YANKEE TAVERN SET DESIGN

Yesterday we had a preliminary design meeting for YANKEE TAVERN by Steven Dietz. Robert Klingelhoefer our set designer presented his design for the scenery. I have included a draft of his rendering for you to see:

YANKEE TAVERN is set in a historic, rundown tavern in New York City. Steven Dietz has asked for a realistic setting:

“An old neighborhood joint…housed on the ground floor of a decaying, abandoned, once-upon-a-time hotel.Not big. A handful of stools around the battered wooden bar. A few unremarkable tables nearby. An old vintage jukebox that no longer works. Spent neon and dusty memorabilia. This is a place that no doubt shined in the forties, but now is doling out its final shots before the crash of the wrecking ball.”

TIME:  2006

PLACE:  New York City

A man walks into a bar and orders two beers, one for himself and one for his absent buddy. This may sound like a set up for a joke…but the prolific Steven Dietz has something darker and more sobering in mind with his chilling new political thriller, YANKEE TAVERN. CATF Audiences are in for a cerebral workout as Dietz attempts to cast doubt on everything you assume you know.

I am really jazzed about Bob Klingelhoefer’s terrific set design. I especially like how he has incorporated the outside of the building with the interior of the tavern. He has captured Dietz’s world of the play. Liesl Tommy is directing YANKEE TAVERN and she and Bob have been working with Steven Dietz throughout the design process.

Steven Dietz is a master of smart dialogue and wily storytelling. In YANKEE TAVERN he will pull you into this intriguing story. I believe that YANKEE TAVERN has staying power…and will enjoy great success in many American and International Theaters.

I wanted to share some of our design process with you. Let me know what you think…

Ed Herendeen