Show presented design challenges

Signature Productions plans to bring "Singin' In the Rain" to Summerlin, and even in the desert, it has endeavored to make it rain. No, really.

The rain idea stemmed from the Signature board and was first broached nearly two years ago, said Leslie Fotheringham, artistic director. For help, the theater reached out to the UNLV Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, and three students -- Valerie Lalond, Cody Wright and Eskender Kebede -- took it on as their senior project.

Deciding to make it rain is one thing. Accomplishing it is another. The set had to be waterproofed, all elements must be higher than the stage level for drainage reasons, and the system must be made of easily available components.

"It had to be self-contained," Fotheringham said. "You can't just hook up a hose to a faucet."

Water and electricity don't mix, but to light the rain effect, more lighting was needed. The large-face shower heads and the sprinklers needed to be lit differently.

The play follows the 1952 hit movie by the same name that starred Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds. It offered a comic, behind-the-scenes look at a Hollywood transitioning from silent films to "talkies."

The plot: Don Lockwood, played by Kelly, is a popular silent film star paired with a vapid, shallow leading lady named Lina Lamont (played by Jean Hagen), whom he can barely tolerate. Their studio, Monumental Pictures, links them romantically to increase their popularity, so he has to play along.

Talkies are the latest thing, and the pair must transition to singing. An aspiring actress named Kathy Selden, played by Reynolds, is brought in to dub Lina's singing parts.

Don falls in love with her, much to Lina's concern as she has mistaken the on-screen romance for real love.

Evan Litt plays the Kelly role in Signature's production . Litt's resume includes national tours of "West Side Story" and "A Chorus Line," as well as cruise line work. He did "Singin' in the Rain" in Michigan, a show that also used water on stage and had the whole cast get wet in the final number.

"It's a great effect, gives it a wonderful look," he said.

The slanted stage makes it a little tricky for dancing, he said, but he wasn't worried about water and electricity not mixing as he trusts the professionals behind it.

"This town's pretty knowledgeable when it comes to water effects on the Strip," he said.

Although it's popular with audiences, the play is normally tackled only by big theater companies. But just the allure of the name brought in eager participants for Signature -- an NYU student, a specialist from "Mystere" -- who wanted to work on the project.

"When we ask for help, all people hear is 'Singin in the Rain,' and they say, 'Tell us what you need,' " said Stephanie Villaluz, technical director.

The production also makes use of a projector screen effect to give the appearance of silent movies being shown. That required filming what would be shown and making it appear as though it was done with old-fashioned methods.

As the challenges are conquered, more creative ideas bubble to the surface. The latest addition to the special effects? A gushing fire hydrant. No word on how that one will be accomplished.

The show begins Monday and runs until April 30 at Summerlin Library's Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. Showtimes are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with 2 p.m. Saturday matinees on April 16 and 23 . Tickets start at $20. For tickets, call 878-7529 .

For more information, visit signature
productions.net.

Contact Summerlin and South Summerlin View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.