NEW YORK IS BIG, BUT THIS IS BIGGAR...THE MUSICAL
July 27 to August 10, 2000
Majestic Theatre, Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada
Written and directed by Tom Bentley
Music by Angie Tysseland
Set and lighting by Michael Bantjes
Photo by Greg Melle
Sketch by Michael Bantjes
A community effort, the people of Biggar commissioned this musical using Milennium funding. Building on years of experience producing an abitious musical every winter, and having recently renovated the Majestic Theatre, they challenged themselves by producing this major event using professional theatre artists and local resources.
As designer, I wasn't sure how far the volunteers could go. They made a major effort. I based the graphic elements of the design on sketches I made in and around the town. This sketch for the flats that made up the threshing machine is based on one I did of a machine south of town.
The chorus.
The shopping carts were loaned by a nearby grocery store. The chorus reappeared several times during the show, and got stranger and stranger every time.
