Design in theatre can take many forms, including costumes, lights, sound, props, and sets, among countless other examples. Setting the Stage: Objects of Chicago Theatre celebrates the myriad ways design is employed in stage productions. Using objects on loan from Chicago theaters, this exhibition emphasizes the diversity, depth, and breadth of theaters in the city and explore how words are translated by designers into a production. See the process behind the final products and learn more about how and why design decisions in theaters are made.
The overarching goal for the exhibition identity was to create a palpable sense of drama while also pulling from the aesthetic approach to the design of the exhibition itself, which was built to look and feel like the backside of a set. We wanted viewers to feel like they were getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the nuts and bolts of theatre productions. For this reason, and because we weren't quite sure what we would be receiving from each theater, we recreated on the walls of our gallery space a modular frame structure akin to what you would find behind a theatre flat or piece of a set. It was into this gridded structure that we set the content for the exhibition. Written information about each theater was then placed in cut vinyl on inset 24x24" plywood panels.
Wordmark
Supplementary graphic employed on theater reply cards
Mailer label for call for entries sent to theaters
Closeup view of modular wall structure and brand elements
View of gallery
Promotional installation in the Chicago Cultural Center, vinyl on foam core