The Crucible
January 2009
Set Crew Member, Non-Realized Lighting Design
For our production of this show, I was on set crew. The set crew's job was to build and finish the various elements of the set that were required. Since I was also in Advanced Tech, I assisted by drafting some of the platforms and other construction elevations of the design. During the running of the show I was assigned to fly crew. My duties on that crew were to fly various curtains and set pieces in or out for the various scenes of the show.
This lighting design for The Crucible was my 2008 Texas Thespian Lighting Design entry. Through the design I wanted to communicate the harsh reality of the Puritan society. I achieved this by having very strict and rigid lines and having the show be fairly monochromatic.
However, just like in the Puritan society, there were a few places in the show that I highlighted with specials and/or colors. The biggest of these was when the girls go into the forest. I saw the forest as the girls "getaway" from Puritan society. To contrast this with the rest of the design, I used very organic lines and shapes and a lot of natural colors (such as greens and yellows). Another place where I contrasted this very rigid society, was when John Proctor and Abigail were discussing the affair they have had I added in some red to reflect Abigail's passion for John.
Overall, this design's goal was to compliment the overall feeling of hopelessness and strictness of the Puritan society while still reminding the audience that underneth it all, they are human just like the rest of us, and have the same thoughts and feelings.
