Duration: 1 HR 2MIN
It is my distinct pleasure to introduce another facet of my showcase for the COVID-canceled production of Little Shop of Horrors, that would have been opening tomorrow April 24th 2020 at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre presented by the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. I have discussed in previous posts that the team on this project was exceptional (at least in my humble opinion). I introduced you to the team in the post Episode 2: Meet the Squad, but I really wanted for others to actually hear from them. So, I’m recording conversations with various members of the creative team and I am posting that audio under the title Squad Pod. On this inaugural episode of Squad Pod I thought it only fitting to start with the puppetry team who was responsible for the design and performance of the many puppets created to make up the character of Audrey 2. I had a really good time chatting with these two incredible artists and I can’t wait to have another project in the future where we can play together again!!!
****IN ADDITION: If you are viewing this post today (April 23rd) before 7PM EST, definitely check out the interview that Will and Rob (puppet designers for our Little Shop) are doing with Martin Robinson who is the puppet artist who designed the original puppets for Little Shop of Horrors. You can find this interview on the Facebook Page for The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry. If you are reading this after April 23rd, then hopefully the link will take you to the video of the interview to enjoy!
Disclaimers, Corrections, and Clarifications
General Disclaimers: This audio is by no means professionally recorded. These are unedited conversations carried out over Zoom in one take; thus there are the various sound quality issues you might anticipate (i.e. faulty internet connections, internal computer microphones etc.). Also, these episodes are conducted as an informal discussion among friends and colleagues, therefore they are comprised mostly of opinion based on recollection and not to be misconstrued as declarative finalities (in other words, we’re just chatting and talking about how we feel about our work. We are by no means trying to come off as the “only right” on any topic we cover).
Clarifications and Corrections: During the chat I identify Ed Weingart as the “technical director.” To be clear, Ed is the Assistant Professor of Technical Direction and departmental Technical Director. Kimberly Kinan is the second year MFA candidate in technical direction who was assigned as the Technical Director to this production of Little Shop of Horrors. Ed is her mentor and he also agreed to take on assisting the puppet designers specifically with fabricating the mechanism structure for the pod portion of the largest version of Audrey 2.4.
This Episode’s KP gaffe/s: I really do know who Howard Ashman is everyone, I swear it’s just the isolation fumes getting to my brain. Also, the random measurements I throw out concerning the Jorgensen are guesses that I am making wildly without checking back at my drafting. This is why I need models and my drafting, girl cannot remember everything off the cuff.
And now for a fun stroll down the progress photos Will would send me while he was working. These always made my day so much better, and I hope they do the same for you now:
Early Model of Audrey 2 Possibility
Puppet 1 Progress
Finished Puppet 1
Puppet 2 in Progress
Puppet 2 Further Progress
Finished Puppet 2
Puppet 3 Progress
Puppet 3 Further Progress
And that’s all I got folks! Tune in to the rest of the showcase for the final model photos that have a mini version of what Puppet 3 roughly might have looked like finished!