Blane supports Oklahoma! storyline with Chauvet
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Lighting designer Zach Blane did justice to this “Book Musical” tradition in a recently concluded, Igor Goldin directed, revival of Oklahoma! at the John W. Engeman Theatre. Drawing on a collection of Ovation, COLORdash and Rogue fixtures from Chauvet Professional, Blane conveyed key dramatic elements of the play in light, particularly during pivotal scenes, such as the famous 15 minute Dream Ballet at the conclusion of Act One.
“My main mission is always to support the script and convey the clearest story possible,” said Blane. “I tell people that I am not a Lighting Designer, but a Dramaturgical Storyteller that deals in the medium of light.”
In the case of Oklahoma!, Blane contributed to the play’s narrative by conveying large vast open sky and directional hot sunlight as well as beautiful romantic moonlight, since much of the play’s original narrative transpires outdoors. However, in this production, the entire show is set in a barn-like structure.
“D.T. Willis did a masterful job designing the unit set, leaving jewels of interest for the audience to pick out throughout the evening, but it did create wonderful challenges,” said Blane. “The lighting design always had to take into account whether we wanted the scenery structure to feel interior or exterior, architectural or organic. The only way to convey this differentiation subconsciously to the audience is through lighting.”
Blane credits the realistic colour rendering and flat even light field provided by the Ovation E-910FC fixtures in his rig with helping him create these subtle mood changes. He used ten of the RGBA-Lime ellipsoidals with 36° lenses, positioning them on 12’ booms with soft gobos, five stage left and five stage right.
“The Ovations were a direct replacement for standard incandescent ellipsoidals with scrollers,” he said. “I used them as “colour option” head-high lights and to help create lanes of light. I wanted the audience to acutely be aware of where the sun/moon was at all times. This entire show is on the tint colour spectrum, so the Ovation’s ‘pale scale’ capabilities came in very handy.”
Adding to the range of colours on stage were the 18 COLORdash Par-Quad 18 RGBA fixtures that Blane placed on the overhead electrics. In addition to serving as top/back lights, these fixtures were used to create extra visual impact and colorized the show floor.
Blane’s rig also included incandescent ellipsoidals and pars as well as cyc lights, RGBA LED tape and 12 Rogue R2 Washes, two of which were positioned on FOH truss, two on booms at +10’-0” located stage left and right, and six overstage in a triangle staggered formation for good air.
“Oklahoma! is an old world show, so the ‘incandescent look’ made it feel right,” Blane said. “The LED fixtures easily allowed me to hide the technology, while still enjoying its benefits. I was impressed with how the Chauvet fixtures were able to fold right into the rest of the rig and not stick out as “technology”. I am using them again in a few months at the Engeman for productions of Grease and Gypsy. So, in the span of six months, we’ll have three very different musicals that have very different requirements, but the versatile fixtures will help me support the varied genres and tell each story appropriately in light.”
(Jim Evans)
