Looking Ahead

After a long hiatus on my 'Conversations...' blog, there's finally a new post with Robert Greer, Artistic Director of The Strindberg Repertory Theatre.

Exhibits Coming up: Selections from the Dickens 2012 exhibit, Dickens: A Celebration in Pictures  will travel to the Poe Park Visitor Center Gallery in Feb. 2015.

Theatre Illustration

Here's the poster for the new production by the August Strindberg Repertory Theatre. This was a tough one. I usually send in quite a few sketches of ideas but I only had one and I was unsure if my interpretation would be okay. I thought the graphite portraits fit the era, and played up the tension. As it happens, their PR company independently got the same vibe and used a similar style photograph with a juxtaposition of the two main characters. I was glad to find out my take was right on message.Whew!

Robert Greer, director has set the play in 1962 Harlem. Read my conversation with him about the play soon on my conversations blog. For further information, visit the company's web site.

New Theater Illustration

I'm thrilled to contribute to the current production of Mr. Bengt's Wife performed by the August Strindberg Repertory Theatre. Previews on the 13th and 14th. Performances begin September 15th. Craig Baldwin the play's director, wanted more mystery in the design. Here's my illustration before and after:

BEFORE, Donna Miskend

                                 

      More changes: new dates, more text. It's an evolution                    AFTER, Donna Miskend

the image is also a bit more refined to balance out the new layout

Final, Donna Miskend

Click HERE for further info.  and a REVIEW

August Strindberg Repertory Theatre - EASTER

I went to see the production of Easter, the other night by the August Strindberg Repertory Theatre. When I saw the character of Lindy, played by Jolie Garrett walk onto the stage I was struck by how the hat he wore and his broad physique was echoed in my illustration of the character. The family owes him money so I portrayed him as a shadow since he looms over them in their minds.  The robin (a bird that is typically free in the wild) represents the family and the cage symbolizes the fragility and imprisonment they seem to feel in their circumstance.  The yellow lily is both a reference to Easter and to the daughter. The image I submitted is on the left, the final product for their postcard/poster is on the right - they chose to use a different typeface.

my submission (L)   

postcard as it was produced (R)

the design worked well with the cast list and other info added

I also must mention that in a review from Stage and Cinema, the reviewer erroneously credited me with the painted black and white window backdrop used in the set design. Angelina Margolis is the set designer. Although we didn't collaborate, we both got a black and white graphic style vibe from the play. I'm enjoying the challenge of this type of illustration project and I'm looking forward to doing more projects for the theater.

Click HERE for the review from the New York Times. I love how this 19c Swedish play is transported to 1958 Harlem.The production takes the heart of the story, about relationships and circumstance and makes it relevant to a modern audience today. Robert Greer, the artistic director will appear in an interview with me on my Conversations... blog later this year. The general link to that blog is HERE and you can search under the heading of Theater.

This production runs through March 31st at the Gene Frankel Theatre in NYC. Click HERE for further info, schedule and tickets.