1776 — Amy Poe

1776 — Scenic Design, the in-the-round set at Arena Stage

About the Design

A staging in the round at Arena Stage, organizing the Continental Congress around a shared central playing space with the audience on all sides — keeping the debate close and the chamber democratic. A wood-slat surround wraps the room; the period desks, Windsor chairs, and the illuminated YEA/NAY tally board anchor the vote at the heart of the piece.

Process & Production

Production photographs of the realized set paired with the working ground plan — from the bare stepped platform in load-in to the dressed, lit chamber in performance.

1776 — color rendering of the in-the-round chamber, the company in period costume — Color rendering — the chamber in the round, company in period dress

Dimensioned ground plan — platform layout and seating — Dimensioned ground plan — the diamond platform, desks, band, and arena seating

1776 — wide view of the in-the-round set with audience — The chamber in the round — audience on all sides, band onstage

1776 — the dressed and lit set with the tally board — The dressed set — desks, Windsor chairs, and the illuminated YEA/NAY tally board

1776 — the bare stepped platform during load-in — In load-in — the stepped platform and tally board before dressing