Article Type: Design and Stagecraft

I was asked for a curved balustrade unit that could be moved around the stage by performers. This did not want to be simple wooden spindles. It really needed to be the kind of big, cement balustrade that would be present at an upscale hotel on the Mediterranean in France. This particular season is short on time and money for building. This is our first season in our brand new facility. Lathing Styrofoam or wood was not an option, and any kind of ready-made product that I found was too expensive. Then I had the idea to use soda bottles and water bottles.

“Compromise” is a very ugly word for beginning artists. We don’t want to compromise our vision. This is true for designers, directors, and every other artist involved in the process. A great production team knows that if the collaboration is on the mark, nobody compromises. Instead of anyone giving up what they want, they can find a solution that satisfies the essence of everyone’s artistic vision. The result of good collaboration is greater than the sum of its parts.