Technical Design Solutions for Theatre

A Simple Approach to ComplicatedTheatrical Sculpture

Chris Van Alstyne

Faced with the challenge of creating a 14′-tall, commendatory statue for Mozart’s Don Giouanni at Brooklyn College and lacking any formal training in sculpture, I needed a plan. I chose an approach I had used in the past — a plywood armature covered with carved, white bead foam — to achieve the high level of detail and lifelike quality Set Designer John Scheffler required.

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FIGURE 2

My introduction to the project was a sketched front elevation of an existing sculpture. ...