How did you approach designing the set for “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” to capture the essence of Carole King’s era and life?
This is my second time designing this show in the past year so I am very familiar with the material. For this version, I really wanted to focus on creating an overall environment that Carole and the other characters would have felt comfortable in. The stage at The Dock Street Theatre is small, with little wing space. So creating an environment that can quickly transform really drove the design more than anything else.
What research did you conduct to ensure the set design accurately reflects the time period and locations depicted in the musical?
I started with tons of visual research. Looking through design books to nail down the period and then moving to online research. I pulled imagery that sort of supported the visuals I saw in my head and started to build out the world from there. Luckily, the mid century modern period is an easy one to research, as it is still a common style used today.
Carole King’s story involves various iconic locations, from recording studios to concert halls. How did you recreate these spaces on stage while maintaining a cohesive visual style?
This is a big show for this venue! We go to many locations throughout and in rapid succession. So my job as a designer is always to make sure it all flows seamlessly from one scene to another. After I knew all the locations, I started to think and plan through all the scenic elements that are needed for each scene. I then took all of that information and started to play around with how it all works within the scenic framework that I established prior. For this design, lighting plays a very crucial role in helping us establish shifts in locations. There are columns, lined with LED’s that can help us shift the color of the set quickly. Along with a few additional set piece transitions, we could move into different locations with ease. Of course it all has to be “choreographed” in a way. And that is the stuff that we worked out during tech! This design also features a lot of flying scenery and signs that help us denote location.
Can you discuss any specific challenges you faced in designing the set for “Beautiful” and how you overcame them?
Yes, this is a big show for the Dock Street stage. And we don’t have the luxuries of stage automation, which is something the Broadway design relied on and used heavily. The biggest challenge was how to make everything fit, while maintaining enough space backstage for all the set pieces to live. It was basically a very large puzzle. I spent many hours sitting and working with the ground plan, just moving and resizing items until everything we needed fit. It was a challenge, but we made it all work!
Carole King’s music has a deeply personal quality. How did you incorporate elements of her personality and journey into the set design?
The set focuses on the place where Carole got her start in the industry, 1650 Broadway. My hope is that we could further amplify her mood and love for music through the use of color. There are moments where her songs are full of joy, and the lighting is bright and fun. On the other hand, there are moments where her songs are more heartfelt and we can pull back the saturation and intensity of the lighting to match.
The set often serves as a backdrop for the musical performances. How did you ensure that the set design complemented and enhanced the musical numbers?
For these moments, there are additional set pieces that fly in to help us create those visuals. Certain parts of the set are always in use but they have little tricks and things hidden within that allow us to transform those pieces and add a little razzle dazzle for the scenes that call for it.
What do you hope audiences will take away with them after seeing Charleston Stage’s production of “Beautiful” and experiencing your wonderful designs on stage?
I hope that audiences walk away feeling all the joy, love, and passion that Carole had for music and storytelling through song! As with any design, my main objective was simply to support the story. If the audiences walk away with a smile and humming their favorite tune, then I consider that a job well done!
BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is running at the Historic Dock Street Theatre from April 10-28, 2024. Click HERE to book your seats.
SETH HOWARD (Guest Scenic Designer)
Seth is a freelance scenic designer based out of St. Louis, MO. He has designed many regional productions and themed experiences across the country. Some of his design credits include School of Rock and Ragtime (Columbus Children’s Theatre); The Mountaintop and Deathtrap (Constellation Stage & Screen); Jersey Boys and Come From Away (Theatre Aspen); Once on This Island (Charleston Stage); Cinderella and The Wiz Jr. (The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati); Topdog/Underdog (Palm Beach Dramaworks); The Addams Family and Beautiful:The Carole King Musical (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre). Check out @sethhowarddesigns on social media. www.sethhowarddesigns.com