JustArt Theatricals has a special place in my heart, and coming back to work with them on Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson was such a fun time. We were putting the show up in a barn in Snipes Farms in New Jersey, which made designing the set quite an adventure.
The director, Aaron, and I were very interested in using the unconventional space to immerse the audience in the Appalachian Hermitage feel of the show. The main level of the stage was made up of wagon beds that we pulled into the barn by hand. These were supplemented by adjustable platforms to achieve an adaptable, multilevel stage. We sourced about 200 straw bales locally to dress the stage, disguise lighting and sound equipment, and form the audience seating.
We drew a lot of inspiration from the music as well as the barn. We turned to punk culture and performance for ideas on how to set the tone and use the space, and used the farm space and experience with music festivals to inform our incorporation of the barn.
Director: Aaron Bogad
Set Designer: Jacquelyn Kepley
Lighting Designer: Ethan Saiewitz
Costume Designer: Jacquelyn Kepley
Photos by Ceilidh Madigan and Lauren Suchenski