Properties Master - Scenic Designer - Technical Director

Posts by » Chris

Company- Chandeliers

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    Dec 1, 2017 Properties Comments are off

    The scenic designer wanted sputnik inspired chandeliers but a much larger scale. Each chandelier was designed to be around 6'-0" wide and 2'-6" tall. He built a model that was used in the shop to make sure all the angles were correct. Because of the scale of the chandeliers, custom joints were built that also allowed us to have some adjustment in the arm locations. Each of the globes had a RGBW LED inside allowing the lighting designer to have each globe an individual color. Due to the construction and LED control, the chandeliers had to be wired by the light shop as they were being assembled. In addition to the construction, I was also in charge of the automated rigging for them.
    <h1 style="text-align: center;">Company</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL November 2017 Director: William Brown Scenic Designer: Scott Penner Lighting Designer: Matthew Sharp</p>
    <p class="credit">Photos by: Chris Wych Production Photos by: Justin Barbin</p>
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    Fuente Ovejuna -Staff

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      May 1, 2017 Properties Comments are off

      The scenic designer supplied research for a staff. I decided to build the staff from scratch. The staff started out by gluing multiple pieces of poplar to a hardwood dowel rod. By using a chainsaw attachment for a grinder, various sanding disks, and files, I was able to shape the block of wood down. After finish sanding, the designer liked the natural colors of the wood, so the staff was then sealed instead of being painted to match the research.
      <h1 style="text-align: center;">Fuente Ovejuna</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL April 2017 Director: Susan E. Bowen Scenic Designer: Michelle Lilly</p>
      <p class="credit">Photos by: Chris Wych Production photos by: Nemanja Zdravkovic</p>
      [...]

      American Idiot- BANG gun

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      Nov 1, 2015 Properties Comments are off

      The director and scenic designer wanted a gun that shoots out a banner that says "bang". They wanted a banner that was larger than the common version you can get from a party/gimmick store. The team also wanted something more realistic looking. The project started with an extra gun from stock. The barrel was cut off and replace with a tube that was longer with thinner walls to accommodate the spring and rolled-up banner. A slot was cut in this tube to keep the mechanism in line and not shooting across the room. The inside end of the banner rod has an impact hex head that is held in place with an impact adapter (similar to what is at the end of the impact tool). The old cylinder was cut apart to hid the impact adapter ad the back of the gun. The gun's trigger would activate the gun's hammer which then released the hex head from the holder. The banner would be pushed out by the spring and then would unroll. Overall the gun was successful. A few times the gun would jam up. Some of the reason was the spring strength and using readily available parts. Having access to a metal lathe at the time of construction would have helped make more custom parts.
      <h1 style="text-align: center;">American Idiot</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL October 2015 Director: Lili-Anne Brown Scenic Designer: Arnel Sancianco</p>
      <p class="credit">Work photos and video by: Chris Wych Production photo by: Justin Barbin</p>
      <h2 class="sub-title"><span class="inverse">Video</span></h2> <a class="video" title="Gun Shot" href="https://youtu.be/dPgrP3OKV3E" rel="videos">Actor showing how the gun was used during the show.</a> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dPgrP3OKV3E" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
      [...]

      Into The Woods- CNC fabric

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        Jul 1, 2015 Project Comments are off

        The costume shop approached me about figuring seeing if there was a fast way that fabric could be cut for a custom lace/pattern for a dress. The decision was to use the CNC router with a drag knife. After doing some tests of fabrics, using window blackout curtain fabric (in white) had the rigidity and wouldn't fray as quickly. The fabric was then lightly applied to a sheet of luan and then cut out. I had to make some edits to the hand drawn design because some of the details were too small. Once the various panels were cut out, the costume show was able to clean up a few stray threads and assemble the dress.
        <h1 style="text-align: center;">Into the Woods</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL July 2015 Director: Scott Weinstein Costume Designer: Izumi Inaba</p>
        <p class="credit">Photos by: Chris Wych Production Photo by: Justin Barbin</p>
        [...]

        Beer Bottle Shelves

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          Mar 1, 2015 Project Comments are off

          My brother has a eccentric collection of beer bottles that grows with every unique beer he tries at home. He was looking for a way to maximize the display of bottles while still showing the bottle labels instead of just storing them in boxes. To add to the challenge, beer bottles come in a couple different sizes in addition to the cans in his collection. I came up with a design and mocked it up to see how it would work. After getting approval, I made 6 units with shelves for the entire height (holding ~120 bottles) and 2 with shelves half way up with adjustable sections on top for the very odd shaped bottles (holding ~80 bottles depending on shelf positions). The units are sized around the Ikea Billy shelf system, so that doors or other units could be added in the future.
          <h1 style="text-align: center;">Beer Bottle Shelves</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Minooka, IL April 2013 Client: Jon Wych</p>
          <p class="credit">Photos by: Chris Wych</p>
          [...]

          Cabaret- Microphone

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            Mar 1, 2014 Properties Comments are off

            The scenic designer supplied research for a old style microphone he was interested in for the production of <em>Cabaret</em>. Not having one in stock, I decided to build one from mostly scrap materials from the shop. I only needed to purchase the springs and the threaded attachment for the stand. After drafting the microphone to get the sizes, the entire piece came together quickly. A second microphone was needed for <em>Waa-Mu 2014: Double Feature</em> in May 2014. I was able to pull up the drafting and make a second one and added a couple station names to the tops.
            <h1 style="text-align: center;">Cabaret</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL February 2014 Director: Nick Bowling Scenic Designer: Se Hyun Oh</p>
            <p class="credit">Photos by: Chris Wych Production photos by: Justin Barbin</p>
            <h2 class="sub-title"><span class="inverse">WaaMu 2014: Double Feature</span></h2>
            [...]

            Pride and Prejudice- Corner Chair

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              Dec 1, 2013 Properties Comments are off

              The scenic designer requested a corner chair for <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>. After searching around for a chair that would fit the show, I decided to build the show from scratch. After drafting the chair from the research image, I turned the legs out of poplar on the lather. Parts of the back were drafted and then cut out on the CNC router.
              <h1 style="text-align: center;">Pride and Prejudice</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL November 2013 Director: Jessica Thebus Scenic Designer: Shawn Ketchum Johnson</p>
              <p class="credit">Photos by: Chris Wych Production Photos by: Justin Barbin</p>
              [...]

              All Shook Up- Ferris Wheel

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                Jul 19, 2013 Properties Comments are off

                The design team wanted a miniature working model of a Ferris wheel to be used onstage. In addition to it working, they also didn't want any cords coming off of the piece as it was rolled onstage. Working with the light shop, I was able to come up with a plan for the pieces and assembly process. The Ferris wheel rings we're build with channels and slots in the the back to hold the incandescent rice lights. We attempted to build our own slip ring for the lights but ended up purchasing a slip ring after a few failed attempts at using materials found in the shop. The wheel itself rotated with the use of a stepper motor and a friction wheel at the bottom. The light shop hooked everything up via batteries and wireless DMX, including speed control of the rotation.
                <h1 style="text-align: center;">All Shook Up</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL July 2013 Director: Matt Raftery Scenic Designer: William Boles</p>
                <p class="credit">Work photos by: Chris Wych Production photo by: William Boles Videos by: Alec Thorne</p>
                <h2 class="sub-title"><span class="inverse">Videos</span></h2> <a class="video" title="Ferris Wheel MS" href="https://youtu.be/MnQX-QsMXKo" rel="videos"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MnQX-QsMXKo" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></a> <a class="video" title="Ferris Wheel WS" href="https://youtu.be/IAuzBp9DyxI" rel="videos"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IAuzBp9DyxI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></a>
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                Pajama Game- Clock

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                Feb 15, 2013 Properties Comments are off

                The design team approached the staff with an idea of a clock that could roll around on stage, hands that change speed for the song "Racing With The Clock", and could light up and change colors. Alec Thorn, Assistant Master Electrician, and I teamed up to see if this was possible within out means of budget and time. More info coming soon. (There are a lot of parts to this project. So for now check out the photos and videos.)
                <h1 style="text-align: center;">Pajama Game</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL February 2013 Scenic Designer: Kristina Herne Lighting Designer: Rebecca Barrett</p>
                <p class="credit">Work photos by: Chris Wych Videos by: Alec Thorn Production photo by: Justin Barbin</p>
                <h2 class="sub-title"><span class="inverse">Pajama Game Clock Videos</span></h2>
                <a class="video" title="Clock hand test" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqURB0i90mk&amp;autoplay=1" rel="videos">A first test of clock speed being controlled by DMX. <img alt="Clock hand test" src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/KqURB0i90mk/mqdefault.jpg" /> </a>
                <a class="video" title="Clock during preshow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpW3_VmXHgo&amp;autoplay=1" rel="videos">Clock during preshow <img alt="Clock during preshow" src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/HpW3_VmXHgo/mqdefault.jpg" /> </a>
                [...]

                Pajama Game- Flipping Sewing Machine Tables

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                Feb 15, 2013 Properties Comments are off

                Scenic Designer, Kristina Herne, wanted crates that had sewing machines but could disappear for when they weren't being used and the crates could be used as set dressing.  I came up with a version where an insert could be lifted out, flipped around, and then placed back into its hole.  After many rehearsals it was discovered that the actresses that did the changes could not flip the sewing machines quickly and gracefully.  A new idea to have a rotating pivot point and lock was developed.  I quick retrofitted the old units with the new idea and quickly got the tables back into rehearsal.  In addition to the tables having sewing machines, they also had to store stools, rolled around on stage, and sat on.
                <h1 style="text-align: center;">Pajama Game</h1> <p style="text-align: center;">Northwestern University- Barber Theatre Evanston, IL February 2013 Scenic Designer: Kristina Herne</p>
                <p class="credit">Work photo and video by: Chris Wych Production photos by: Justin Barbin</p>
                <h2 class="sub-title"><span class="inverse">Video</span></h2> <iframe id="ytplayer" type="text/html" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TdsCi6USzBU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen> </iframe>
                [...]

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