The Burnt Part Boys
freeFall Theatre freeFall Studio Theatre St. Petersburg, FL
Lighting design for the 2014 production of The Burnt Part Boys at freeFall Theatre, directed by Eric Davis.
About the Lighting Design
The Burnt Part Boys at freeFall was the first time I’d seen or heard the show. By the time I finished designing it I was in love with it. Perfect alchemy of every department serving the same story.
The set was mostly a unit with a few transformations, so lighting carried the location work. Storytelling through angle and color: finding each pair of characters in their own moment, anchoring them in time of day and season, letting the West Virginia mountains shape the visual texture. Steep angles, reflected light, careful use of shadow. Much of the design framework I discovered here is the same one I returned to for the 2025 production at Mountain Theatre Co. Same story, same emotional arc, scaled to a different room.
- Book
- Mariana Elder
- Music
- Chris Miller
- Lyrics
- Nathan Tysen
- Director
- Eric Davis
- Music Director
- Michael Raabe
- Scenic Designer
- Matt Davis
- Costume Designer
- Eric Davis
- Lighting Designer
- Mike Wood
- Associate Lighting Designer
- Anthony Vito
- Assistant Lighting Designer
- Cody Basham
- Lighting Intern
- Abby MayAmber McCloskyCassidy Brown
- Sound Designer
- Eric Davis
- Props Designer
- Eric Davis
- Scenic Painter
- Alison Davis
- Technical Assistant
- Trenten Szabo
- Production Stage Manager
- Daniel LeMien
- Company Manager
- Jim Sorensen
- Lighting Shop
- PRG
About the Show
Locally named The Burnt Part, the Pickaway Coal Company's South Mountain closed down after an accident in 1952 that resulted in the death of four miners, three of whom left behind children. Ten years later, Jake Twitchell is an employee of that same company, doing the same job that took his own father's life. Much to the dismay of his movie-buff younger brother, Pete, the Pickaway Coal Company is going to begin re-mining The Burnt Part and send down both Jake and Jake's friend, Chet, whose father also died in the South Mountain accident. Inspired by his silver screen heroes, Pete sets out for The Burnt Part with his saw-playing best friend, Dusty, a pack full of dynamite and plans to render it useless. With Jake and Chet in hot pursuit, Pete and Dusty are in need of a guide and find a perfect Sacajawea in the young runaway, Frances, who also lost her father in the accident. Dangerous and heartwarming discoveries comprise every theatrical layer of the adventure on the road to the mine.
Source: MTI
Cast
Cameron Kubly as PeteJoseph Flynn as DustyNick Lerew as JakeNick Fitzer as ChetDaniel Schwab as RoyKatie Berger Wood as FrancesJim Sorensen as Frances' DadPatrick Ryan Sullivan as Pete & Jake's DadChris Vaughn as Chet's Dad
Orchestra
Michael Raabe on Music Director / PianoMarta Bukacek on ViolinMaribeth Radtke on CelloNick White on Guitar / Banjo / MandolinBurt Rushing on Percussion
Production Photos
Press
As mentioned, all of the physical elements of this production make strong contributions to its overall excellence, including Matt Davis' scenic design, Eric Davis' direction and costume design, and Mike Wood's lighting design.
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