I went to the 2012 Column Awards last night
(regional theatre awards show in Dallas) and my mentor ,Clare DeVries won for Best Scenic Design of an Equity show for Beoing Boeing! I ran up on stage and collected her award, in my kilt.  The legendary Chita Rivera was the co host!  After the show I went behind stage and met her, even gave her a kiss on the cheek. Chita loved the kilt. The picture to the left is what I sent Clare in an email congratulating her.  

I have read this book a few times and I think this is my favorite illustration. The picture below shows how you can keep the same layout but change the style to reflect the period of the show.  For more scenic set design, click the picture below to purchase a copy of the book.

So I have created my own line of greeting card as you may know, launches April 1st, 2012.  So with that I have created accounts here and their to promote the cards via the internet.  One of those promoting sites is Squidoo, I know funny name.  I created a topic on how to make your own simple cards and it made the special, crafty page on Squidoo and might be featured in the offical Squidoo magazine!  Visit the page here.

I will have to say that I do get nervous when a review is written on a show I have designed.  Is the reviewer going to like the show as a whole? Will they like just the set or the costumes? Will they hate it? Will it make the reviewers top ten list at the end of the year? Does it matter?  All these thoughts filter through my head when reading the review. I have so much nervous energy by the time I'm done reading it I have to take a deep breath.

At the end of the day I think it does matter to some degree.  A good review lets you know that the 100 hours you put in on the show is recognized by the reviewer and that makes you proud.  Almost like when you were a kid and would ask your parents if you were being good and they said yes, it made you proud because you worked hard at being good

Now I have heard comments when in the lobby during intermission about a set I have worked on.  The fun part is, the audience member has no idea I'm right over their shoulder and they are talking about me.  Getting candid comments like that really help on what's working with your design or not. 

Now that The Chicken Who Wasn't Chicken has opened, it's time to start thinking about the next children's show and what the set will look like.  The director wants the show to look like a video game from the early 1990's, very pixelated.  Sounds fun.  I have two other shows that brewing, as Clare my mentor puts it, in the background.  The Chicken show has a short run so go and check it our.  I have to say this show is very funny and filled with adult humor spliced with film.

Almost finished painting the set for The Chicken Who Wasn't Chicken, should be finished tonight!  Then I can pick out the paper for my greeting cards and then off to the printer.  Be sure to check out www.cardsbyjoseph.com!

It's neon, it's bright colors, it's permed hair, it's 1987, it's Whitney Houston and she wants to dance with somebody.

So I went to the theatre and took some measurements for the show I am working on.  This will be a quick one.  In one week I worked a style with the director and producer, found a carpenter, drew set elevations with color and will be built and painted by Monday and will be ready to open on Thursday.  That's only eleven days from start to finish!  It been kinda fun, fly by the seat of your pants.

The design will be based on Roy Lichtenstein's work, known for his pop art and simple colors. Below is is a colored elevation for one of the set pieces.  

Today I have to take measurements at the theatre for this new show I am working  on, it opens next Thursday!  I was called as an emergency to come in and help with the design and also paint it.  After that, I will come home and work on about ten designs for my new greeting card line, photo shoot is scheduled for 2/27/2012, may have to change the date.  Then I can get my haircut that is two months late!  Got to go now.

Just came back from Ikea tonight.  I forgot how ridiculously massive this place is.  What other furniture store has has a small grocery store, cafe and sit down restaurant? This place has it all, couches, drapes, pictures, lighting, storage, flooring, and so on and so on.  If you have never been then you need to take an entire day to comb over this place.  I got lost when trying to leave, it was most upsetting.  But to tell you the truth the quality of the furniture is... well... made of press board. The furniture is made with nicer cabinet door but the rest of it is pressed sawdust with a sticker to look like wood.  Then you have to build it yourself, I think you can have them put it together, but who wants to pay for that.  I do like some of the styles and they have wonderful storage solutions.  However, I did leave with a box of cookies and a full tummy of Swedish meatballs and ribs.