Backstage

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From the grand entrance, to the reception, to the main stage, An Original Occasion (AOO) created an event inspired by the architecture and designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. The main stage, with its cantilevered deck, virtual waterfall and natural pond at the base, captured the essence of this famous home near Pittsburgh.

AOO created four separate stages, each designed to represent the appearance of the Fallingwater home in each of the four seasons. The dining area was draped with 25-foot-tall, hunter-green fabric. Hand-painted backdrops nestled in natural foliage, which comprised over 2,000 live plants. The dining room was divided into four areas, with the décor of the tables in the respective spaces representing spring, summer, fall and winter. Incorporating Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” played by an orchestra, not only completely integrated the theme, but provided the music for each seasonal performance.

Flowers, birds, scent of roses and butterfly dancers; sounds of crickets, scent of freshly cut grass and fireflies; sounds of rustling leaves, scent of apples, gobo projections of falling leaves as well as flying kites; projected snowflakes, sounds of wind, evergreen scent and an ice skating couple were just a few of the thematic elements that created the experiences of four seasons in just one evening for the guests.

1. The event was designed to resemble the architectural elements of a famous Frank Lloyd Wright home called Fallingwater, located outside of Pittsburgh.

2. The waterfall that seems to pour right out of the foundation of the home, one of the structure’s signature elements, was recreated virtually with a streaming set of video monitors. At the base of the virtual waterfall was a natural pond finished with fog machines and underwater bubble machines.

3. AOO designed the backdrops, which were then custom hand-painted by Grosh Scenic.

4. Oversized spandex shapes fashioned by Transformit filled the massive ceiling of the Pittsburgh Steelers indoor practice field, offering a projection surface onto which the “seasons” would be enhanced in light images.

5. The lighting for the “summer” evening was recreated by Images by Lighting with a glass gobo of the moon and scrolling clouds backed on a dark-blue moonlit spandex surface.

Backstage submissions must include a print-quality digital photo (6 inches by 8 inches at 300 dpi) or high-quality print, a 100-word description of the event, plus highlighted vendor information (company name, city and state). E-mail submissions to pat@event-solutions.com.