DHS student design sets stage for state

DHS student design sets stage for state

Dublin High School freshman Travis Spharler is headed to state competition in UIL Theatrical Design/ Set Design May 10-11.

To qualify in the competition, students are assigned a play and then tasked with designing and creating set and costume designs, applying makeup and drawing their designs and creating marketing plans (including posters and programs). The competition is broken into four contests, with students able to choose one of those aspects.

DHS One Act Play advisor Pam Kasinger reported she had a student enter each of the Theatrical Design competitions with Spharler as the only one who made it through each round to advance to state.

He is one of only 11 in Divisions 1A-3A to advance to that level in set design which is even more of an accomplishment as the theatrical design competition entries increased by 40% this year to 11,000.

“Travis is a freshman who entered this contest for the first time, fell in love with set design and plans to compete in it each year until he graduates,”said Kasinger. “I am very proud of his focus and attention to detail as well as his personal drive for success.”

The chosen play for this year’s competition was “Hadestown” by Anais Mitchell.

The set design portion’s requirements include reading the play, analyzing its themes and then choosing one to base an original design around. As “Hadestown” is based on Greek mythology, designs were needed for both the normal world above as well as the underworld ruled by Hades.

Set design students had to produce a Thematic Statement (a 700 word essay explaining how they applied their design to fit their chosen theme), a collage board of inspiration ideas, a 1/4” scale blueprint of their design, and either color renderings of their design or an actual scale model of their design. Spharler opted for a model of the dual set.

Kasinger said her students had been working on the project since October. She also said Spharler will be able to make revisions to the project after he receives critiques in preparation for state.