Arlington, VA- Lighting Designer Jen Schriever and Signature Theatre recently turned to 4Wall DC to provide lighting equipment for ‘Sunday in the Park with George.’

Revolving around the famous Georges Seurat painting, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” this incarnation of the famous musical takes place mostly in SeuratÂ’s studio.  This specific concept, developed by Director Matt Gardiner and Scenic Designer Dan Conway, was one way Signature TheatreÂ’s version of the show differed from others.  Another was certainly the lighting.

Schriever created a specific feel using very little in the way of “moving lights”, instead opting for conventional ETC Source Fours for the majority of lighting in the subtle and focused musical. 

“Most of the lighting in the first act is incandescent, often naturalistic, sometimes impressionistic and layered with texture.  Through GeorgeÂ’s eyes the lighting is focused by either the lamplight at his artistÂ’s palette or the moon through his studio window,” said Schriever.

Yet she did turn to automated technologies such as Martin MAC Auras and Clay Paky B-Eye K20s to create specific enhancing effects.

MAC Auras were color mixed beautifully to provide brilliant daylight when Seurat was painting outside on a Sunday morning, as well as the moon light coming in through his studio window.

“I love the huge zoom the Auras are capable of,” said Schriever, “and even more, I think they mix colors beautifully, especially amongst an almost entirely tungsten rig.  TheyÂ’re not just useful for flashy rock and roll colors; they blended in SeuratÂ’s world perfectly and were an invaluable tool to me throughout the entire show.”

Next, Schriever turned to the focus of the second act, the “Chromolume.”  As the show jumps forward in time to SeuratÂ’s progeny and his art piece, Schriever and the team sought a way to present the Chromolume in a way that was 80Â’s in nature, but still seemingly innovative to a modern audience.  Enter the Clay Paky B-eye.

“The B-eye, with its ability to control each individual LED beam, was able to become a very modern pointillistic light source for our light art show.  In collaboration with our Video Designer Robbie Hayes, we were able to have a new take on an old Chromolume that could wow a modern audience.”

To see more of SchrieverÂ’s work, visit www.jenschriever.com