The Understudy

by Theresa Rebeck

Dorset Theater Festival

Carpenter

Process Photos

Portal leg construction

The six standing portal legs and the headers were all constructed out of two 1×4 Hollywood flats and faced with 1/4” MDF to resemble the grid of metal plates.

Rolling bar unit assembly

To mimic rough-sawn lumber, the beams of the bar unit were fabricated with 3/4” plywood and assembled in sections: the pillars and beams on either end; the two cross-pieces connecting them; and each beam of the top piece were all made separately and placed on top of each other for easier assembly.

Portal header detail

Header and leg attachments were made by bolting together plywood plates (pictured here) in the air during install. The main set being comprised of so many components having to fit together so precisely was a key challenge of this tight changeover.

Cast

Harry: Jeffrey Bean
Jake: W. Tré Davis
Roxanne: Elizabeth Heflin

Creative Team

Scenic Design: Christopher & Justin Swader
Costume Design: Fabian Fidel Aguilar
Lighting Design: Mary Ellen Stebbins
Sound Design: an Scot
Composer: Obadiah Eaves
Choreography: Shannon Lewis
Stage Management: Adam Taylor Foster