Dionysus of the Holocaust

  • Ken Ellis, Scenic Designer
  • Swine Palace, Producer
  • Venue: The LSU Studio Theatre
  • Baton Rouge, LA
  • March 2014

Dionysus of the Holocaust is an epic satire on race. The show takes place on a holocausted earth in and outside the gates of Pluto's cave as Dionysus is sent to choose which race (the Afracks or the Caucases) will be chosen to repopulate the earth. At one point, the two races are required to perform a skit representing the other race. This is done in the form of a minstrel show and so I decided to incorporate footlights to give it an olde time, gas-light theatre feel. The set was a unit set that took us throught the locations previously mentioned. This show was designed in a 96 dimmer studio theatre using an ETC Express 24/48 and incorporated LED Pars, LED strips mounted to the walls of the theatre as side lighting, iCue moving mirror accessories and a DMX iris.

A wide view of the stage for Dionysus of the Holocaust during a perfomance. The races are divide in two and sit on opposite sides of the stage. The Gods look down on them as they state their cases. The Gods are lit in bright, warm light. A wide view of the stage for Dionysus of the Holocaust during a performance. This is during one of the minstrel portions of the show. The scene was given a warm look and used footlights to give it an olde time, gas-lit theatre feel. Several people of a tribe standing around a person at center. The center person is holding a staff above his head. The poeple standing around him hold a closed fist in the air as symbol of power. The Caucases stand with signs in protest of the Afracks in Dionysus of the Holocaust. They are lit in a blue down light with a cool white breakup pattern. Dionysus travels in Charon's boat to the underworld. They encounter the neophytes. They are lit with blue down light, teal back light, and lavender side light.

Photo credit: Karli Henderson