Quad

Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Director: Katie Wolfe

Faculty Sponsor: Fereshteh Rostampour

Lighting/Scenic/Costume Design: Katie Wolfe

Sound Design: Bailey Fenn

Technical Director/Master Electrician: Matthew Smith

Wardrobe Supervisor: Jacob VanHorn

Charge Artist: Olivia Price

Sound Engineer: Annabell Mallard

House Manager: Alyssa Allen

Stage Manager: JVO

Photos by: Katie Wolfe

Quad was designed and directed by Katie Wolfe as a collaboration between the Theater Department and the Department of Undergraduate Research. The show used the script by Samuel Beckett to create a piece designed to study the impact of technical elements, such as lighting, costumes, and sound, on the audience's perception of a performance. Two different technical treatments were performed for this study -- one that used comedic techniques for lighting, sound, and costumes, and one that used dramatic practices. The piece was performed four times, and the comedic or dramatic treatment was randomly assigned before each show. Katie served as the designer for all departments except sound, as well as acting as the director. For the costume design, Katie draped the cloaks in muslin, and then handed the pattern off to the wardrobe supervisor for construction. Light, patterned fabrics were used for the comedic treatments, and dark, solid, dyed fabrics were used for the dramatic treatment in order to show a sense of contrast. For the lighting design, the plot remained the same between the two treatments, but the gels were switched out accordingly. The scenic design, unlike the other disciplines, was kept the same due to limitations in the space/budget. The floor was designed to be simple and reflective of the mathematical nature of the piece, while serving as a canvas for the other designs. The project culminated with an analysis of the data the audience provided and the presentation of the results at the Auburn University Research Symposium.