August 17th, 2023 by John Sparano SDSA & Karen Burg
The Kratt Klub cabaret. You can’t help but note the impressive backdrop for the cabert stage, the lighted lips, bottom of the lip a curtain....Click on the Inside the Set video for the story behind all of these! Photo by Brendan Meadows courtesy of Apple.
In a fun and fascinating Inside the Set video conversation with Set Decorator Carol Lavallee SDSA and Production Designer Jamie Walker McCall, moderator John Sparano SDSA discusses their intricate and specialized design and decoration of Apple TV's musical theater parody SCHMIGADOON!
At once narrative feature and Broadway extravaganza, Season 2 finds struggling husband and wife, Josh and Melissa [Keegan-Michael Key & Cecily Strong], once again trying to find their bliss. Their strategy is to return to last season’s wholesome love-filled mirage...the world of Schmigadoon...but the plan is scuttled almost immediately as they arrive in a new town that has taken its place on the theatrical astral plane, Schmicago, filled with murder, deceit, hard times, and a curious group of hippies living at the edge of town.
This edgy contrast to the delights of the first season’s tribute to the Golden Age of Musicals, highlights the balance of life: difficulties and dark do not necessarily diminish love...or do they? Through a mélange of homage & parody of the next era of musicals* we step into stunning stage worlds of danger and scandal that morph into one another and beyond with a mixture of murderous intent and delicious whimsy.
Here's a peep-show gallery, to give you a taste of the Kratt Klub cabaret stage & backstage...
It’s just a glimpse of one complex of sets, there are many, many other vignettes to explore...and the video showcases so much more, including Jenny’s apartment (don’t miss the gramophone story), the orphanage/sweetshop/butchery, the hippie encampment and still more!
*Editor’s note:
Musicals referenced in the Schmicago of SCHMIGADOON! Season 2: CHICAGO, A CHORUS LINE, CABARET, COMPANY, DREAMGIRLS, SWEET CHARITY, THE ROCKY PICTURE HORROR SHOW, ANNIE, OLIVER & SWEENEY TODD and also HAIR, GODSPELL, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, PIPPIN, PROMISES PROMISES
The Kratt Klub cabaret bar. Crushed velvet banquettes, embellished & working table lamps for every table! The phones! And so much more! Check the video! Photo by Brendan Meadows courtesy of Apple.
The Kratt Klub cabaret. Seated: Patrick Page, Jaime Camil. Stage: Ariana DeBose, Cecily Strong, Dove Cameron. Photo by Robert Falconer, courtesy of Apple.
The Kratt Klub, backstage: Cecily Strong, center; Dove Cameron, left. Photo by Dean Buscher, courtesy of Apple.
The Kratt Klub, backstage. There’s a separate backstory for each & every dancer revealed in the set dressing of the makeup tables. In the Inside the Set video, Set Decorator Carol Lavallee SDSA tells us about her team creating these and more! Photo by Dean Buscher, courtesy of Apple.
The Kratt Klub, backstage. There are so many shoutouts here, do watch the video for great insider details! Photo by Dean Buscher, courtesy of Apple.
The Kratt Klub, Kratt’s wedding set. Such a tale about the chandelier! Watch the Inside the Set video for the literal behind-the-scene story! Courtesy of Apple.
