Kathy

Metamorphosis, produced by Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Director: Michael Roberson; Lighting Design: Kathy A. Stewart; Set Design: Wesley Meirick; Costume Design: Barb Portinga; Composer/Sound Design: James Oestereich. Photo credit: Kathy A. Stewart.
"METAMORPHOSIS" is the story of Gregor Samsa, a salesman, who awakens one morning in his family's apartment transformed into a gigantic insect. The director’s interpretation of the play was based in the Dada movement -- using abstract compositions as expressive patterns in nature thereby allowing the audience to interpret the work as they chose. In order to support this style, the lighting design needed to reveal and conceal the nightmarish world that Gregor finds closing in around him. Multiple gobos were used to give a raw and gritty industrial feel to the space in support of the set designer’s idea of the sense of mystery now found in Gregor’s environment. As the metamorphosis of Gregor into the insect continued so did the lighting transform around him with the addition of layers of gobos and a change in overall color from warm to cool. Since the scenery/costume color palette was black, white, and gray, it became important for the lighting design to remain in the tints rather than saturated colors to keep the monochromatic look and feel to the space. The placement of light fixtures was also important and, by mounting units on the floor, shadows were created to enhance the overpowering sense that the world was changing for Gregor and he could not alter it or stop it.
Colors used: R51, R60, R54, R362, R08 Gobos used: R77897, R77228, R77223, R77792