Storyboard:

Persephone

Fannin Musical Productions Storyboard by Jason Shelby

jrolenshelby@gmail.com (270) 293-4106

Overview

Persephone utilizes fresh, innovative arrangements of classics of the repertoire to retell the story of the

beautiful daughter of the goddess Demeter, whose abduction by the god of the underworld results in

the cold and death of winter, and whose return results in the rebirth of spring. The show opens with a

light, fresh musical and visual tone evocative of spring and youth, but quickly darkens as the melodic

motifs of Night on Bald Mountain suggest the encroachment of darkness on the scene, culminating in

Persephone’s abduction. The second movement is somber, suggesting the fall of winter, but ultimately

resilient as expressed by Holst’s Jupiter. Finally, the closer presents the conflict of light and dark before

Persephone’s triumphant return as a queen, and with her the rebirth of spring.

The visual concepts presented here presume a moderately sized color guard, but could be adjusted

easily to fit a larger or smaller auxiliary.

Although the show is designed to work with or without it, the addition of a narrative voiceover could

add another layer to the storytelling.

Set Design

The overall set design for Persephone uses a wide variety of functional, but simple props to transport

the viewer to an idyllic, Greek countryside. The most important props are a series of trees [the number

is adjustable with the size of the ensemble and budget] which are used to completely change the mood

of the field as Persephone is abducted.

Each ‘tree’ is in fact a metal rod sandwiched between two mirror image tree-shapes, then inserted into a

weighted base. At the desired moment, performers can easily turn the ‘tree’ on the rod’s axis to present

the opposite side. Plans and build/lease options available through Tiger Props, high-quality digital

printing available through Band Shoppe.

Other props include small ‘columns’ which evoke the setting of Greece while also serving as staging

points for musical solos and features, and a larger ‘fallen column’ which serves as the staging point for

one of our largest effects: the end of opener ‘abduction’ of Persephone.

‘Column’ props of this type can easily be built in several ways via a trip to Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc.

Plans and build/lease options available through Tiger Props, high-quality digital printing available

through Band Shoppe.

On Side A several of these props come together to form a separate staging area where the ‘abduction’

scene will take place. In the center of this ‘grove’ staging area, a slightly raised dais will help to draw the

eye to the Persephone character at the key moment, shown here with an optional graphic depicting the

ancient Greek symbol for an entrance to the underworld. Plans and build/lease options available

through Tiger Props, high-quality digital printing available through Band Shoppe.

Colors, Costuming, Flags

The show is visually split between two contrasting color palettes, one representing spring and rebirth,

the other darkness and winter, but the two are also connected through the repeating motif of the

‘Greek Key’ pattern in many incarnations.

Opener

As the show begins, the ensemble is spread throughout the idyllic, spring-like set. The musicians are in

various, statue-like poses in another connection to the Greek setting. Half of the guard [those costumed

in uniform ‘B’] are hidden behind props while the other half is gathered on Side B, dancing around a

featured performer who is costumed as Persephone herself.

The featured performer need not be a member of the color guard proper as her role will not involve

manipulating equipment. Instead, she could be a special recruit for this production who has strong

acting and/or dance skills.

As the show begins, Persephone and her circle of dancers begin to move around the field, ‘causing’

musicians to begin to move and play. Optional narration prior to the first horn line entrance:

Voiceover [male voice]: She is so lovely… like the spring itself…

At first, the low brass and drumline form up behind them and begin to follow the dancers towards

center stage. Next, as they pass a short column prop, a flute duet turns and begins to play.

Similarly, as the dancers pass two other short columns, a trumpet duet and clarinet solo are also

‘caused’ by their passing. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of musicians are beginning to begin to move

and join the form as it follows them around the field towards the Side A ‘grove.’

As the Night on Bald Mountain motif becomes more pronounced and recognizable, the guard

performers in costume ‘B’ begin to emerge from their hiding places behind props, individualistically

spinning as they move towards the first arrival/impact of the show. Then, just before that first impact,

narration:

Voiceover [male voice]: Bring her to me!

Then, the first, full-ensemble statement of Night on Bald Mountain.

The remainder of the Opener constitutes a chase with Guard ‘A’ and Guard ‘B’ being opposed to one

another in pairs in various ways. The musician drill serves to separate them at first, then gradually allows

Guard A and Guard B to interact in various ways.

As the music develop in intensity, the drill begins to bring Persephone and Guard ‘A’ towards the Side A

‘grove’ staging area for the culminating effect of the first movement.

Persephone stands upon the dais in the center of the ‘grove’ staging area while two Guard ‘B’

performers go behind the ‘fallen’ pillar to prepare…

…for the final abduction of Persephone. The two Guard ‘B’ performers pull from behind the ‘fallen’ pillar

a huge black silk on two ‘t’ poles which they then run over Persephone on her dais and then between

the tree props towards backfield.

After the final release of Movement 1, another narration:

Voiceover [male voice]: You are mine!

…just as the black silk is pulled away from the dais revealing that Persephone is gone [the performer

actually having snuck out under the silk and now hidden behind the large pillar prop in the back of the

‘grove’ staging area]. Guard ‘A’ gathers around the dais, shocked.

Ballad

During the beginning of the ballad [musically entirely played in the front ensemble] the moving

ensemble scatters across the field, leaving Guard A to dance mournfully around the dais and

Persephone’s absence. Future brass soloists go to the small columns while Guard B and the remainder of

the horn line go to the tree props to prepare for the next major effect. Optional narration:

Voiceover [female voice]: This injustice shall not stand… till my daughter is returned, no flower

shall bloom… no green thing grow… the earth is itself, shall die!

While the trumpet soloist begins the initial motif of Jupiter, the tree props turn to their ‘dead’ side,

rippling from Side A to Side B. Meanwhile, Guard A makes their way center stage.

The Jupiter motif is then transferred to a small ensemble, here shown as a trumpet duet with a tuba and

baritone, staged on the short columns. Guard A then introduces the ballad silk.

Then the woodwinds briefly take center stage while the brass move toward center stage and Guard B

enters on the ballad silk towards backfield.

Finally, at the major, impactful statement of the Jupiter motif, the entire ensemble comes together for a

grand musical moment and our first unison flag statement.

As the ballad winds down and begin to translate to the Closer, Guard B transitions towards the rear of

the stage for equipment change while Guard A stays front field to carry the visual focus. Meanwhile, the

musicians restage for the Closer.

Closer

In the beginning of the Closer, the return to the Night on Bald Mountain motif is matched visually by a

return to visual prominence of Guard B, and the conflict between A and B. This would be an ideal time

for weapons if desired. For Guard A, this could be an ideal moment for a dance moment, or a return to

the Opener silk.

As Night on Bald Mountain gives way to a new musical motif, Guard A come front stage and Guard B

moves towards the backfield props dejectedly. Meanwhile, the musical ensemble builds into the classic

‘company front’ form arranged towards the Side A dais. Optional narration:

Voiceover [female voice]: Darkness may fall for a time… but the light will always return!

Upon the dais, the Persephone performer has moved into position while the eye was focused on Side B,

now costumed in shades of gold to symbolize her transformation by her ordeal into a regal figure. The

horn line performs a body lean towards her to draw the eye before stepping off on the biggest, most

regal statement of the Great Gate of Kiev. Guard A explodes from the front sideline with a huge, golden

silk while Guard B turns the tree props back to their ‘spring’ side.

After an initial half-time, slow forward motion, the musicians drill then evolves to make a pathway for

the Persephone character to move center stage.

The form then closes down around Persephone center stage for the final impact of the show. Several

horn players [woodwinds so as to have a minimal impact on volume] then lift Persephone triumphantly

into the air.

Meanwhile, the full guard fills the field with gold as the final majestic strains of the Great Gate ring out.

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