Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2017 - 19

moments. Photos of the set with this pool reveal it to
be a beautiful closing image. Asked why it was cut when
it seemed to work well and was well received, Korins'
answer is telling-not only in regard to the pool, but
also to the larger tenor of the show and the holistic philosophy governing the production decisions that shaped
Hamilton (and which may also be a critical factor responsible for the show's success). "We built the water
for the center of the middle turntable; we had it for the
first previews at the Public. The final number is asking
a question and we cut the pool, even though it was a
really beautiful moment, spawned from the ideas of the
reflecting pools in Washington. The subject is how Eliza
lives on to do all these very important things culturally
for our country. We unearthed this beautiful pool, and
Hamilton and Eliza were rejoined around this reflecting
pool. It was just beautiful, but the questions that were
being asked were all about the technical aspects of 'how
the heck are they doing that?' We wanted the focus to
be on the show's questions-the story-not the technical aspects of the set."
The turntable/ring in Hamilton facilitates the desired focus for the show. It enhances the storytelling and
serves the dramatic world of Hamilton by functioning
collaboratively with other elements of the show's design
and production to tell the story of the hurricane-esque
life of Alexander Hamilton in the most effective way
possible. In Korins' words, "You couldn't make Hamilton
another way."
Kimberly Poppiti teaches at Five Towns
College in Dix Hills, New York, and is the
former Chair of Communication &
Performing Arts at Dowling College. She is
thankful to David Korins, Alexis Reynolds,
Franklin Swann, Bridget Van Dyke, Neil Mazzella,
Andrew Lanzarotta, James Steinmeyer, and Esmé
Warmuth for their support and assistance. She has
previously contributed articles to TD&T on the puppetry
in War Horse and the stage machinery used in
hippodrama. Reach her at poppiti@gmail.com.
ing ring fit seamlessly into the surrounding stage floor,
which (when the turntables are not in motion) appears
to be solid to anyone who is not really searching for the
seams. The Arboron flooring covers a metal frame set
on wheels. The entire turntable device is built on top of,
and not into, the stage.
"We sit it on top of the stage on an 8-inch deck,"
says Korins. "On Broadway, we have the drive chain and
the motors in the basement and we puncture the floor
and go up from there to the turntable and the ring, but
in Chicago [and other tour cities] we will build all the
motors into the deck; we are building it to stay put in
Chicago."
One element not being used in Chicago, and which
also is absent from the Broadway production, but which
appeared in some early previews at the Public Theater,
is the reflecting pool once featured in the show's final

WORKS CITED

Brantley, Ben. "Review: Panties, Squirrels, and Lots of Ammo," New York Times,
April 6, 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/theater/reviews/07tort.html.
Brantley, Ben. "Review: Young Rebels Changing History and Theater," New York
Times, August 6, 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/theater/review-hamiltonyoung-rebels-changing-history-and-theater.html.
"Designing Broadway: David Korins on his amazing set for Broadways 'Chinglish.'"
Youtube.com, 5:37. January 12, 2012. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVJ0ikP87w.
Ernst, Earle. 1974. The Kabuki Theatre. Honolulu: University of Hawaii.
Miranda, Lin-Manuel. "Digital HAM4HAM 3/2/16: Up on the Catwalk," uploaded on
March 2, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a2qU-QmwOU.
"Misery Set Designer David Korins on Creating a Thrill Ride in a Small House,"
uploaded on December 16, 2015, www.broadway.com/videos/156498/misery-setdesigner-david-korins-on-creating-a-thrill-ride-in-a-small-house/#play.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/theater/reviews/07tort.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/theater/review-hamilton http://www.Youtube.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVJ0ikP87w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a2qU-QmwOU http://www.broadway.com/videos/156498/misery-set-designer-david-korins-on-creating-a-thrill-ride-in-a-small-house/#play http://www.broadway.com/videos/156498/misery-set-designer-david-korins-on-creating-a-thrill-ride-in-a-small-house/#play

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