Cendrillon

Show Title: Cendrillon (Operetta)

Composer: Pauline Viardot

Space: Proscenium

Description: This is a paper project I did for my second-year set design class at NYU. We were tasked with presenting a set design with renderings and a white model. I used this project to better my model-building skills.

Process: Emotional Response & Subjective Research > Scenic Breakdown > Rough Sketch > Materials Research > Modelbox Exploration> Build Model > Use Model Picture to Render> Edit and Render in Photoshop

RENDERINGS
*Press to enlarge the image or hover to read the caption

ACT 1: Beggar (Prince) speaks to Cendrillon

ACT 1: Sisters speak with Cendrillon

ACT 1: Fairy Godmother appears

ACT 2: Cendrillon goes to Ball

CONCEPT EXPLANATION

ACT 1 & 3

ACT 2

ACT 1 and 3: Cendrillon's space. The narrowed walls guide our eyes to the heath from which Cendrillon draws her name. They form a claustrophobic triangular shape.

The frames on these walls are portals to the outside 'worlds' (Prince and Sisters). Both worlds put pressure on Cendrillon. The audience also views this story through frames since it is just that - a story. The middle area is where the fairy godmother appears to save Cendrillon.

ACT 2: Ballroom. Mirrors drop through the portals to reflect the dancing bodies within the space and create an infinite illusion of a ballroom.

EMOTIONAL RESPONSE/RESEARCH BOARD

Over time, fairytales have lost their grim realness and have been replaced by picture-perfect fantasy—for example, the original Brothers Grimm vs modern Disney.

I was also interested in Pauline Viardot's life and how she was forced into becoming a shadow of her famous sister. Pauline is also framed in society as the "ugly one".

PROCESS