While the actors are in charge of bringing a story to life with their actions and words, an artist's job is to make sure that the stage brings the audience into the world of the story, and that is what Nicole Seitz’s Art 2 Honors Class was charged to do.
It all started in November with an idea. “Jenni Brown showed me what scenes other schools had done” explained Setiz, “and let us get creative.”
But what does “get creative” look like? It starts with a sketchbook. Looking at pictures of sets, and the scenes that brought Aladdin to life, students took inspiration from them and began to put thought to paper.
With ideas in hand and a green light from Brown, the hard work began. Students primed foam boards from previous school productions and Seitz sketched the scene designs for her students to paint. Everywhere from marketplaces and palace walls, to balconies where magic carpets would land, it all came together with a stroke of the paint brush.
When the outline was done, students began to plan the color schemes that would bring these outlines to life. “My favorite part was working on the Cave of Wonders,” said eleventh grader Grant Blackwell. “I thought it was the coolest panel and I enjoyed working on the eyes the most.”
Classmate Cooper Anderson also had a “cool” experience as she was asked to sketch a panel of the marketplace which was "satisfying" to see all come together with the help of her classmates. “One thing the students learn is how to collaborate,” said Setiz, “you have to be okay with others working on your work.” One person might prime the board, another might sketch, and all hands may have some part in painting varying aspects of the scene. And in the end, it all comes together to create a fantastic world which will delight audiences as they step into the story of Aladdin Jr.
