Hi Katie.
I produced Metamorphosis with teens in my summer program in NYC. It was a big success with both the students and the audience. The director and I both felt that the pool and the water imagery was an integral part of the story. While it required some extra safety issues, it was worth it.
I bought an INTEX above ground pool online. I wanted a rectangle, but round were cheaper and more available at the time. If I remember it was 12 or 16 foot diameter and 4 foot deep.
The pool was an exciting part of the experience for the actors, so I asked the director to block so that every actor had some contact with the water. Not necessarily in the pool, but at minimum, some contact.
We used a blow up smaller pool for rehearsals and only added the actual pool and water in production week. Since bare feet were required to be in the pool, actors were required to have rubber sandals/flip flops to move about backstage and towels. We had access to a clothes dryer, so wet costumes weren't a problem between performances. It did require that some actors had a dry costume for subsequent scenes, but only the bottom since no one was ever fully submersed. We really rehearsed entrances, exits, and backstage traffic to the point of almost being choreographed to be sure everything was safe and no running or risk of slipping on a wet surface. The platforms were carpeted to prevent being slippery.
Since our performances were one weekend, we didn't have to drain the pool between shows. There's a drain plug that we ran a garden hose to the school janitor closet sink. We used chlorine in the water, but with the short production schedule, we didn't feel it necessary to use the filter pump that came with the pool. One hitch was we sprung a pin hole leak overnight before we opened. Since the pool has a vinyl bottom, the smallest little piece of debris poked through. In hindsight, we should have placed some sort of liner under the pool. We also had to use a two step plastic unit for in the rear of the pool for easy and graceful entrance and exit. No one ever entered over the sides because we felt it could be risky. We did have to pad and weight the step unit to anchor and prevent damaging the pool floor.
Time and budget kept us from putting a facing on the outside of the pool, but that would not be a difficult design element. We just had the greek cornice. I thought I would not like the pool interior, but it actually worked and looked great under colored lighting effects and gobos. Also would have opted for a larger video screen if we could have afforded it.
In another production element, we used a lot of projection - still and video - which you will notice in the photos. We also created a short "film" for the Hades section. The whole cast was in it and added an "acting on camera" element, which was also great fun for the students. It would be a way to expand participation to the audio visual department/class.
The director picked any music or underscoring. We didn't use the iTunes or a pre-existing score.
Hope this is helpful. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Robert Laconi
Robert.Laconi@gmail.com
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Robert Laconi
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2021 09:42
From: Katie Alley
Subject: Zimmermann's Metamorphoses
Good morning,
I have decided to direct Mary Zimmermann's Metamorphoses for my spring high school production. I just put in a request for rights. I have a class of 25 actors and will have to put the audience on the stage so that they can be above the pool. I will construct a thrust stage.
I directed The Odyssey in 2019, so I have a pretty good sense of how to approach the text. However, I would love to see any of your set and pool plans, archival photos or videos, and other tips & tricks.
Things that give me anxiety: building a pool, dealing with wet costumes, emptying the pool post-show, ensuring actors don't slip on the pool decking.
Did any of you use original composition? If not, what was your source of music? I know there is an album on iTunes, but was curious about other options as well.
Thank you in advance!
Katie Alley
katie.alley@knoxschools.org
beardentheatre.com
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Katie Alley
Theatre Teacher
TN
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