WEIGHTLESS | WP Theatre at CalShakes
Playwright: The Kilbanes
Director: Tamilla Woodard
Production and Costumes Designer: David Israel Reynoso
Set Design: Bethany Wu
Year: 2021
Playwright: The Kilbanes
Director: Tamilla Woodard
Production and Costumes Designer: David Israel Reynoso
Set Design: Bethany Wu
Year: 2021
Weightless is a theatrical concert film that tells the story of sisterhood, love, betrayal, and flight. The production was filmed at the CalShakes' Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda, California under strict COVID19 guidelines.
The creative team worked hard to find balance between the scenic backdrop and the symbolic props without loosing focus on the performers. David Reynoso's designs created physical manifestations of the whimsical music and the intertwined storylines. The designs drew inspiration from free flowing Tibetan prayer flags and water rippling effects, which were implemented in subtle ways and enhanced by unique angles through camera work. |
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The set design was very minimal and focused on two elements - the stage floor pattern and the bunting hung on the truss.
The floor design consisted of multiple concentric circles spreading outwards, eventually connecting into one larger circle. This resembled multiple water droplets falling into a bowl, sending ripples out to interfere with and ultimately blend with one another. Each member of the cast was staged in their own circle and occasionally moved about their ripples to interact with nearby props or other cast throughout the show. The original intent was to create the design in a soft texture with chalk, however, we needed a more permanent solution due to unpredictable weather. With the help of production assistants and David's preliminary floor plan, I drew the outline of each circle with a silver marker and then hand painted them with white paint. |
The bunting started off as the primary set visual element, hanging low and swaying with the wind. However, after the initial site survey of the amphitheater, the team decided to highlight the natural scenery in the background.
To ensure that the reduced bunting would flow, I used a light weight fabric like chiffon so it would easily catch in the wind. They were ripped to various lengths and secured to a 40 foot nylon rope in a seemingly random manner. While two separate ropes were made, only one was used to not overwhelm the views of the hills. With help from the theatre's crew on the truss, the director and I reviewed a few configurations before settling on an asymmetrical design. |
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Although the set design changed throughout the rehearsals, the elements that remained continued to resonate with the messaging of the story and enhanced the existing conditions of the film site.
The production was available to stream online for 3 months as a way to make theatre accessible during the pandemic. Weightless later performed live in New York City in 2022 at WP Theatre, and was nominated for 2023 Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Music & Outstanding Sound Design) and a 2023 Lucille Lortel Award (Outstanding Musical). |