Brock Baird
Projector Manager - Theatrical Technical Director - Fabricator - Rigger
Virginia Stage Company
Norfolk, VA
Technical Director
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In May 2021 I began my contract for the position of technical director at the Virginia Stage Company. As the head of the scenic department, my responsibilities include oversight of the construction, paint, installation, and maintenance of all scenic elements for each production. In addition to these responsibilities, I am tasked with ensuring the safety of all personnel within the Wells Theatre, rehearsal spaces, shops, & other VSC properties. Prior to my arrival, the Wells Theatre, built in 1913, boasted one of the few remaining operational hemp rope and sandbag fly systems in the country. During the shutdown due to the COVID pandemic, an automated hoist system with custom dual motor winches from Texas Scenic and an ETC Foundation control desk was installed. As the leader of the scenic department, the training and programming of this new system has fallen into my purview. Coming out of the pandemic, the Virginia Stage Company has seen a large amount of turnover within the production department, including the department leadership, resulting in me taking on additional leadership responsibilities to help lead the department into the next season. Below, I have selected some of the shows throughout my time here to emphasis my work.
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Production Photos taken by: Sam Flint, flint.samuel on Instragram
The Earth Remembers
August 13-15 2021
Director - Anthony Mark Stockard & Patrick Mullins
Choreographers - Trezure Coles & Zipporah Gatling
Music Director - Beau King
Stage Manager - Taireikca L.A.
Scenic Designer & Lighting Designer - Jason Amato
Costume Designer - LeVonne Lindsay
Sound Designer - J.C. Nigh
Puppet Designer - Donovan Zimmerman
Projections Designer - Tajleed Hardy
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This show was large and very tough. Given three weeks between final dress and opening of the show, my assistant technical director and I had to build the set. We rented most of the puppets and any repairs were done by our props manager. I completed all of the rigging we did with the puppets and the silks. Working under a strict time limit was a struggle that we handled well and showed that I could time wisely.
Dear Jack, Dear Louise/
Hold These Truths
October 19 - November 7, 2021
Director - Seema Sueko
Stage Manager - Adrienne Wells & Kurt Hall
Scenic Designer - Alan Muraoka
Lighting Designer - Lynne M. Hartman
Costume Designer - Jeni Schaefer
Sound Designer - Andre Pluess
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Starting the announced Season 43 of VSC, we designed and constructed a simple set full of platforms of various heights that we could move around the stage for both shows. Limited to a changeover to 30 minutes, we used few tricks I learned from doing rep at Peach State. We choose to do a luan laid floor as the show deck. On the bottom of each platform leg, we bolted 3/4" UHMW to the steel legs of the platforms. The clouds were built using 1"x1" lumber for the framing members and 1/16" aircraft cable to create the harsh lines when we stretched the muslin over the top.
A Merry Little Christmas Carol
December 1-23, 2021
Director - Tom Quaintance
Assistant Director/Choreographer - Jordan Setzer
Music Director - Refiye Tappan
Stage Manager - Adrienne Wells & Rafi Levavy
Scenic Designer - Dalia Al-Habieli
Lighting & Projections Designer - Jason Amato
Costume Designer - Jeni Schaefer
Sound Designer - Steven Allegretto
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An annual tradition at VSC is doing Christmas Carol for the holidays. This year, we were blessed with a new script and new designs. The design had a lot of nautical theming. It was a large unit set made of stud walls and stress-skin platforms. We hung erosion cloth sails and hung and dressed all flying elements with hemp or brown rope. Trap door was made center stage to look like a cargo hold of a ship.
Dreamgirls
April 13-30, 2022
Director - Anthony Mark Stockard
Choreographers - Zipporah Gatling
Associate Choreographer - Mikayla Revell
Music Director - Rodney "Beau" King & Bart Kuebler
Stage Manager - Daniel LeMien
Scenic Designer - Edward Morris
Associate Scenic Designer - Jeremy Smith
Lighting Designer - Jason Amato
Costume Designers - Jeni Schaefer & Bryce Turgeon
Sound Designer - Steven Allegretto
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In association with Norfolk State University, we take on the biggest designed show VSC has seen in recent history. Starting with a 17' diameter turntable, we build two large lightbox portals with a screen-printed backlit vinyl and 3-light chase light bulb troughs on the interior sides. We purchased a new gold rain curtain and rented a silver Austrian curtain. The Deena sign was a white acrylic faced individual lettered sign. The Dreams sign was painted plywood with a 2-light chase. We built a few dressing room wagons, one that was completely wireless power & DMX controlled. This was easily the biggest and most difficult show I have ever done.