Here are some examples Scenic and Lighting designs I did at Culver Academies
Almost, Maine
2014 Culver Academies
Directed by Richard and Marsha Coven
Scenic and Lighting Design by Neil Koivu
This show is really fun for High Schoolers. The fact that its a collection of different scenes in tons of different locations, and performed in a thrust formation meant that I just did quick outlines of the scene with scenic elements. The bar scene was really fun because I just created an outline of a set with hanging pieces that seemed to just float. The Front Porch set piece was designed to be double sided for variety between the two different houses I needed to portray. Finally I needed to create the northern lights, which I was able to do with a few old game Film/FX loops onto a black scrim with a lit cyc behind that for multiple layers and movement.
The Moose Paddy Bar for "Sad and Glad"
"A Story of Hope" in front of one front porch
"Where it Went" on the ice pond after the shoe fell
The Northern Lights during "Her Heart" in front of the other front porch set
"They Fell" out in the woods
"Getting it back" inside a living room
Godspell
2009 Culver Academies
Directed by Richard Coven
Scenic and Lighting Design by Neil Koivu
Costumes Design by Marsha Coven
For this production we went with kind of a junk yard theme using scaffolding at multiple heights and brick walls to create a unique place where anything can happen. I was really happy with the idea of doing a shadow puppet play for the tale of the good Samaritan using a back light on a bed sheet. For the crucifixion we used some flying in fence pieces. Some used to keep the desciples seperate from Jesus, and one that Jesus was “tied” to and raised up about 3’ with a stobe light and fog underneath.
The Jungle Book Jr
2008 Culver Academies
Directed by Joshua Napierkowski
Scenic and Lighting Design by Neil Koivu
Costumes Design by Marsha Coven
For this show I was asked to design completely repaint over an old backdrop to create a lush jungle scene with some help from a couple of campers and Counselors. I created a photoshop rendering of what I wanted and it took us about 3 weeks to paint. Because I wanted more height that the backdrop was able to get I mad a large platform section so the backdrop could float 2’ off the ground. I made the largest portion of the platforms a cave entrance out of foam, and covered the rest with erosion cloth and greenery . It was a great process and a fun set to put together.
Barefoot In The Park
2008 Culver Academies
Directed by Richard Coven
Scenic and Lighting Design by Neil Koivu
Costumes Design by Marsha Coven
This was the first realized set that I ever designed. there are jokes about how many stairs it takes to get up to the apt, but instead of building the whole stage up from the entrance we decided to make a landing that you had to come back down into the apartment. The other key piece to the play is the sky light for snow to fall in, and for Paul to be up behind at the end. we used a scaffolding piece behind the window and made that look like a fire escape. I created some rough building outlines to use as a backdrop behind the window with Christmas light windows.
