Often in the course of our work in the technical part of theatre we are put in a position of needing something to be done and having to negotiate with other powers…General Managers, Production Managers, Heads of various departments, Carpenters, Electricians, Prop Men. I have found that when one is asking for something a little different from what is normally done often the first answer is “that’s impossible”. I have developed a response:
“Is that because of Physics or Bureaucracy?”
Example:
I have asked to move a drape to a pipe 3’ upstage of where it is now. I’m told “it’s impossible”.
My question is Why? Is it because there is a physical obstruction where that pipe is that would prevent the drape from, let’s say, flying out?? Or is it because someone upstairs in the office decided that the physical arrangements of the hang should not be changed for a visiting dance company?
Beverly Emmons (Lighting Designer) has designed for Broadway, Off-B’way and Regional Theater, Dance and Opera both in the USA and abroad. Her Broadway credits include Annie Get Your Gun, Jekyll & Hyde, The Heiress, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, High Rollers, Stepping Out, The Elephant Man, A Day in Hollywood A Night in the Ukraine, The Dresser, Piaf and Doonesbury. Her lighting of Amadeus won a Tony award., Off B’way she lit Vagina Monologues and has designed many productions with Joseph Chaikin and Meredith Monk. For Robert Wilson, she has designed lighting for productions spanning 13 years; most notably in America, Einstein on the Beach and the Civil Wars Pt V. Ms Emmons’ designs for dance have included works for Lucinda Child, Trisha Brown, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. She has been awarded seven Tony nominations, the 1976 Lumen award, 1984 and 1986 Bessies, and a 1980 Obie for Distinguished Lighting, and several Maharam/American Theater Wing Design Awards. Additionally, she has created and curated TheLightingArchive.org and LightingDB.nypl.org; two websites that make historical lighting documents accessible to students and scholars on the Internet.