How I Learned to Drive

My second production at Southern Connecticut State University was Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive. I worked closely with Douglas Maccur as a lighting board operator and assistant electrician. I assisted Douglas with the programming, general design, and rigging of the lighting. Due to the minimal set, the lighting had to be done in such a way to evoke subtle mood shift without being too overpowering. This is the first production in which I learned the design principal, “modelling”. By presenting specific angles of light, the designer could frame the actor in such a way to hint towards a piece of subtext. In this specific piece, the actor playing Uncle Peck was hit with the same front/down lighting throughout the majority of the piece. However, just before his ill intentions were show towards Lil’ Bit, the lighting changed to a darker/ side lit style, giving of the impression there is something wrong/ immoral about his intentions. Although this was a difficult skill to learn and understand, the lessons learnt during the run of this production proved to be invaluable in future productions. Director- Kia Monroe Lighting Designer- Douglas Maccur Sound Designer- JT McLoughlin