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Behind the Scenes of "Kodachrome"

Lena Kaminsky (center) as The Photographer and Tina Chilip (The Librarian/The Waitress/Friend).
Lena Kaminsky (center) as The Photographer and Tina Chilip (The Librarian/The Waitress/Friend).

Love appears in unlikely places in the largest show ever produced in the Ellyn Bye Studio. Kodachrome is the story of a small town told through the lens of the local photographer, who lets us peek into her neighbors’ lives to catch glimpses of romance in all its stages. Get a special behind the scenes look at this world premiere below!

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The cast and creative team at first rehearsal.

At seven actors, this is the largest show in the Ellyn Bye Studio. To accommodate all the actors, extra dressing stations have been added to the backstage area. 

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L-R: Ryan Vincent Anderson (The Policeman/The Hardware Store Owner), Lena Kaminsky (The Photographer), Sharonlee McLean (The Mystery Novelist/The Florist/EMT 2) and Kelly Godell (Majorie/The Young Woman) rehearse Kodachrome.

The play centers around The Photographer as she documents the world around her. Using an actual working digital camera, actor Lena Kaminsky's photos taken during the show will be digitally sent to a computer backstage, filtered to look like Kodachrome prints and projected on the set – all in real time. 

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A scenic model of the set designed by Daniel Meeker with actors Kelly Godell, John D. Haggerty, Lena Kaminsky and Ryan Vincent Anderson.

The set features a wraparound backdrop made of voile – a special light-weight sheer fabric perfect for projecting light and images.

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Tools, dye and organics were arranged just-so by Projection Designer Will Cotter to portray the meticulous nature of The Perfumer when he is introduced in the show.

Over 50 original projection slides were created for the show, using digital photos that were processed with a special Kodachrome filter in Photoshop.

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Costume design rendering of The Photographer by Alison Heryer.

The Photographer's costume will be outfitted with hidden cables and transmitters that will allow the photos she takes during the performance to display on the projectors in real time.

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Costume design renderings by Alison Heryer.
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Fig snuggles with its human and Kodachrome director, Rose Riordan, during rehearsal.

"I like plays that ponder existence through small ordinary moments." – Rose Riordan on directing Kodachrome 

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L-R: Ryan Trusser, Rose Riordan, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Lean Kaminsky, Sharonlee McLean, John D. Haggerty, Tina Chilip and Kelly Godell.

All photos by Kate Szrom.

Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).

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