Getting Started
On 8/21/23 the production had its first rehearsal, bringing together the cast and production team in full for the first time! Due to Tropical Storm Hilary, the first rehearsal was held on zoom, but we got right back to it IN PERSON the next day once the storm had passed. There are 38 people involved in the production so far, from cast members to faculty advisors, and that’s not even counting the many crew members who will join in later. We couldn’t make this show happen without every member of our team!
Costumes
Designer Heather Nunn and Assistant Designer Anastasiia Sennikova were challenged with a lot of research to maintain historical accuracy for 1973, ensuring that each character fits seamlessly into the era. In doing so, however, the designers also had to make sure that the individual style of each character is not lost, ensuring that the historical accuracy assists each characterization rather than detracting from it. In a different way, they were also challenged with costuming the incredibly radical Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, who are literally aliens! Check out some of the preliminary designs right here!
Projections
Projection designer Sierra states that projections are “like a removable layer of paint” that can be instantly applied. Their importance to Ziggy, Stardust & Me cannot be understated, as they maximize the potential of the flexible set design. The projection of specific, personalized logos and posters allows for bedroom sets bursting with personality, but also allows us to transport the entire theater to space with far-out cosmic designs. Take a peek at some of the imagery that has inspired our projections!
Set Design
Set designers Atria Pirouzmand and Ali Roustaei made use of over 100 cardboard boxes to create a dynamic set that allows us to travel all over the town of Creve Coeur, Missouri. The flexible set also allows our main characters to have personalized rooms with the help of projections, emphasizing the individuality of each character. There are 13 different set configurations used throughout the production, see if you can count them all!
Lighting
Designer Nayeli Bailey and Assistant Designer Mary Fulton have worked hard to create a world that is realistic at times, and totally far out at others! In the musical, lights help take us from indoors to outdoors, from one room to another, and even from earth to outer space. An extra challenge for our designers was lighting Jonathan's treatments, which required special attention to convey crackling electricity and shocks.
Dramaturgy
Though many outside the theatre haven’t heard of it, dramaturgy is what helps us understand the core message of a theatrical work and make decisions at all stages of the production to help communicate that message most effectively. Dramaturgy has been essential to ZSM throughout its development, with Dramaturg Courtney Elkin Mohler assisting in the development of the script. A huge focus of Mohler’s work has been the representation of Native Americans and two-spirit identity within the musical, but her work extends beyond that to other relevant topics like queer history and 70’s politics. This Starguide is packed with dramaturgical information and resources for you!
Rehearsal Gallery
