The Art of Dining

By Tina Howe

Sound Design

Directed by Kevin Landis

February 2019

Set Design by Roy Ballard, Lighting by Vance McKenzie, Costumes by Amy Haines

A farcical romp through the trials and tribulations of an upstart fine dining establishment and its eccentric patrons one blustery winter evening.

Realism and Eccentricism through Classical Music…

Director Kevin Landis wanted to remain true to the main characters love of classical music by having the whole show either underscored or embellished with it. Through equalization and speaker placement, the music would come from within the scene in a diegetic fashion, or from above the audience as an underscore that the characters can’t hear.

In addition to the classical pieces I selected, I was tasked with creating a blustery winter landscape as the audience entered through a realistic New York brownstone facade. The wind continued to whistle from outside the restaurant throughout the whole show, even blowing some characters into the space as the door is opened for them. The world of the play was firmly grounded in realism, a whole gourmet meal was actually prepared on stage every night, but allowed the comedy to soar in farcical ways. Just as the reality of the play supported the comedy, similarly the classical music and realistic wind cues allowed me moments of rapturous synchronicity with the action that could be both over-the-top and emotional.

UCCS/Theatreworks Production - Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater