A True History of the Johnstown Flood Study - Goodman Theatre

A Conversation with Walt Spangler
You know Walt Spangler from his arresting set design
for last season’s critically acclaimed production of
Desire Under the Elms, directed by Robert Falls. Now
Spangler and Falls team up again for A True History
of the Johnstown Flood. The Goodman’s Lara Ehrlich
recently talked with Spangler about his set design for
this stunning epic by Rebecca Gilman.
Lara Ehrlich: You worked with Robert Falls and
Rebecca Gilman on Blue Surge at the Goodman
in 2002. What excites you about Gilman’s work in
general and A True History of the Johnstown Flood
in particular?
Walt Spangler: Both Blue Surge and Johnstown are
about gritty, real people in intense life situations. I
love Rebecca’s knack for getting to the raw truth in
relationships between people. She inspires you to
carefully observe the world and create a visceral
environment for the characters. For Johnstown, the
environment is at first idyllic and lush like a paradise,
and then becomes wet, dangerous and cruel.
LE: You have worked with Robert Falls before, most
recently on Desire Under the Elms. Could you talk a
little bit about your collaborative process?
WS: The best part about working with Bob is that I can
show him anything, so I feel pretty fearless when I start
to work up a model for him. If he likes it, I know right
away. If he doesn’t, he tells me why, and we move on to
a better idea. Bob not only responds to what he sees
in the model, but also immediately knows how to use
what I give him. I like to be very hands-on with lots of hot
glue nearby so we can work fast, because I think the
best, most exciting ideas come that way.
LE: A True History of the Johnstown Flood contains
some wildly inventive stage directions. Is there
one scene that is especially challenging to
design?
WS: My favorite scene is one where an entire 19thcentury
train car is swept up by the flood and dropped
down, upended on a muddy bank of sludge and debris.
LE: There is a scene at the end of the play in which
the stage is flooded by: a huge ball of water and
debris…in it are recognizable objects: a ladder, a
cow, a spinning wheel…the wave crests and a sea
of water fills the stage. How will you stage this?
WS: Come and see!
LE: Where did you draw your inspiration for the set
design?
WS: For inspiration, I collected photos and drawings
of actual flood sites, including the aftermath in 1880s
Johnstown. I want to reflect the grit of Rebecca’s writing
and Bob’s directing in the playing space, so that the
audience not only sees the world, but feels it in their gut.
Heather Wood (Fanny) and Cliff Chamberlain (Richard) rehearse a scene
during a rehearsal for A True History of the Johnstown Flood. Photo by Liz
Lauren. Courtesy of Goodman Theatre.
LE: There are multiple plays within this play. Could
you talk a little bit about how you are approaching
the theatricality of this production?
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