Metamorphoses

  Metamorphoses is a show that brings me a lot of pride.  It was a unique technical challenge that forced us to rethink the way we approached our scenery.  We faced 30 inches of water that needed to be chlorinated, heated, and circulated, a deck that needed to be sealed but not slippery, and a space with a concrete floor that made safe access for both audience and performers a particular challenge.   Despite these challenges, we were able to create truly incredible art while still maintaining the safety of  everyone involved in the process.

 To preserve the Integrity of the costumes, we knew from the start that we would not be able to use a typical chlorination method.  We arrived at a saltwater chlorination method that allowed not only for costume longevity but also prevented the space from smelling like a pool, giving the body of water the flexible ambiguity it needed as an acting space.  To properly circulate the pool, we installed two bulkhead fittings on the side of the pool, approximately 1.5 feet below the waterline and 8 inches above the pool's base. On the exterior of the inlet bulkhead, we installed a screen using a pipe clamp to prevent debris from entering the plumbing system.  These bulkhead fittings allowed us to install two half-turn valves, enabling us to isolate the plumbing system for maintenance.   The inlet valve led to a circulating pump, which in turn fed water into a heating pump through a backflow prevention valve. This ensured that high-concentration saltwater did not end up in the heating elements.  The backflow valve then led into a saltwater chlorinator, which used an electrode to split the salt molecules and chlorinate the pool,  and then out through the outlet valve.

  Approaching the pool decking, we knew we would face issues with water making the deck slippery, which could lead to actor injury and damaged decking.  We sealed the deck with a mixture of Minwax polycrylic translucent and 80-grit sandblasting aggregate.  This allowed us to paint a thick coating of aggregate onto the floor, providing actors with grip when they walk, without the sealant being heavily damaged by long-term water exposure. To prevent continued water exposure, the decking was mopped multiple times during the show.  However, costumes still pulled a large quantity of water out of the pool and onto the concrete floor, creating a potential slip Hazard for actors and audience.  To combat this, we laid down water-absorbent and rubber mats, creating a safe walking path, whether it was wet or dry.