The Story – And Differentiate Between Two Worlds
"The play, The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde has been described as both 'achingly beautiful and incredibly violent.' When I lit the show for a production at the University of Texas, I wanted to support both extremes when needed. The design enhanced the beauty of the violence and let us see the ugly cracks in the beauty."
"I used texture and angle in the lighting to differentiate between the two psychological worlds. Jekyll’s world was lit with straight angled front light, downlight, and backlight. Hyde’s world was lit with low and side angles. They both shared two hiside systems of 38 sharply focused patterns in R78465 Abstract Truss, one warm (232 Super White Flame Green to Tungsten) and one cool (728 Steel Green). These patterns look like steel beams, haphazardly thrown about the stage. The sense of other industrial architecture above the world of the play is arresting and sinister. Painting the proscenium surround were 12 more Rosco gobos, six in R77440 Saigon Roofs 1 and six in R77441 Saigon Roofs 2. The etched texture of the gobos echoed the paint treatment of the floor, which was inspired by 19th century etchings of London waterfronts."
Biography: Kate LeahyKate has designed lighting both nationally and internationally for celebrated recording artists Vanessa Williams, Nelly and Jill Scott, among others. Theater credits include Romeo and Juliet at the St. George’s Theater in London and the Al Bustan Festival in Beirut with director Daniel Kramer. Other credits include The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and new works September Play, Fight, and Blue Point at the University of Texas at Austin.
For more information about Kate Leahy visit www.kateleahydesign.com