FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS
By
Alan Ball
Directed by
Kathleen Juhl
Photos courtesy of Carlos Barron
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress was my first production as sound designer and it was quite the trial by fire. I had already completed my audio tech and design course so I was confident in my abilities, but it was still a steep learning curve. With the exception of already existing music, I had to build every sound cue from scratch. I had to coordinate schedules and deadlines to make sure the director and actors had the sound cues they needed for rehearsal. I had to write up a cue sheet, speaker plot, and signal pathway. I had to research the time period, popular music, and maintain continuity. It was the first time I really felt like a collaborator. After all the work, it was very gratifying to hear everything together and see how audiences reacted to it.
The following is a collection of documents and sound clips that demonstrate my process.
Designer Presentation
The designer presentation serves as a comprehensive road map that will inform the designer's choices throughout the run of the show. It also helps the director, actors, and other designers conceptualize the finished production and facilitates communication and collaboration.
Some initial background research to lay the groundwork. I wanted to make sure I fully understood the purpose of a wedding reception and common itinerary. It helped me narrow down ideas for ambiance and gave me a simple series of events to work with.
This was more of an exercise to put together pre-show, intermission, and post-show playlists. I selected music that fit each of the character's personalities. I looked at their character traits, their relationships, and their views about the world. I wanted the playlists to not only set the audience's mind in the 80's, but also to represent what the audience was about to see.
The designer presentation serves as a comprehensive road map that will inform the designer's choices throughout the run of the show. It also helps the director, actors, and other designers conceptualize the finished production and facilitates communication and collaboration.
Samples
Playlists and Samples
Signal Pathway
Sound Plot
