The set and lighting was based on imagery of Marc Chagall. Though
certainly not a new design concept, we felt the general look of a Russian folk tale would
be the most appealing. Cheryl Cantwell's costumes not only utilized authentic
colours, but also authentic cuts. With the Chagall-esque sets, it was a vivid
storybook.
The scenic painting was executed in great part by Elesa Douglas, a fabulous scenic
artist currently based in Portland, Oregon. Not very visible in these pictures is a
gorgeous show portal of Chagall swirls and fragments of Tevye's Anatevka. The
orchestra is directly upstage, behind a black scrim. Beyond them is another scrim
and hard portal -- oniontops of Imperialist Russia (in vivid Chagall colours -- reflective
of his later works).