I am writing to you as I sit onstage at one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever seen. And I have seen a lot of them. Colombia has restored their 100 to 200 year old theaters with exquisite detail. Everywhere you look there is elegance. Angels coast overhead in the balconies and devils leer from the proscenium. Comedy and tragedy amuse each other on every arch and ornate wood latticework separates each section of the seating. One can imagine that it is hard for what is onstage to measure up to what is surrounding the audience.
I have been lucky to have excellent hosts helping me out in Cali and Cartagena.
Hernando, the lighting designer for Incoballet in Cali was my hero. He stepped in to help with the translation (not only linguistic, but also conceptual) of my work from paper to presentation. During our breaks, he took me around the city and showed me the breathtaking views of the lights of the city at night as well as the curviest streets that, during the day, are the proving ground for young skateboarders. One day he invited Christine and me to come to his house for lunch. There we saw the extraordinary house he and his family had built, complete with banana trees, avocado trees and a grapevine. Parrots called out from the garden and dogs bellowed out from the house. His father, an artist, had covered the walls with elegant drawings and quirky sculptures. I was amazed at how beautiful it felt to be surrounded by art and nature. The sounds of the city were far from this oasis. I was quite sad to depart Cali. It was great seeing the city and ‘geeking out’ with Hernando. It was the first time I talked tech with someone in a while.
Here in Cartagena I have John as my host. He is the lighting designer for Colegio del Cuerpo – College of the Body. Colegio is an incredible place. Its basic mission is to create professional dancers, but its deeper mission is to help underprivileged children find a way out of the historical poverty of their families and neighborhoods by teaching ownership and pride in their bodies. To hear the directors speak about how they break through to the most guarded children who enter their doors is to understand that the work they do is not just about providing an intellectual or physical education, but also about creating an enriching and healing experience for all who enter their doors. Us included.
But I digress. John is busily trying to get my light plot hung whilst explaining my ideas to the crew. He even found extra equipment for me, so I am excited. This was going to be a very ‘bare bones’ production but now it looks like I will be able to create a richer look than originally expected. We'll see tonight!
Off to focus!
-Susan Hamburger, UBW Technical & Lighting Director
Teatro Mejias in Cartagena
I have been lucky to have excellent hosts helping me out in Cali and Cartagena.
Night lights in Cali
Hernando, the lighting designer for Incoballet in Cali was my hero. He stepped in to help with the translation (not only linguistic, but also conceptual) of my work from paper to presentation. During our breaks, he took me around the city and showed me the breathtaking views of the lights of the city at night as well as the curviest streets that, during the day, are the proving ground for young skateboarders. One day he invited Christine and me to come to his house for lunch. There we saw the extraordinary house he and his family had built, complete with banana trees, avocado trees and a grapevine. Parrots called out from the garden and dogs bellowed out from the house. His father, an artist, had covered the walls with elegant drawings and quirky sculptures. I was amazed at how beautiful it felt to be surrounded by art and nature. The sounds of the city were far from this oasis. I was quite sad to depart Cali. It was great seeing the city and ‘geeking out’ with Hernando. It was the first time I talked tech with someone in a while.
Commuting in Cartagena
Here in Cartagena I have John as my host. He is the lighting designer for Colegio del Cuerpo – College of the Body. Colegio is an incredible place. Its basic mission is to create professional dancers, but its deeper mission is to help underprivileged children find a way out of the historical poverty of their families and neighborhoods by teaching ownership and pride in their bodies. To hear the directors speak about how they break through to the most guarded children who enter their doors is to understand that the work they do is not just about providing an intellectual or physical education, but also about creating an enriching and healing experience for all who enter their doors. Us included.
UBW at Colegio del Cuerpo
But I digress. John is busily trying to get my light plot hung whilst explaining my ideas to the crew. He even found extra equipment for me, so I am excited. This was going to be a very ‘bare bones’ production but now it looks like I will be able to create a richer look than originally expected. We'll see tonight!
Off to focus!
Hamburguesa en la noche
-Susan Hamburger, UBW Technical & Lighting Director
No comments:
Post a Comment
We love to hear what you think.