Up Your Stars
Directed by Patrick Bakman
Costumes Designed by Elizabeth Weiss Hopper
Department of Theatre
Virginia Commonwealth University
November 1975
Up Your Stars is an original musical written by two faculty
members at VCU. This was its world premiere. It is a "backstage
musical" involving all of the standard backstage plot devices
of a young talented understudy, an older has-been actor given
one last chance, and an unlikeable leading lady. The setting
consists of 24 backstage locations and 5 on-stage sets.
Up Your Stars was produced on the Virginia Commonwealth
University's Shafer Street Playhouse, an old high-school gymnasium.
The proscenium opening was 20' wide and 10' high. There is no
grid and less than 6' of wing space on each side.
The basic set consisted of three 3' square towers containing
items like dressing rooms and an elevator. Each tower was decorated
with magic items like an aztec mask which smiled or winked whenever
the young understudy walked by. There was also a platform containing
a tiny proscenium arch and three sets of curtains. This unit
pivoted on the downstage left corner to open and close the acting
space.
Set Rendering showing the towers and platform with curtains.
The curtains open magically for the young understudy
The towers arranged to form a corridor backstage
Two of the towers as adjoining dressing rooms
The producer and the has-been actor in a gorilla suit do a soft-shoe.
Note that the platform and proscenium arch has pivoted to be
more visible for this scene.
Rotating the Platform Unit
The platform rotates to show its "downstage" side as
an announcement is made that the understudy will fill in for
the star who has broken her leg.
Act One of the musical
Act two of the musical
Directed by Patrick Bakman
Costumes Designed by Elizabeth Weiss Hopper
Department of Theatre
Virginia Commonwealth University
November 1975
Up Your Stars is an original musical written by two faculty members at VCU. This was its world premiere. It is a "backstage musical" involving all of the standard backstage plot devices of a young talented understudy, an older has-been actor given one last chance, and an unlikeable leading lady. The setting consists of 24 backstage locations and 5 on-stage sets.
Up Your Stars was produced on the Virginia Commonwealth University's Shafer Street Playhouse, an old high-school gymnasium. The proscenium opening was 20' wide and 10' high. There is no grid and less than 6' of wing space on each side.
The basic set consisted of three 3' square towers containing items like dressing rooms and an elevator. Each tower was decorated with magic items like an aztec mask which smiled or winked whenever the young understudy walked by. There was also a platform containing a tiny proscenium arch and three sets of curtains. This unit pivoted on the downstage left corner to open and close the acting space.
Set Rendering showing the towers and platform with curtains.
The curtains open magically for the young understudy
The towers arranged to form a corridor backstage
Two of the towers as adjoining dressing rooms
The producer and the has-been actor in a gorilla suit do a soft-shoe. Note that the platform and proscenium arch has pivoted to be more visible for this scene.
Rotating the Platform Unit
The platform rotates to show its "downstage" side as an announcement is made that the understudy will fill in for the star who has broken her leg.
Act One of the musical
Act two of the musical