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- All Subjects: Theatre
- Creators: Yatso, Toby
- Creators: McAuliffe, Jordan
- Status: Published
Through this creative project, I analyzed how COVID-19 has affected the theatre industry. I created a mini-documentary following ASU’s production of Runaways, which was performed without an audience. The final product was a combination of pre-filmed and self-taped scenes. I documented how students were still able to learn and cultivate their skills during a time where most things are virtual. In addition, I analyzed how the shift to filmed theatre has changed the definition of live theatre, including increased accessibility. I also explored the importance of theatre through analyzing the themes of musical theatre performances such as Rent and Runaways. During a time where people cannot gather, artists are still finding a way to create and tell stories.
Theatrical lighting design currently struggles to keep pace with the cutting edge of technology. Theatre equipment needs to be durable, repairable, and intuitive far more than it needs to concern itself with high data throughput or formal network connections. Because of this, current signal protocols, of which DMX512 is the most common, use physical interfaces and signal protocols differing from a standard ethernet connection. Very few lighting fixtures have an RJ-45 port to accept an ethernet connection, requiring signal conversion at some point within the signal flow for compatibility. The natural solution to this scenario is simple and already implemented: electronic boxes which accept a cable input, convert the signal and offer an output in a new protocol. Contributing to this system flow solution, I propose a design of a converter box with modular ports and configurations. Using a central embedded computer running driving firmware, the user can adapt the box to the networking needs of a given production.