A few weeks ago, we shared production photos for Idle Muse Theatre Company’s production of The School for Scandal. Since that time, the show has opened to stellar reviews and a Jeff Recommendation. In addition, the show’s sound designer, L. J. Luthringer, brought home the company’s first Jeff Award for his sound design in The Tempest. It’s been an eventful few weeks for Idle Muse.
Distant Era also returned to The School for Scandal to create archival photography for the show. Whereas our production photography sessions are done quickly during tech week to create promotional images for the press on time for opening, our archival sessions are focused on the design elements of the show, as well as important moments we weren’t able to capture during tech week. Here, we want to create images that show the work of the costumers, the makeup artists, the scenic painters, and lighting designers. We try to ensure that every actor who wants a record of their role in the performance has one to take with them.
Costume and Makeup Design
The character portraits we made for The School for Scandal showcase the work of costume designer Vicki Jablonski and makeup designer Jacque Bischoff (and the actors in that makeup and costume). I chose a brown background that gives me a lot of trouble but which, to me, felt like it evoked the era. My hope is that these portraits will not only serve as memories of the characters in the show but represent the fine, detailed work inherent in Vicki Jablonski’s and Katie Fletcher’s sumptuous costumes and the bright, bold artistry of Jacque Bischoff’s makeup.
Scenic Painting and Lighting Design
While we made the character portraits, we photographed scenes from The School for Scandal that we hadn’t captured during our tech week shoot. In these photos, we tended to emphasize the set, props, and lights in use within The School for Scandal. The examples below show some of lighting genius Laura Wiley’s work on the gorgeously painted set by scenic designer Breezy Snyder.
We also made sure to capture Breezy Snyder’s painted set from end to end beneath Laura Wiley’s main lighting cues used in this show.
As always, it was a great pleasure to make this work with Idle Muse Theatre Company. Special thanks to music director/health and safety officer/managing director Kati Lechner for organizing it all!
Cast and Creative
CAST: Elise Soeder (Lady Sneerwell), Boomer Lusink (Morgan/Snake), Eric Duhon (Joseph Surface), Cat Evans (Maria), Mara Kovacevic (Mrs. Candour), Cameron Austin Brown (Sir Benjamin Backbite/Sir Harry Bumper), Elizabeth MacDougald (Mrs. Crabtree), Erik Schnitger (Sir Peter), Andrew Bosworth (Rowley), Caty Gordon (Lady Teazle), Ross Compton (Sir Oliver), Brian Healy (Charles Surface) and Brooks Whitlock (Careless/Servants); with understudies Makenna Van Raalte (U/S Lady Teazle and Maria), Jennifer L. Mickelson (U/S Mrs. Candour and Mrs. Crabtree), Rick Smith (U/S Sir Oliver), Jacque Bischoff (U/S Lady Sneerwell), Emily Pfriem (U/S Careless and Servants) and Sam Neel (U/S Morgan and Snake).
CREATIVE: Evan Jackson (director and Idle Muse artistic director), Libby Beyreis (assistant director), Lindsey Chidester (stage manager), Beth Bruins (assistant stage manager), Kati Lechner (music director, health and safety officer), Jennifer Mohr (style coach), Mario Mazzetti (dialect coach), Erin Alys (intimacy director), Emma Rund (dramaturg), Jeremiah Barr (technical director), Laura Wiley (lighting & projection designer), L.J. Luthringer (sound designer and composer), Tristan Brandon (property designer, health and safety officer), Victoria Jablonski (costume designer), Katie Fletcher (assistant costume designer), Jacque Bischoff (makeup designer), Breezy Snyder (scenic painter) and Michael Dalberg (literary director).
