Our Town, the Opera

About the Design

The operatic Our Town staged in the round on a turntable — a projected moon and weathered brick, suspended Edison bulbs, and the play's signature two-ladders image. A spare field that lets the score and the bodies do the work, with the choir ringing the playing space on white chairs.

From Plan to Stage

The work is documented in sequence — scene-by-scene storyboards pairing each moment with its blocking ground plan, the color renderings, the scenic model and theatre ground plan, and production photography from the Southern Methodist University staging directed by Hank Hammett.

Scene by Scene

Each key moment paired with its blocking ground plan — from the opening funeral procession through Act One.

Scenic concept sketch — the two ladders over the circular platform ringed with chairs — Concept sketch — the two ladders over the turntable, ringed with chairs

Color rendering — full company on the turntable, choir ringed in white chairs — Full company on the thrust — the choir ringed in white chairs

Color rendering — the same set at night, the two ladders centered — The same field at night — the two-ladders image

Bare scenic model — the turntable and brick walls — The bare set — turntable, brick walls and trim

Theatre ground plan — turntable, thrust, linesets and vom entrances — Theatre ground plan — turntable, thrust, lineset schedule and vomitory entrances

Act 3 — the funeral, the company under a row of umbrellas — Act 3 — the funeral procession under umbrellas

Scene 1 — the Choir enters in a funeral procession with the ghost light lit — Scene 1 — funeral procession, ghost light lit

Scene 2 — the choir sits and the Stage Manager turns off the ghost light — Scene 2 — the Stage Manager enters

Scene 3 — the Stage Manager introduces Grover's Corners under hanging bulbs — Scene 3 — introducing Grover's Corners

Scene 4 — Doc Gibbs and Mrs. Soames emerge from the choir — Scene 4 — Doc Gibbs & Mrs. Soames

End of Act 1 — lights fade on the two houses and the turntable begins to rotate — End of Act 1 — the turntable turns

Production photo — the two ladders and moon, the turntable mid-rotation — The two-ladders image as the turntable turns

Production photo — the ladders in rich color light on the turntable — George & Emily aloft on the turntable

Production photo — the company seated in a row under warm string lights — The company gathered under hanging lights

Production photo — the ensemble on the turntable under a field of stars — The ensemble under a field of stars

Act 1 — the Stage Manager in a tight special at the standing microphone — Act 1 — the Stage Manager in a tight special at the mic

Act 1 — two figures at a table between the ladders in side light — Act 1 — the breakfast table between the ladders

Act 1 — the company on ladders beneath the field of hanging bulbs — Act 1 — the field of hanging bulbs comes alive

Act 2 — the wedding, the rose-window gobo thrown on the brick wall — Act 2 — the wedding, the rose-window shadow on the brick

Act 3 — the Stage Manager alone beneath the full field of bulbs — Act 3 — alone beneath the full field of bulbs