The Sets: Part I

It takes a lot of work to get a set from this:

To this:

In 1976, Michael Smuin choreographed a new version of “R&J” for San Francisco Ballet. William Pitkin, a noted scenic designer, created the sets and costumes for the production. Mr. Pitkin’s credits include the 1954 revival of Threepenny Opera, starring future Golden Girl Bea Arthur!

When PBS filmed San Francisco’s production in 1978 for Great Performances: Dance in America, Mr. Pitkin won an Emmy for the Scenic Design.  In the design, there are multiple individual units – stairs, bridges, cupolas, window frames and the like, which all work as a sort of “Lego”-style design:  Add a piece here, and you have a bustling Verona marketplace.  Remove everything except for one staircase and platform, and there’s a beautiful balcony for the pas de deux that thrillingly finishes Act I.

Ron Cunningham’s version of Romeo & Juliet made its world premiere in 1992, and Sacramento Ballet used a very different scenic and costume design rented from Ballet Austin.  Beginning with the 1995 production, we began renting the version created for San Francisco Ballet. After performances concluded at the Community Center Theater in February 2005, our stagehands packed everything away on a 53-foot trailer bound for Salt Lake City, where the new set owners at Ballet West waited.

In early 2010, Mr. Cunningham determined that our next season would feature Romeo & Juliet.  We contacted Ballet West, and learned that not only would they have the sets and costumes available during our desired performance dates, but would we have any interest in purchasing the entire package?  Of course we did!

Flash forward to September 2010.  A new 53-foot trailer arrived at our warehouse at McClellan Park.  A team of Ballet staff and volunteers began to unload piles of large backdrops and fly units, 22 boxes of costumes and of course, this beautiful set.  

Later this week:  What happens next?

-Caitlin Sapunor-Davis (Stage Manager)