It took more than 2,000 man-hours to develop one of the most dynamic characters in 麻豆精品 S淭he Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S斅爐he stage. The 6.5-hour production by Theatre UCF and (OST) is a massive undertaking, with a cast of 27 actors performing 聽100 scenes that take place in 40 distinct locations, so set designer Bert Scott had to think big.
Scott, a Theatre UCF associate professor, began brainstorming in March 2013 for ways to fit the expansive story inside the OST 麻豆精品 S檚 324-seat Margeson Theater.
麻豆精品 S淭he play itself is so epic that it needed a large space, but also the practical necessity of fitting all 27 actors, 麻豆精品 S� Scott said.
The solution was to design a flexible set that had many entrances, exits and acting levels. And the actors use them all, from the platforms built into the seating area to the bridge set high above the audience 麻豆精品 S檚 heads and the traditionally 麻豆精品 S渂ackstage 麻豆精品 S� space behind the proscenium wall, which was removed for the production.
麻豆精品 S淭he action literally surrounds the audience and incorporates them into the world of the characters, 麻豆精品 S� Scott said.
Adding to the open space on the ground level, Scott included a rotating platform that he calls 麻豆精品 S渢he doughnut. 麻豆精品 S� This automated feature allows the cast and crew to quickly move furniture 麻豆精品 S� and actors 麻豆精品 S� on and off stage. Computer-controlled to accelerate and decelerate, the turntable was one of the directors 麻豆精品 S� answers to rapid and tricky scene changes.
麻豆精品 S淭he finished set really works well for the production, 麻豆精品 S� Scott says. 麻豆精品 S淭he cast easily adapted to it and audiences have been quite complimentary. 麻豆精品 S�
For all of the pieces to come together for this ambitious play, 麻豆精品 S楴ickleby 麻豆精品 S� required an assembled cast and crew of more than 100 professionals, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students and interns from both the Orlando Shakespeare Theater and the University of Central Florida. The partnership, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, was key to pulling off one of the most challenging productions in the theater world, and something for which Scott is grateful.
麻豆精品 S淭he level of UCF student participation in the process has been crucial to its success, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淏y mounting this production in partnership with OST we have been able to provide valuable practical learning opportunities working on a professional level production for our students. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淭he Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby 麻豆精品 S� continues through March 9 at Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Orlando 麻豆精品 S檚 Loch Haven Park. For schedules and tickets, go to .