Storyboard: Persephone. Fannin Musical Productions Storyboard by Jason Shelby (270)

Transcription

1 Storyboard: Persephone Fannin Musical Productions Storyboard by Jason Shelby (270) Overview Persephone utilizes fresh, innovative arrangements of classics of the repertoire to retell the story of the beautiful daughter of the goddess Demeter, whose abduction by the god of the underworld results in the cold and death of winter, and whose return results in the rebirth of spring. The show opens with a light, fresh musical and visual tone evocative of spring and youth, but quickly darkens as the melodic motifs of Night on Bald Mountain suggest the encroachment of darkness on the scene, culminating in Persephone s abduction. The second movement is somber, suggesting the fall of winter, but ultimately resilient as expressed by Holst s Jupiter. Finally, the closer presents the conflict of light and dark before Persephone s triumphant return as a queen, and with her the rebirth of spring. The visual concepts presented here presume a moderately sized color guard, but could be adjusted easily to fit a larger or smaller auxiliary. Although the show is designed to work with or without it, the addition of a narrative voiceover could add another layer to the storytelling.

2 Set Design The overall set design for Persephone uses a wide variety of functional, but simple props to transport the viewer to an idyllic, Greek countryside. The most important props are a series of trees [the number is adjustable with the size of the ensemble and budget] which are used to completely change the mood of the field as Persephone is abducted.

3 Each tree is in fact a metal rod sandwiched between two mirror image tree-shapes, then inserted into a weighted base. At the desired moment, performers can easily turn the tree on the rod s axis to present the opposite side. Plans and build/lease options available through Tiger Props, high-quality digital printing available through Band Shoppe.

4 Other props include small columns which evoke the setting of Greece while also serving as staging points for musical solos and features, and a larger fallen column which serves as the staging point for one of our largest effects: the end of opener abduction of Persephone. Column props of this type can easily be built in several ways via a trip to Lowe s, Home Depot, etc. Plans and build/lease options available through Tiger Props, high-quality digital printing available through Band Shoppe.

5 On Side A several of these props come together to form a separate staging area where the abduction scene will take place. In the center of this grove staging area, a slightly raised dais will help to draw the eye to the Persephone character at the key moment, shown here with an optional graphic depicting the ancient Greek symbol for an entrance to the underworld. Plans and build/lease options available through Tiger Props, high-quality digital printing available through Band Shoppe.

6 Colors, Costuming, Flags

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9 The show is visually split between two contrasting color palettes, one representing spring and rebirth, the other darkness and winter, but the two are also connected through the repeating motif of the Greek Key pattern in many incarnations.

10 Opener As the show begins, the ensemble is spread throughout the idyllic, spring-like set. The musicians are in various, statue-like poses in another connection to the Greek setting. Half of the guard [those costumed in uniform B ] are hidden behind props while the other half is gathered on Side B, dancing around a featured performer who is costumed as Persephone herself. The featured performer need not be a member of the color guard proper as her role will not involve manipulating equipment. Instead, she could be a special recruit for this production who has strong acting and/or dance skills.

11 As the show begins, Persephone and her circle of dancers begin to move around the field, causing musicians to begin to move and play. Optional narration prior to the first horn line entrance: Voiceover [male voice]: She is so lovely like the spring itself At first, the low brass and drumline form up behind them and begin to follow the dancers towards center stage. Next, as they pass a short column prop, a flute duet turns and begins to play. Similarly, as the dancers pass two other short columns, a trumpet duet and clarinet solo are also caused by their passing. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of musicians are beginning to begin to move and join the form as it follows them around the field towards the Side A grove.

12 As the Night on Bald Mountain motif becomes more pronounced and recognizable, the guard performers in costume B begin to emerge from their hiding places behind props, individualistically spinning as they move towards the first arrival/impact of the show. Then, just before that first impact, narration: Voiceover [male voice]: Bring her to me! Then, the first, full-ensemble statement of Night on Bald Mountain.

13 The remainder of the Opener constitutes a chase with Guard A and Guard B being opposed to one another in pairs in various ways. The musician drill serves to separate them at first, then gradually allows Guard A and Guard B to interact in various ways.

14 As the music develop in intensity, the drill begins to bring Persephone and Guard A towards the Side A grove staging area for the culminating effect of the first movement. Persephone stands upon the dais in the center of the grove staging area while two Guard B performers go behind the fallen pillar to prepare

15 for the final abduction of Persephone. The two Guard B performers pull from behind the fallen pillar a huge black silk on two t poles which they then run over Persephone on her dais and then between the tree props towards backfield. After the final release of Movement 1, another narration: Voiceover [male voice]: You are mine! just as the black silk is pulled away from the dais revealing that Persephone is gone [the performer actually having snuck out under the silk and now hidden behind the large pillar prop in the back of the grove staging area]. Guard A gathers around the dais, shocked.

16 Ballad During the beginning of the ballad [musically entirely played in the front ensemble] the moving ensemble scatters across the field, leaving Guard A to dance mournfully around the dais and Persephone s absence. Future brass soloists go to the small columns while Guard B and the remainder of the horn line go to the tree props to prepare for the next major effect. Optional narration: Voiceover [female voice]: This injustice shall not stand till my daughter is returned, no flower shall bloom no green thing grow the earth is itself, shall die! While the trumpet soloist begins the initial motif of Jupiter, the tree props turn to their dead side, rippling from Side A to Side B. Meanwhile, Guard A makes their way center stage.

17 The Jupiter motif is then transferred to a small ensemble, here shown as a trumpet duet with a tuba and baritone, staged on the short columns. Guard A then introduces the ballad silk. Then the woodwinds briefly take center stage while the brass move toward center stage and Guard B enters on the ballad silk towards backfield.

18 Finally, at the major, impactful statement of the Jupiter motif, the entire ensemble comes together for a grand musical moment and our first unison flag statement. As the ballad winds down and begin to translate to the Closer, Guard B transitions towards the rear of the stage for equipment change while Guard A stays front field to carry the visual focus. Meanwhile, the musicians restage for the Closer.

19 Closer In the beginning of the Closer, the return to the Night on Bald Mountain motif is matched visually by a return to visual prominence of Guard B, and the conflict between A and B. This would be an ideal time for weapons if desired. For Guard A, this could be an ideal moment for a dance moment, or a return to the Opener silk. As Night on Bald Mountain gives way to a new musical motif, Guard A come front stage and Guard B moves towards the backfield props dejectedly. Meanwhile, the musical ensemble builds into the classic company front form arranged towards the Side A dais. Optional narration: Voiceover [female voice]: Darkness may fall for a time but the light will always return!

20 Upon the dais, the Persephone performer has moved into position while the eye was focused on Side B, now costumed in shades of gold to symbolize her transformation by her ordeal into a regal figure. The horn line performs a body lean towards her to draw the eye before stepping off on the biggest, most regal statement of the Great Gate of Kiev. Guard A explodes from the front sideline with a huge, golden silk while Guard B turns the tree props back to their spring side.

21 After an initial half-time, slow forward motion, the musicians drill then evolves to make a pathway for the Persephone character to move center stage. The form then closes down around Persephone center stage for the final impact of the show. Several horn players [woodwinds so as to have a minimal impact on volume] then lift Persephone triumphantly into the air.

22 Meanwhile, the full guard fills the field with gold as the final majestic strains of the Great Gate ring out. Created with Pyware 3D