Taking the Scenic Route at Asolo Rep

We were treated to an excerpt from "Primary Trust."

While going behind the scenes at a theater might take the magic away for some people, I always enjoy a backstage tour. Having a better understanding of the process makes me appreciate a theater's productions all the more. So I was all in for a tour of Asolo Rep's Koski Production Center. I was curious to see what changes had taken place since I last toured the facility in 2019. (Click here to read about that tour, which featured the set for "Noises Off.") 

We began in the Coville Rehearsal Hall, an addition to the campus that opened in 2022. I've been there before for readings, but I never appreciated how special it is. The space replicates the size of Asolo Rep's mainstage, allowing the actors to get a sense of the dimensions in which they'll be working. Helpful, but here's the kicker. Thanks to this foresight in planning, the rehearsal hall can accommodate the set for any show. As a result, the actors work from Day 1 in the world in which they will perform. There's no "imagine there's a door there" or "now you'll be taking two steps down." This enables the cast to move seamlessly from the rehearsal hall to the stage for the final week of rehearsals instead of learning a new environment as they tweak their performances. Smart, efficient and unique in the industry.

John Anderson talks costume storage

Now that we've covered the rehearsal process, what about everything else that goes into a production? The actors of course have to be dressed for their roles, and the theatre has a huge storage area for costumes from past shows. The racks of dresses and pants and hats and shoes and more seem to go on forever. How, you might wonder, do they know where anything is? 

Thanks to COVID relief and a generous gift, Asolo Rep had the funds to hire people to photograph and barcode every single item in their costume collection. What an overwhelming -- but crucial -- undertaking. 

The information was compiled into a digital catalogue that can be sliced and diced by production, period, style and even costume. The info isn't only useful for upcoming productions at the theatre. Asolo Rep has a robust business renting out its costumes, backdrops and sets. The revolving train set for "Murder on the Orient Express" is one of its most popular rentals. I remember it well. Click here to see a promo for the show that showcases the set. But I digress. 

Flag from "Hair" 

Each production has a costume designer who determines what can be used from this inventory, what can be rented and what needs to be "built." To ensure the costumes created in-house can be used in the future -- be it for another Asolo Rep show or rental -- they are purposefully designed to be altered. Smart, but a costume that's used in multiple shows eventually shows some wear and tear. This deterioration is exacerbated by the Actors' Equity mandate that any costume piece that touches an actor's skin has to be laundered after each performance. So what's done with the costumes when they've served their useful lives? In some instances, they're used to make scenery. Creativity comes in many forms.   

The flag seen in "Hair" is one example of this repurposing. This version of the Stars and Stripes was cobbled together from a curtain donation and costumes from the collection, including some old blue jeans. The frayed flag was a perfect image for the United States in the 1960s (when the musical was set) given our involvement in the Viet Nam War and the resulting discord and divisiveness among the populace. I'm refraining from further comment.

I'll leave you with this picture of one of the scenographic models -- dioramas in layman terms -- that greets visitors to the Koski Production Center. It was created during the scenic design process for "Anna and the Tropics." Having an actual set -- albeit a miniature one -- is useful for both the director and the lighting designer as they begin their work on a show. I'm glad the dioramas aren't disposed of once the show is over. They're a slice of theater history. 

And FYI, I didn't choose to include the diorama from "Anna and the Tropics" randomly. As you may recall, the play is set in a cigar factory in Ybor City, the "Cigar Capital of the World." My next blog will share some highlights from my recent visit to the J.C. Newman Cigar Company in Ybor. So stay tuned for that. 

Thanks to Asolo Rep for a fun and informative look behind the scenes at mounting a show. For information on what's on and upcoming at the theater, click here. Perhaps I'll see you there.