THE GHOSTLY AND THE GHASTLY: A PASSEL OF WV FOLKTALES

Fairmont State University

The concept was to mimic realistic sounds created by Victorian era technology. The sound effects themselves were created and recorded using different Foley techniques, which were then modified to suit the production's needs. 

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

Fairmont State University

The concept was to mimic realistic sounds created by Victorian era technology. The sound effects themselves were created and recorded using different Foley techniques, which were then modified to suit the production's needs. 

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Fairmont State University

The concept was to shift from realistic sounds, to live, and to synthetic sounds. Effects were created using Foley techniques and DAW software. The arrow effect was created with the idea of time slowing down while Fester manipulated the arrow the ancestors were passing along (see photo). The effect was achieved by warping and suspending certain recorded elements and blending them with synthetic instruments.

THE ARKANSAW BEAR

Fairmont State University

The Arkansaw Bear deals with coping with the death of a loved one through the eyes of a child. The concept was to keep sounds unrealistic to differentiate between the real world and the fantasy world. Effects were created with young audience members in mind to keep the atmosphere light during the exploration of the fear and confusion of death.

EURYDICE

Stagedoor Manor - Carousel Theater

At the heart of Sarah Ruhl's hauntingly beautiful Eurydice is an ancient story of the power, and limits, of love and death, explored with whimsical humor and poetic intensity. The production was set in an abandoned, deteriorated swimming pool. The alley configuration painted as if it's the grungy white/light blue of a drained pool, and "tile" walls chipping and falling apart all doubling as a visual metaphor for the imagery/themes prevalent in Ruhl's work. A big part of this design was the reoccurring ping. The final product involves metallic rhythms underscored by a insistent, forceful ping. The ping can be heard again within the vertigo sequence.

JEKYLL & HYDE

Stagedoor Manor - Elsie Theater

At the heart of Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse’s riveting gothic thriller, Jekyll & Hyde, is the epic struggle between good and evil. The most impactful visual symbol possible to focus this struggle for a large part of humanity is the house of God. This was set in an abandoned Victorian era church where the world of the play is deteriorated doubling as a metaphor for our main character’s crumbling sanity as the action of the play progresses.