Diary of Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank

Actor’s Studio – Fall Production

Role: Technical Director & Scenic/Lighting Designer

Designing The Diary of Anne Frank for an intimate, small-scale theater presented a unique and rewarding challenge: the audience couldn't just watch the drama unfold; they needed to be trapped in it. Every design choice was engineered to erase the barrier between the stage and the house, pulling the audience directly into the secret annex.

The Scenic Design: Total Immersion

To achieve absolute intimacy, the entire space was transformed into a worn, weathered wooden attic. The platforms, walls, and even the audience seating area were painted to match seamlessly, making the viewers feel as though they were sitting right in the annex with the characters.

• Overhead Depth: Giant, 16-foot structural beams were suspended overhead, jutting out over the audience to compress the space and enhance the claustrophobic atmosphere.

• The Annex Roof: The back wall was constructed using fractured, weathered shipping pallets to emulate a rustic attic roof, punctuated by a single, haunting window suspended in the center.

The Lighting Rig: Silent Innovation

In an effort to modernize our inventory and maximize the department budget, I sourced a brand-new rig of LED moving washes for this production. However, testing revealed a major roadblock: the stock cooling fans generated a massive hum that would easily ruin the show's quietest, most tense moments.

• The Fix: I individually swapped out all 25 factory fans with ultra-quiet computer fans.

• The Engineering: Because the new fans operated on a different voltage, I wired step-down voltage buck converters into every single fixture, successfully silencing the entire rig without sacrificing cooling power.

Custom Fabrications & Special FX

A production isn't complete without finding a way to integrate custom 3D printing and physical special effects to elevate the storytelling.

• Prop Fabrication: Designed and 3D-printed highly accurate, durable dummy German weapons for the production.

• The Bombing Scene SFX: To maximize the realism of the air raid scenes, I engineered custom "dust drop boxes" rigged above the stage. When a cue line was pulled, the mechanical doors released a fine shower of sawdust over the set, bringing the terrifying reality of the bombing raids to life for both the actors and the audience.