Behind the Scenes

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Costumes | Sets | Music | Actors | Making a Play

 

COSTUMES

Wild Swan Theater creates whimsical, elaborate costumes, such as the ones used in Rainbow Crow, below. Click on the images to see larger versions of the pictures.

Rainbow Crow's Costume
The Snow Spirit's Costume
Costumes for Rabbit, Raccoon and Fox
The Wind Spirit's Costume
The Great Sky Spirit's Costume
Rainbow Crow, the most beautiful bird in the world. The Snow Spirit, the spirit who makes snow fall to Earth. Masks for Raccoon, Fox and Rabbit. The Wind Spirit, the spirit that carries Rainbow Crow. The Great Sky Spirit, who gives fire to Rainbow Crow.

 

SETS

Sets are an important part of every Wild Swan Theater production. Their sets evoke the atmosphere of the play, bringing the viewer into the world of the story. The pictures below show the sets of Rainbow Crow in different points in the performance. Click on the images to see larger versions of the pictures.

Where Rainbow Crow visits Sky Spirit Where Rainbow Crow visits Snow Spirit The Whole Rainbow Crow Set Where Rainbow Crow visits Wind Spirit Rocks where the Animals Play

 

MUSIC

Wild Swan Theater likes to have on-stage, live musicians as part of their plays, so the audience can see how the music is made. The musician in Rainbow Crow, Lisa Warren, plays a flute, a drum, wind chimes and rattles. Characters in the play also make music. The instruments used in the play are shown below. Click on the images to see larger versions of the pictures.

instruments
flute
drum
These are the instruments used by the characters in the play. This is the flute the musician plays in Rainbow Crow. She blows through the hole at one end and moves the keys to make the sound. This is one of the drums the musician plays in Rainbow Crow. Leather is stretched across a frame and tied in the back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

rattle chimes
This is one of the rattles played by the musician in Rainbow Crow. The rattle is made out of a deer antler. These are the chimes played by the musician in Rainbow Crow. A pinecone moves the wooden sticks to make the sound.

 

ACTORS

The characters in Rainbow Crow are played by professional adult actors. The actors enjoy performing, especially for young people. In each play, one or more of the actors are sign language interpreters, who perform the dialogue of the other performers in American Sign Language while taking part in the action of the play. Some of the actors who form part of Wild Swan Theater are shown below. Rainbow Crow will feature two singers.

Actors
Actors
Actors
Actors
Actors

 

MAKING A PLAY

Each play that Wild Swan Theater performs requires a lot of hard work. Actors rehearse for weeks before they perform. Other members of Wild Swan make the costumes and sets. The musicians must practice the music, composed by professionals. Everyone involved must work as a team in order to create a great play. Below are some pictures of the actors rehearsing at the Wild Swan Studio. To see a larger version of the picture, click on the image.

creep Sandy boat sign music

 

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