As Seen In...

The Addams Family

Three key scenic pieces designed by Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott, co-directors and co-designers of The Addams Family, were created by Chicago Scenic (CSSI) and graced the stage during the show’s run at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre, before the show moved to Broadway. Each scenic piece was 44′ long and arranged in subsequent heights; the tree line, representing New York City’s Central Park, was just 9″ high. Behind that were two layers of buildings, each 7′6″ tall, creating a New York city scape.

The building facades were comprised of 24 individual pieces; each piece contained graphics of several building pulsar Chroma-Strips (which were ordered from Bormann Marketing, Hopkins, MN) that were built into troughs and lit up the front of the buildings; behind the building facades, grain of wheat lamps illuminated nearly 2,000 windows.

The lights are run on multiple circuits and help set the time of day and the mood as they switch on and off throughout the performance. Grain of wheat lamps are available in a variety of colors off-the-shelf at many electronics vendors. Besides being more economical than LED bulbs, they offer a color temperature that makes the skyline look realistic.

The 24 building facade pieces were sized to fit on standard sized Sintra (Alcan Composites, Mooresville, NC) and vinyl, approximately 4′ x 8′. Each individual piece was actually made of three pieces “sandwiched” together. The top layer was self-adhesive vinyl graphics, the middle layer was ½” thick Sintra and the third layer was Masonite. ColorImage, Chicago, IL, provided 3M Controltac with a luster over-laminate for the vinyl. The over-laminate made the piece more durable and easier to apply.

“The Masonite layer,” explained Jean Burch, project manager, “facilitated fabrication. We cut the Masonite pieces early on in the process so our electric department could begin work on each building’s electric circuitry. The Masonite also provided a solid backing to each group of buildings, preventing light ‘leaking’ upstage, and facilitating future maintenance.”

Chicago Scenic carpenters, using the CNC machine, cut the Masonite pieces slightly smaller than the building fronts and painted them black to minimize their visibility. In addition to using the CNC machine to cut the outside profile, small holes were drilled in what would become the center of each window. These holes accommodated the grain of wheat lamps; each pushed through the opening and glued it on its side.

Once all of the lights were positioned, electricians wired all of the lamps according to the circuit layouts called out in the design. Approximately 13 different circuits allowed lights to be selectively turned on and off, and made adjustments in intensity possible throughout the piece, helping to set the time of day throughout the show.

“Some lights were placed behind the vinyl to create diffused light. Car headlights and streetlights, a combination of white and yellow lights, poked directly through the face of the unit to shine more brightly,” Burch said.

As the graphics were being finished, carpenters returned to the CNC machine to cut registration marks and tiny windows on the Sintra. They applied the vinyl to Sintra, aligning it with the registration marks, and then returned the sections to the CNC machine for a subsequent two-step cut. The first cut was through vinyl, the next was through the Sintra and slightly offset to minimize tearing or curling of the vinyl.

Finally, the electrics department attached the Masonite pieces to the unit faces with Velcro® hook and loop, then bolted each piece into the trough that held the Chroma-Strip lights, and to the tree line. The finished piece was easy to install and maintain.

In addition to the three scenic pieces, CSSI built three walls that backed on-stage beds for Addams Family parents Morticia and Gomez, daughter Wednesday, and a guest. eb