One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Prologue

PULLMAN, Washington. – School of Design and Construction students are applying skills they’ve learned in class to help build sets for the Washington State University Performing Arts (WSUPA) spring theater production. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” opens Friday.

The real-world project demands teamwork, rigorous attention to detail and strict adherence to budget and time constraints, said David Drake, set designer and manager of the school’s fabrication labs. It offers professional expertise and equipment (including digital fabrication with 3D printing, laser cutting and computer-controlled milling) previously unavailable to WSUPA productions.

Last year’s collaboration, for the play “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” won a Meritorious Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for Drake and his student assistants. This year’s production will also be submitted to the festival.

Architecture 499: Theater Set Design-Build is taught by Drake. His students assisting with the set and props are Leah Engelhardt (architecture), Xie Jingxian (architecture), Bryce Park (religious studies) and Ann-Jeanette Seymour (interior design).

The play, directed by Ben Gonzales, is based upon the Ken Kesey novel as adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman.

Index

Design - Concept - Drawings - Model

Gather

- Material: building the studs - Props - Painting

Assemble

- Walls - Nurses station

Complete Collaboration References/extras: people involved

Set Concept The play uses a traditional box set, organized symmetrically to indicate institutional power. Placing the nurses’ station in the center emphasizes control and power. To further enhance hierarchy, the nurses’ station is raised.

Transparent walls were chosen to reveal the structure behind the institutional ‘veneer.’ During the course of the play the lights in the back brighten and lift to reveal staggered wall heights. This gives the effect that the institution is beginning to fall apart.

Design Inspirations | Case Studies

Organ State University, Celilo Falls, Mar. 10 1957.

Walster, Nicholas, Snug Harbor, Metal Duct Work in G Attic, 2001.

Nevelson, Mrs. N's Palace, 1964-77.

Materials: Painted wood, mirror

Suh, Do-ho, Perfect Home, 2003.

Material: Translucent Nylon.

Suh, Do Ho, The Perfect Home II (detail), 2003.

Material: Translucent Nylon.

Whiteread, Rachel, Untitled (Sequence III), 2002.

Material: plaster, polystyrene and steel

Whiteread, Maquette for Holocaust Memorial, 1995.

Material: plaster, polystyrene and steel

Skoglund, Sandy, Revenge of the GoldďŹ sh, 1981.

Cibachrome color photograph

Skoglund, Sandy, Babies at Paradise Pond, 1996 Cibachrome color photograph

Flavin, Dan, Untitled, 1972-75, New York City, U.S.A.

Flavin, Dan, Untitled (To Donna), 1971.

Judd, Donald. Untitled, 1968.

Materials: anodized aluminum

Judd, Donald, Untitled, 1971.

Materials: anodized aluminum

Design Process

First Design Concept: Nurses Station in Corner

Nurses’ Station Center to Emphasis Power of Control

Pixilated Top to Look Like an Ancient Ruin

4th Model Concept Windows Referencing Archaic Church

Final Render of Play Set

Plan 25’ 1.75”

21’ 10.12”

21’ 10.12”

Elevation

21’ 10.12”

25’ 1.75”

21’ 10.12”

Physical Model

Making the walls was a two-set process. We made our own studs out of OSB and CDX plywood.

The flanges were made out of 3/4” plywood with a groove cut by the CNC machine. Using wood glue and a staple gun to strengthen the connection, we were able to slide two flanges on each side of the web.

Due to the limitations on length we used extra plywood to vary the height of the studs. The base of the wall was a metal track that the studs were fastened to. Since the studs varies in height, there was not a traditional top plate. Instead, leftover metal track was drilled on the eight foot mark across the wall.

Window and door headers helped in keeping the wall together as well as diagonal cross bracing.

Using the FabLab’s laser cutter, MDF boards, and various switches and dials for decoration, Drake was able to model an ECT machine from the 1950s.

To build the control panel for the nurses station, we used the FabLab’s laser cutter and 3D printer. The laser cutter was used to make the basic forms on the panel. The MakerBot is able to take digital models and 3D print them using ABS ďŹ lament. We used this machine to print the switches and sliders. Keeping with the concept of making the set look institutionalized, we used the air gun to spray a coat of gray paint.

Fully-functional hollow core doors were painted to imitate steel doors. Using a table saw, window openings were cut and a sheet of sanded opaque plexiglass was added.

The window grates were made out of MDF that was cut by the shop’s CNC machine. Screws were used to add texture.

The panel represents the control or rules that the institution has over the patients. It is large and heavy which emphasizes the weight of the oppressive rules.

The panel was constructed using MDF boards and a metal vent opening. Conduit cables were attached on either side of the panel adding to the industrialized character.

The chairs and tables had to be repainted. The table surface and chair cushions were painted a matching gray while the legs were painted black.

The theater department is fortunate to have a large collection of props and set dressing that we were able to use. One of the major finds was the gurney. Used in the final scene, McMurphy, the free, wild protagonist, finds himself strapped to the gurney after challenging the power of the institution.

Set Crew Director: Assistant Director: Stage Manager: Assistant Stage Manager: Set Designer: Assistand Set Designers:

Ben Gonzales Harley Reynolds Aspen Garner Danae Lorberau David Drake Jingxian Xie Leah Engelhardt Ann-Jeannette Seymour Bryce Park Costume Designer: Jeri Harris Assistant Costume Designer: AHailey Mathia Sound Designer: Jonathan O’Guin

Actors

R.P. McMurphy: Nurse Ratched: Billy Babbit: Dale Harding: Frank Scanlon: Charles Cheswick: Anthony Martini: Ruckley: Dr. Spivey: Nurse Flinn: Aide Warren: Aide Williams: Aide Turkel: Candy Starr: Sandy:

James Campbell Clarice Cohn Kevin Herriman Jared Chastain Bryce Park Caleb Pletcher Jasper Barbosa-Rodriquez Christopher Long AďŹ q Danial Bin Hisham Chelsea Feiock Evan Weber Gerrit Grande Spencer Knudson Taylor Coty Christina Phillips

Stills

Awards

THANK YOU.

Book Editor:

Doris Jingxian Xie Leah Engelhardt

Reviewer:

David Edward Drake