Pole House Design

Chambersburg man returns home to design a set for Totem Pole Playhouse

Chris Russo, graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School and Penn State Mont Alto, has designed the set for Totem Pole's production of Moonlight and Magnolias showing through June 26.

Russo is a graduate student at Yale University's Technical Design and Production program, earning a master of fine arts degree. Previously he toured the world with Cirque du Soleil as the head carpenter for Alegria.

He has been involved with the playhouse for more than 20 years, starting by playing the role Turkey Boy in A Christmas Carol in 1989 when he was a student at Chambersburg Area Middle School. He was then an usher for three years and later joined the playhouse for an additional six years, moving swiftly through the ranks as an Intern, props master, assistant technical director and scenic designer.

During this time he earned a BFA from Penn State University, at University Park. In 2005 he was hired by Cirque du Soleil and toured Japan, London, Milan, Barcelona, Paris and Brazil as the head carpenter, where his duties included being in charge of a set worth $1.2 million. Following his tour he returned to Totem Pole Playhouse as the technical director and enrolled at Yale. He has since brought other Yale students to Totem Pole in the roles of technical director and associate technical director.

The set for Moonlight and Magnolias is, in Russo's words, "the most difficult set I have designed so far, owing to the attention to detail required by the Art Deco style." Art Deco came to prominence in the 1920s and Russo researched images in order to introduce stylistic components into his design. He even took a trip to New York to see Roxy Rothafel's apartment at Radio City Music Hall.

The arduous work was well rewarded as the set received applause when the curtain rose opening night. In fact the Gettysburg Times said Russo's set, "becomes a fifth character in the Totem Pole production - an unobtrusive but integral support to the exchanges going on between the actors."

Following the 2011 season Russo will return to Yale to complete his degree and then pursue a career in either theater consulting or as a technical director in either regional or university theater.

Moonlight and Magnolias

- Runs through June 26.

- The post-show discussion where the audience joins the cast and crew after the curtain rings down is scheduled for Thursday, June 23.

Floor to Ceiling Security Pole and Grab Bar for the Home Interior ...

Millions of Americans suffer in some form or another from muscle and joint problems which make getting out of an armchair or bed, a lot more difficult than would normally be the case. However, the process of sitting down and standing up need not be a daily uphill battle. A floor to ceiling security pole and grab bar for the home interior will be a highly effective and helpful answer to straining legs, backs and arms. It will also make day-to-day activities a whole lot easier.

So what does this pole and grab bar do? The apparatus is an easy-to-install framework which fits between the floor and ceiling of any room in the home. It’s designed to offer a secure and steady frame with which to lift oneself off a chair, sofa or bed and vice-versa. A pivoting curve grab bar with hand grips allows the user to rise in the most efficient possible way.

Rubber pads on both ends of the pole provide protection for the floor and ceiling, regardless of what material either are made from. An included wrench allows the user to adjust the pole’s length so as to fit any ceiling height between 7 and 10 ft. There are a variety of positions at which the swivel grab bar can be placed, depending on the height of the person and that of the seating furniture or bed. The zinc plated steel is coated with a durable powder finish which protects it from rust.

Security Pole and Grab Bar – $179.

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