the emotions that are on display," says Yew. " Furthermore, because the sound of water is a motif for this production, the plot has 20+ gobo rotators to add movement and texture to the entire space, to not only support the sound design but also to add vibration to the entire space as a gesture to highlight the destabilizing effect of the crisis. Finally, technically since there is a roof, I had to be very careful with directions. Very early on in the design process I suggested to add mylar on the inside of the roof (out of sightline) so that I could aim five ADJ H2O DMX Pro instruments at the mylar, bouncing texture and movement inside the home and adding visual dimension during many of the sleep walking sequences.
Lighting gear list:
7 ETC Source Four 14 Degree 750
13 ETC Source Four 19 Degree 750
22 ETC Source Four 26 Degree 750
65 ETC Source Four 36 Degree 750
11 ETC Source Four 50 Degree 750
17 ETC Source Four 70 Degree 750
29 ETC Source Four Par WFL 575
8 ETC Source Four Par WFL 750
14 ETC Source 4 Par XWFL 575
10 PAR38 WFL Tracklight Housing
60 Birdie
9 Martin MAC Encore Performance WRM
10 Chroma-Q COLOR FORCE 12
22 Chroma-Q COLOR FORCE II 12
11 Chroma-Q COLOR FORCE 72
5 ADJ H2O DMX PRO
9 PROLIGHTS EclipseFS LED Ellipsoidal 26 Degree
21 PROLIGHTS EclipseFS LED Ellipsoidal 36 Degree
31 PROLIGHTS EclipseFS LED Ellipsoidal 50 Degree
1 MDG ATMOSPHERE
21 Apollo ROTO-Q Source Four Gobo Rotator
RGBA 12V LED 42 Feet
To see more 31 Days Of Plots, click here