The original pronunciation of Shakespeare fascinates me. To me it sounds closer to Scottish and American than it does to modern English, but you tell me;

Bionic-ish

My director wanted the queen to have a metal arm...

... I think I am fairly pleased so far.

Girl in a Box

We are all of three days into rehearsals with Cymbeline and we just did our publicity photo shoot... Looking at the image I realized that although I don't think I've ever put a leading lady in cream before, this is the second show in a row that I am doing it for. See below; Eurydice in a suitcase wearing a champagne colored cocktail style wedding gown and here... Innogen wearing a pale gold silk ensemble in a trunk. I suppose these themes are to be expected when you design one show on top of another...

On a side note, I've started a website/online portfolio check it out at http://www.alexaedesigns.com

Ok... now back to work!

psst. Your ignorance is showing...

My dear reader. If you are unfamiliar with Othello, I can forgive you. It is a Shakespeare play and also a Verdi opera. I don't expect everyone to be familiar with Shakespeare.   But Please Please if you ever think you want to name something after a character in a play, all I ask is that you read that play. 

Somebody in this marketing department did just enough Googling to figure out that there is a bed in the play Othello... but what they maybe missed was the itty bitty little fact that Othello smothers his innocent wife in it. 
It is the climax of the whole damn show.
Maybe this company really wants you to think of them when you think about smothering your loved ones in their sleep.

"Honey, aren't you glad I got these quality sheets with the king size pillows?  Just breathe in that thread count!"

It makes me wonder what other good marketing can be created from Shakespeare plays?  FTD can make an Ophelia bouquet.  Oneida needs to make a MacBeth banquet set.  How about a King Lear suite at the resting home?  Oh so many good ideas...

Comedy Promo (SF Shakes)

Here's the fantastic promo video SF Shakes made for Comedy of Errors... I love it because it's practically a video portfolio for me!

Plaid

For my latest show I needed a suit that was made in the largest plaid possible... for about $30.
I found a suit at Thrift Town for about $20 and decided to paint the plaid!
Here's the prep... There is a procedure to it all involving placement and replacement of tape...

I did need a hat to match...

Ta Da! Plaid!


Check it out if you're in the bay area; San Francisco Shakespeare Festival!

Curtian Call/Costume Parade

Well, the theater posted this online and I think it's a pretty good costume parade...

Comedy of Errors photos

Right now I'm so tired and yet awake... not awake enough to make sense, but awake enough to post a few photos... I did bring the film camera this time. Bought a new battery for it and let's hope that's enough. If nothing else, the producer took some good shots to share with me and these at least give you the idea of what the show looks like. I'm actually pretty happy with it.

Comedy of Errors Research

I thought I would show off some of the inspiration for my next show, The Comedy of Errors.  

I am drawing a lot of inspiration from the Tokyo counter culture scene (the Harijuku style).  Bright loud colors, odd proportions... fun.

I hope to figure out how to put some crazy dreads on stage, and crinolines...
The Courtesan is going to be very Rockabilly/Bettie Paige... sexy!

That's it for now... updates to come (most likey on Postcards)
Ta for now!

Troilus and Cressida Research

For the Curious I decided to post some of the research I did for Troilus and Cressida.

Here you see the Trojan army; based on Iraqi/Middle Eastern military.  In the end I changed the Trojans into a blue uniform that would have been truly useless in the desert, but prooved useful to tell soldiers apart on stage. What carried over was the cut of the uniform and the way they are so well tucked together. Priam (The King) had one scene that wound up being cut...

The greeks were inspired by the US Army, and a little by Apocalypse Now and Mad Max

These were images for Thersites; the narrator/ magpie/ camp follower... part Greek, part Trojan, mostly just looking to survive.
The Greek Generals;
Cassandra (the woman who foresaw the destruction of her family and city) was put in a straight jacket... and Cressida (a pretty war trophy) was intended to be modern day Mid-Eastern beauty.
For production photos click here.

Shakespearian Insult Time!

Why art thou then exasperate, thou idle immaterial skien of sleave-silk, thou green scarcenet flap for a sore eye, thou tassel of a prodigal's purse thou? Ah how the poor world is pestered with such waterflies, diminutives of nature!
--Thersites, Troilis and Cressida