

Oppenheimer
Springfield Contemporary Theatre
February 2020
Creative
Team
Direction -
Movement Coordination -
Stage Management -
Scenic Design -
Lighting & Costume Design -
Sound & Projection Design -
Robert Bradley
Ruth Barnes
Rick Dines
Rick Dines
Lou Schaeffer
Levi Manners
Project Overview
This was truly a project of epic proportions! Performed in one of the most intimate venues I've ever worked in, this beast of a show also involved video design for me!
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By now, most people know about Oppenheimer, and if you've seen Christopher Nolan's film the subject matter will be incredibly familiar to you, although the two stories are told in very different fashions.
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As the story plays out, there are several interludes called "lecture series" that attempt to explain the science of the show to the audience. They not only give the audience a break from the intense text of the script, but also give the audience the context of the science (and sometimes political situation). In real time, the audience can learn information with the scientists.
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And at its heart, that is what this play is - a historical lecture. The sound and video design reflect that. The backdrops are real photos of the Manhattan project - both actual setting and more theatrical in nature depending on the scene - and all video changes are accentuated with the click of a slide projector.
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While it may seem repetitive, this constant repetition was meant to reflect the cold indifference the scientists present throughout the piece, especially as the "lecture series" begin focusing less on the science and more on the ramifications of their invention.
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Below, see some example images and how they were used in the play, along with some examples of these transitions!







The Room Shaker
Of course, this piece wouldn't have been complete without an atomic detonation sequence! Even though the room was only about 75 seats, I knew we would need something ridiculously powerful. So, meet "Lauren!"
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Tuned to be resonate at about 17Hz, she ensured the bomb and its shockwaves were felt in every seat, even long after the bomb was dropped...