Bird’s-eye view of the east end of Navy Pier and the area of Lake Michigan that will serve as the "stage."

In the theater, space is a resource. The coordination and allocation of space are a large part of my responsibilities as CST’s production manager. For the usual productions on Chicago Shakespeare’s stages, large rolling scenery pieces need to be built to fit backstage like a jigsaw puzzle. Doorways and staircases must be able to accommodate large hoop dresses in some of our period productions. Lighting instruments and scenery winches must be placed so as to not block actor paths backstage. In preparation for Ilotopie’s visit, the past week has involved conducting these same sorts of analyses for their touring production of Water Fools (Fous de Bassin).

The stage area is a mammoth 350-foot expanse of water off the east end of Navy Pier, which will contain large set pieces anchored throughout the week of installation and performance. What impact will this temporary structure have on the merchant marine boat traffic around the Pier? Risers seating over a thousand people will be installed for our audiences, along with spotlights and a control tower for lighting, audio, and pyrotechnics. How will all this affect the traffic patterns of the thousands of people who visit the end of Navy Pier every summer day? A large aquatic "backstage" area needs to be defined, with adequate space for the production’s watercraft to moor between performances. A crane must be stationed there to haul the watercraft out in order to replenish their pyrotechnic charges before each performance. Where can all this equipment and structure live within the relatively limited real estate available on the Pier?

We have been defining these spaces using a variety of tools. Computer drafting enables us to look at hypothetical layouts in scale; satellite imagery allows us to see them in the real structural context of the Pier. In the week ahead, we’ll be using these tools in collaboration with the Chicago Police and Fire Departments, our pyrotechnics operators, and the Coast Guard to more clearly delineate the worlds in which Water Fools will live.