Final set and costume designs for On the Verge were due on 11/19. I met with the design team Tuesday afternoon, and it looks like all things are going as planned.

Curtis Ransom, the set designer for the show, has outdone himself. This is a large show for the Kiva Theatre's arena space. The difficulty was accounting for all of the play's varied locations while maintaining a small enough set for the space. In one scene, we're in the jungle; in another, we're on a glacier; and in the final scenes we're in Nicky's Peligrosa, a 1950's hotel and casino resort. Curtis has got us covered on all accounts as long as the audience is willing to make a leap, but that's what this play is about.

The costumes, designed by Katrina Harlowe, are going to be fantastic, as well. I began with a notion that these women only really exist anymore in black and white photos. Through the course of the play, these black and white ladies begin to take on the appearance of hand tinted photos. Slowly as the characters find more freedom, color begins to be revealed on their costumes. Each of the three women have their own colors: Alexandra - blue, Mary - Purple, and Fanny - Pink.

For the male roles, the actor who plays these 8 characters must always be visible. The audience must never forget that the same actor is playing all of the male roles. Again, theatricality is key. The yeti appears wearing a leather hooded coat with long white fur dangling from his sleeves and pant legs. He removes the coat to become the gorge troll wearing blue jeans and a white tee shirt underneath. The costumes changes should be very quick. The most difficult change is the switch between Madame Nhu and Gus. My best guess is that the actor will have all of 15 - 20 seconds to make the change. Katrina and Curtis are collaborating on a pananquin that the actor can wear. He'll walk onto stage with the pananquin, and when he exits all he has to do is shed the pananquin and run on as Gus the gas station attendent.

Anyway, suffice it to say that the designs are going well. I am consistantly blown away by this design team. Auditions will be held Saturday, December 7th, from 1:00-5:00pm in the university's Hartung Theatre. More after that...