Here is a photo from the original production of Guys &
Dolls.
We wanted to make a similar drop without copying the exact style.
This was all painted by students. Really.
We decided that the sewer scene was to be the showstopper. The Blair audience had come to expect impressive sets and scenic painting so we started this scene first. The crew abducted a couple of artists and chained them to the set until they produced what you see here. It is not a rental. There are three dimensional pieces on stage left and stage right, the drop is 20 feet tall and 50 feet long (1000 square feet of scenic painting).
At the conclusion of the Gambler Dance the applause lasted
thirty seconds. A showstopper indeed.
Look below to see how we did it.
Sketch 1 shows the main idea.
Mr. Kaluta's brother took the sketch on the left and Dolled it up for us.
Here the Stage Crew transfers the image via overhead projector. It's called "cartooning." We spread the drop out and about 10 days later had largely finished. Details were added until the very last day.
Coming soon... video clips from the show.