Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy (Italian: Divina Commedia) is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of all time. The poem is written in the first person, and tells of Dante's journey through the three realms of the dead, lasting from the night before Good Friday to the Wednesday after Easter in the spring of 1300. The Roman poet Virgil guides him through Hell and Purgatory. Beatrice, Dante's ideal woman, guides him through Heaven.

A quick internet search will provide a wide variety of images for use as inspiration for your overall look. From the surreal, to the scary and even whimsical, there is no shortage of visual ideas to draw from. Once you have determined the direction of your visual theme, you can begin to create backdrops, floor coverings and props to tell your story. If you are surrounding the performance area with backdrops, be sure to look at all your drill sets and place the props at least 8 steps outside the largest drill set. Outdoor props should be at least ten feet tall and five feet wide for visual appeal. Keep in mind that props need to be seen and understood from the top of the press box. Another consideration is the number of props that would create a compelling and balanced look on the field. One small painting on the back hash of the 50 yard will not create much impact. Designers create intrigue by using items in odd numbers (3, 5, 7 and so on). You should consider the same principle with your props. Another great way to create a frame for your drill is to layer your props from shortest on the outside to tallest in the center. A variation on that idea is to stagger your props with different heights for a more random effect. Bring in extra “eyes” (such as your theater, art or home economics teachers) to get a fresh look and provide feedback. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your set design. Also, you do not have to construct everything you need! We highly encourage you to consult with your school or community theater department and get them involved in your set decoration.

You will also need to decide who will portray the various characters in this story. Will it be the auxiliary only or the entire band? One suggestion is for the auxiliary to portray the Dante character while the band and pit are the “perils” (antagonistic visuals will help present this). Another suggestion is to involve everyone and create visuals to reflect fear, anguish and so on. Either presentation would work great, just make sure to pick one idea and stick with it from beginning to end.

Costuming is another area that can really sell this show. The auxiliary (and band proper if they are portraying Dante-type characters) should have many layers of fabric to give a ripped and tattered appearance. Extra makeup can also add to the effect of traveling into the underworld. Your flag color choices should make the mood of each song. Ranging from fiery colors in the opener, through darker and darker hues and finally ending the show with vibrant colors and metallic fabrics.

Other options for “Divine Comedy:

1) Volcano! Imagine a giant volcano, (oh, the fun your prop parents could have with this), that threatens to erupt and run all over your performance.

2) Select a poem by Edgar Allen Poe: J.R.’s music would make a great background for “The Raven”, “The Tell-Tale Heart” or even the “Fall of the House of Usher”