Welcome to the back stage view!
For this production of Little Shop of Horrors, I’m attempting something new by creating a more in-depth look at my thoughts and design process while also exploring ways to incorporate new technology into the show. I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes content than I have in the past, giving you a closer look at the creative process, technical challenges, and how the lighting design develops throughout the production.
One of the unique aspects of this production is that we will not be using the traditional Audrey II puppet. Instead, our production team has opted to use three performers in costumes to portray Audrey II. With this approach, I’ll be attempting to pixel map our performers using wireless receivers and WLED, allowing us to incorporate lighting directly into the costumes. This will be a new challenge for me and an opportunity to experiment with technology while exploring how lighting can help bring Audrey II to life in a different way.
The WLED controller
I’ll be using the GLEDOPTO Elite ESP32 WLED LED Controller for this project this will allow be to have 2 outputs per controller used with 5v LED pixels.
The LED Costume Lights
I’ll be using BTF-LIGHTING WS2812B IC RGB Pebble Light Fairy 5v for this project as of right now they are lighter and should be easier to sew on to costumes compared to traditional Bullet Pixels.
The LED Vines
The LED vines surrounding Audrey 2 will be made of SEZO WS2812B 60LEDs/m they will be overlayed with spray foam and carved / painted to look like vines that we can overlay lighting fx on too!
The Power Supply
Each performer will have a USB-C battery pack on them that will power each costume with the use of a USB-C PD we can get up to 5 amps per pack and they will be swappable throughout the performance lasting just over half of act 1.
Color Palettes
Start of Show
Here, you can see warm but dull color tones that are meant to represent Seymour’s life and the world around him at the start of the show. The lighting will reflect this world of nothingness, where everything feels repetitive and there isn’t much excitement in his life. Using neutral and brown tones, along with light ambers and neutral CTO, the lighting will help create this look and establish the world Seymour lives in before Audrey II comes into his life.
Audrey 2 Comes to Life
As Audrey II comes to life, the world around the shop and Seymour will slowly begin to change. Color will start to find its way into Seymour’s life as he begins his journey with Audrey II. As she eats more and Seymour finds more success, we will see the world around him come to life through color. The lighting will follow this transformation by introducing more vibrant and saturated color choices, using color as a medium to show how Seymour’s life is changing and becoming more exciting as Audrey II continues to grow.
The Dentist
The Dentist’s world will start with cooler, very bright, medical colors that surround him at the beginning of his scene. These cooler tones and bright whites will help create the feeling of a clinical environment. As he begins to inhale the gas, we will see a plethora of colors start to fill the room, becoming more and more vibrant as the scene progresses. The lighting will almost go crazy with the amount of color being introduced, reflecting what the Dentist is experiencing as the gas begins to take effect. This shift from a bright, medical environment into a world filled with intense colors will help bring his experience to life through lighting.
The Mood Board
