Thom Widmann ’90 Tames the Hairy Ape

Lecturer in Design/Technology Thom Widmann ’90 is the Production Stage Manager for the massive Park Avenue Armory production of Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape directed by Richard Jones and featuring Bobby Cannavale. 

The production’s (literal) centerpiece is a 140’ automated turntable—thought to be the largest in New York theater history. Widmann and the production team programmed a half-mile worth of cues for the show as part of the stunning expressionist design inside the 55,000 sq. ft. Wade Thompson Drill Hall.

“There are 16 crew members, including stage management, wardrobe, hair and makeup. The cast of 15 wears 59 costumes. The crew does a complete change (of set, full company costume and makeup) while the turntable is spinning, in under a minute, while they are out of the audience’s view.”

—Erik Piepenburg, The New York Times.
Read the full article here. 

Performances run March 25 through April 22, 2017.