Les Misérables - Set Design

Jac and her co-designer, Sierra Young, worked on this production. She wanted decaying brick to be a main part of the set. This represents how France was unstable and kept trying to settle their society on a shifting surface, the same way you can not fix a brick wall while the brick below is crumbling. They also had 3 platforms come on and off the stage to represent the 3 classes in French society, including a large bridge, to represent how these classes were all trying to reach the highest point, and how the Revolutionaries would not stop until they could stand at the top and proclaim their political freedom. Jac also wanted to add the Arc de Triomphe because during the time of Les Misérables it was under construction, and when completed it was dedicated to honor those who fought in the French Revolution

* Jac and Sierra Young were also in charge of all painting aspects, and the head of the deck crew and their operations

Budget:

$1320 - lumber
$500 - new school stock of wagon locks
$640 - paint
Total: $2460

Back to Theatre Work

The buildings were 20' tall and 4'x4' squares. Everything from the wood and plaster placement, to the windows shape/ curtain/and shutters, all came from researched 1800's French paintings. The piece in middle came out and was the center of our bridge

Jac's original design before working with her partner

Close up of the wrapped, roped, and chained up Arc de Triomphe. Crates are also scattered upstage and on the sides, to show France as unclean and chaotic.

The placement of the brick also allowed beautiful silhouettes to occur and illustrates how French society was so layered and complex with holes everywhere in between.

The full bridge on stage. It was used a lot throughout the show in large city scenes. In total, it was 24' long and had a max height at 8'. The bridge was also used for the barricade, and one stairway and middle section was used during ”Lovely Ladies” to represent a dock port.

The Revolutionaries in the ABC Café. Jac and Sierra wanted a lot of chairs and tables to allow Marius’ song about the place to be more moving and powerful later on.

The barricade was formed by turning our middle bridge level sideways to show a ladder. Both sides had a ladder to allow Gavroche to reenter from the enemy’s side, as well as, two 2'x8' platforms rolling onto the stage with furniture already attached that connected to the stair unit to create the civilian made barricade.

Close up of the two attached platforms with all of the chaotic furniture dressing. The chairs and objects had to have weird placements to allow the actors to be able to climb over them and help with creating dynamic pictures.

The Inn

In addition to everything else, the 5 piece flat with attached wood panels came down from the flies to help add dimension to the barricade.

Close up version of the Stage Left staircase

The gate was made with a 2'x4' wheeled platform, plywood columns, thin pieces of plywood, styrofoam, and fake vines.