Radio City Christmas Spectacular Rocks Again
For the fourth year in a row, Chicago Scenic has worked with Radio City Productions on their nationwide productions of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

CSSI provided rolling Christmas packages and painted new backdrops for the Chicago and Detroit shows. The Branson show also received two new scenic backdrops. CSSI provided touch-up and minor repair support to the Chicago show at the Rosemont Theatre.

When the Branson show closes in mid-December this year it will travel to Cincinnati. Several of the items in the show are too difficult to ship, so CSSI constructed replacement pieces. These included two new backdrops that were originally built as dimensional scenic pieces, a new decorative proscenium, a rolling synthetic ice deck, and a 30' wide decorative lighted tinsel piece.

Project Manager Ken Zommer worked with Rick Bloom of Radio City. Joe Stewart of Shaffner Stewart Design is the production designer for the shows.

CSSI Celebrates Christmas in Branson, Missouri
Staying in the holiday spirit this year, CSSI built new scenery for the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre's Christmas 2000 show. The set included a 18' tall, 16' wide Christmas tree decked out with chasing lights, ornaments and mechanical doors that open to reveal the star of the show. CSSI also provided oversized Christmas packages ranging from two to eight feet tall.

Project Manager Ken Zommer worked with Michael Hotopp of Hotopp Associates, the show's designer. CSSI's Joel Gordon traveled to Branson, Missouri to install the show.

Ornate Set Featured in Marriott's The King and I
CSSI built the ornate set and props for Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre's recent production of The King and I. The show's two pagodas were designed to have transparent paper sides, roofs and columns that were hollow cast to allow light to shine up through the entire structure. CSSI also built two flying arches that were adorned with gold and jewels. The elaborately painted floor incorporated three computer-controlled hydraulic lift platforms.

Project Manager Mark Ewing worked with Marriott's Dyanne Earley and Tom Ryan, the show's designer, to complete the project on time and on budget.

Click here to read more about Chicago's ongoing work with the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

Chicago Scenic Still Building for Off-Loop Theatre
Chicago Scenic continues to stay involved in Chicago's Off-Loop theatre by building traditional theatrical scenery as it did recently for Brothil and Frothingham's production of How the Other Half Loves. Some of many features of the set include decorative paneled walls and architectural detail that were cut out by the CNC machine.

Project Manager John Beckman worked with Brothil and Frothingham's Brian Posen and the show's designers, Rick and Jackie Penrod, to develop the budget and construction schedule, while Tim Steimle led the job through the shop using CSSI's CNC machine to create the set's various elements. Tim also led the onsite crew to install the show. CSSI also built the set for Brothil and Frothingham's production of Noises Off last year. How the Other Half Loves, a Jeff-recommended show, is now playing at Chicago's Theatre Building.

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