How I Learned What I Learned — William J. Kellogg

Prop Master & Scenic Carpenter

Signature Theatre's Irene Diamond Stage

2014 Lucille Lortel Award Nomination for Outstanding Solo Show

Playwright: August Wilson

Co Conceived & Directed by: Todd Kriegler

Performed by: Ruben Santiago Hudson

Scenic Design: David Gallo

Costume Design: Constanza Romero

Lighting Design: Thom Weaver

Photos by Joan Marcus.

For more information on How I Learned What I Learned

Projections were painfully masked to each piece of paper to create a typewriter effect used throughout the show as titles to separate segments.

In progress of building the stage, a decrepit and distressed boxing ring.

During tech week, lighting and projections worked together to create a unified visual for the paper backdrop.

From the dirt floor of the theater emerge props that represent all of the well known August Wilson plays. The list of items was created by David Gallo, the scenic designer for many of Augusts' shows.

Version 1 of the desk made of file cabinets and a door. The idea came from David Gallo who remembered August having one similar in his basement that he used.

Version 2 of the desk. During the first tech it was found the height needed to change and a corner cut off to help with blocking. Adjustments were made overnight to be usable for the next days rehearsal.

pieces of a spare cabinet and cut metal siding were used as dressing within the stage planks to fit the design treatment

Dulled barbed wire and chain were rusted with special effects treatment and used to wrap and teather the whole perimeter of the planked stage.