Welcome to the webpage for Jack and the Beanstalk! Here you will find information for the window display, including process photos, creator bios, and an audio story, so you can read along or listen to the story!

The Scenic Design Graduate Students at Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture are excited to display Jack and the Beanstalk at the Waskob Gallery this April!

In the midst of the pandemic, it has been difficult to create theatre that showcases scenic design. The graduate students from the scenic design studio wanted to find a way to create a little piece of theatre we could share with State College. Our window installation of Jack and the Beanstalk provides the opportunity for us to tell a story through the power of visual world-building. Audience members will be able to view our display through the windows of the Downtown Theatre and discover the world of Jack at their own pace. We also have created an audio read-along for you to listen to as you follow Jack on his journey.

Audio Story

The efforts of the five scenic graduate students and two BFA lighting students have been ongoing since January, and the team is excited to share some creativity in the windows of State College.

Creator Information

Process Photos

Motivation:

Creating this installation piece would be a very valuable experience in this time where design opportunities are scarce. This installation would provide us with the opportunity to explore a range of practical applications of skills, including 3D printing and modeling, set dressing, properties crafting, drafting, and scenic art. Along with practical skills, we would also be able to collaborate with a team, coordinate fabrication of elements, and foster strong communication skills. Most importantly, we would like to create something theatrical in the void of production opportunities this semester. We understand that this semester is not ideal for scenic design, so we intend for this project to invoke fresh theatricality with a scenic world that functions on its own to tell a story!

Project Overview:

This installation presents Flora Annie Steel’s 1918 edition of Jack and the Beanstalk in the windows of the Waskob Gallery in the Downtown Theater from April 4th through the end of the Spring 2021 semester. The graduate scenic MFAs will lead this collaboration, applying skills learned in the studio and assistantships to create this visual storytelling installation.

Link to text

Beginning in March, Jack and the Beanstalk will be presented as illustrative text–a 2D introduction to the story seen through the Waskob Gallery windows. This “poster” will announce the coming of the 3D installation. In April, we will install this 3D window display–presenting the physical world of the story. The physical retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk will explore scale, color, texture, and shape in crafting a display with performative visuals. Upon walking past the new display, audience members can download a QR Code for listening to the narrative as they witness the installation.

The semester-long process will begin with collaborative design, to be completed by the time in-person spaces reopen mid-February. Over the remainder of the semester, the team will physically realize a 1:6 scale model of Jack’s world. In this, our class will assume various production roles and invites collaboration with lighting, sound, and performance. With the permission of the school and gallery, we will set up a projection system to enhance the effects within the design. All members of the production team will assist in installing, constructing, and dressing the set. Finally, at the end of the semester, we will work as a team to fully strike Jack’s world and conclude the project.