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Comfortable
Shoes on Its Feet
 When
Concentrix pairs with Chicago Scenic, it’s always a great
fit. Karen Leahy, Concentrix Entertainment’s General Manager
for Comfortable Shoes, has worked on many projects with
Chicago Scenic and recently contacted us to build scenery for the
original musical. Project Manager Mark Ewing worked with Set Designers
Vicki Baral and Gerry Hariton, Director Mark Dow, and Concentrix
partner Steve Wilson to put Comfortable Shoes on its feet at the
Royal George Theatre, here in Chicago.
Clint Holmes’ Comfortable Shoes is an uplifting autobiographical
story about diversity, personal triumphs, conflict, acceptance and
being comfortable with oneself. Nelson Kole served as co-creator
and composer on the show, and Harrison McEldowney was the choreographer.
CSSI was charged with building the projection-based set, which consisted
of vertical i-beams and flying wall panels. The 30-foot tall aluminum
i-beams were used as linear scenic elements and to hold the tracking
for the wall panels. A simple spatter paint treatment was given
to the beams and flying wall panels by Paint Department Head Kevin
Taylor and his crew to create a united look and a consistent projection
surface.
The wall panels were placed in front of the band and were used to
project images on during the show. To create special bleed-through
effects during projection, two of the panels were covered in solid
muslin and two were covered with transparent scrim. Two other sets
of flying wall panels were placed stage left and right to reveal
motorized scenic wagons.
The set design was minimalistic and often there was little more
than a doorway or countertop onstage to delineate different locations.
Motorized wagons were used to bring scenic elements and the live
band onto the set for particular scenes, and were then swiftly moved
offstage.
Job Leads Dave Duwell and Dan Yuen supervised the construction of
the job in the CSSI shop and the installation process into the theater.
Because the theater was not originally equipped to handle the amount
of flown scenery required, CSSI had to install a complete rigging
and deck winch system to accommodate the show.
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