THR 350 Advanced Topics in Design
Course: THR350 Advanced Topics in Design
Term: Fall 2019
Evaluator: Morris Ertman
Student: Katherina Stegerman
Project: Dreams of Kings and Carpenters
When I sat down in the Studio Stage, and looked at the preset on stage, I was struck with how aesthetically elegant it was. The set was evocative and inviting.
As the show played out on stage, I was pleased with how imaginative direction and design married themselves into one of the most successful 359 staging’s I’ve seen. It was most gratifying indeed. The way the scenery was left at the end of the 1st act was beautifully visually evocative. As I recall, a stable of sorts. The show was fluid because the design was fluid. The metaphor in the fabric of a source in the heavens making its way down to earth was striking in the storytelling - again, good design/direction integration.
I can’t say too much about process. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as present in the process because of prior commitments. The conversations I had with both Heather and Katherina showed a willingness to collaborate and a passion for creating something good that would serve story and audience.
I was aware of some creative differences in the process through shared emails. Katherina and I had a conversation about that. In summary: The Director must make the final call. At the end of the day they are the “master storyteller.” That’s a significant responsibility that comes with understanding the whole of the picture. That doesn’t mean spirited collaborative argument should not happen. It absolutely should. That’s part of the process.
Next Steps: Katherina has much to learn. There are significant communication skills with regards to drawing, etc. that must be developed with diligence if she is to succeed. She must purchase an adequate computer so that she can learn Illustrator and Vector-works. This is a non-negotiable must! She should also explore photoshop. And she needs to take classes in painting, life-drawing, and more. The more skill she has to render ideas, the more successful she will become.
To conclude, this project resulted in a triumph.
Thoughts: This evaluation was deeply encouraging for me as I continued to experiment with my artistic voice.