OPPA's production of RENT
Umbrella Theater co-produced On Pitch Performing Arts' production of RENT, which ran from November 5th through 20th at their theater in Layton.
- Umbrella's Artistic Director, Jamie Rocha Allan, acted as producer for the show and provided mentorship to its director, Davis Underwood. Traditionally, early career directors learn their craft through working as an assistant director and then directing productions of their own. While that allows them to see most aspects of a director's job, it generally does not let them be responsible for casting the production and coming up with a vision to guide the designers. Here, Jamie was available to advise Davis at every step of the process, attending production meetings, auditions, rehearsals, and tech but letting Davis make the final decisions. This has proven to be a powerful way for Umbrella to work with and support the next generation of directors.
- Umbrella's Technical Director, Cara Pomelroy, was responsible to the scenic design and its construction, with Umbrella contributing toward its construction costs. Key to that design was six metal-frame set pieces that could be moved around the set by the actors to be anything from an acting platform to a place to sit to a telephone booth. Each of the set pieces contained LED highlight strips, powered by batteries and controlled by Pioneer Theatre Company's wireless controllers (designed for them by Umbrella's Managing Director, Lee Hollaar) so that there were no wires on the stage floor. OPPA's existing LED wall, surrounded by a frame of lights, was used to provide appropriate backgrounds, and an LED star-field topped the set.
- Umbrella also provided OPPA with a long-term loan of ten ellipsoid lighting fixtures (reconditioned after previously given to Umbrella as part of our "lighting fixture rescue" program) and a dimmer pack to control them. This not only allowed better lighting of RENT, but will also benefit future OPPA productions.
Brandon Stauffer, OPPA's Executive Director, says "The support that Umbrella provided as a partner on our production of RENT was immense. From mentorship to our director and designers to actually installing and building custom pieces of sets and lights for the show. The technology that they bring with them is something a small theatre like ours would never have access to and completely changed the show for the better. Through out the process they were open to ideas, receptive to concepts and worked to ensure that those ideas and concepts not only worked but were done correctly and with the right equipment. Our production of RENT was an audience favorite and that comes from the amazing support we received partnering with Umbrella Theater Company."
And from Davis Underwood, the director mentored for this production: "While having the opportunity to be the director of RENT, I was privileged to be able to have this mentorship relationship. From the start, I felt the collaboration as a safe and comfortable one, with lots of assurance and support. I felt the reinforcement of executing my vision and using the mentorship for advice and physical and emotional help through the process. Talking through the advice gave me context and clarity that I am very grateful for, in casting, rehearsal structure, cast management, and all the way through to the end of the process. I felt secure, especially knowing that if overwhelmed I had help to feel eased or have a buffer and soundboard. I very much appreciated the watchful eye, guidance, and comments about my directing, especially afterward, hearing suggestions, reassurance and areas to improve; I definitely know things I'd do different based on the process and feedback, as well as things highlighted I did well that I will take into a future directing project."