Neal's brief career as a theatrical set designer

I enrolled at the University of Michigan College of Engineering in 1953. In 1958 I switched to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) to pursue a degree in the Radio, Television, and Film (RTVF) program in the Department of Speech. In order to meet the requirements for graduation I also took courses offered by the department in public speaking, audiology, communications sciences, and theater.

I loved the technical courses offered by the theater faculty — especially scene design, set construction and lighting. I managed to squeak through courses in acting and directing, and ended up with a major in theater, not RTVF.

In the spring semester of the 1959-60 academic year I signed up for Speech 146, Scene Design, taught by Ralph W. Duckwall, Jr., Instructor in the Department of Speech. Duckwall was a well-known scene designer who designed many sets for theatrical productions presented by the Department of Speech and the School of Music.

Speech 146 required, among other things, that each student design and build sets for three one-act "laboratory playbill" plays to be presented during the semester in Trueblood Auditorium. Lab plays were produced and directed by students from other classes, with actors from acting classes. The producer and director were free to select the plays. Some plays were written by students from the English department as part of playwriting classes in that department.

During the semester I designed and executed the stage sets for three one-act lab plays:
         Fratricide Punished, by an unknown author.
         Ganadie, by Ernest E. Ellis.
         My Heart's in the Highlands by William Saroyan.

At some point I also constructed a model stage set.  It may have been for a different course.
         Winterset by Maxwell Anderson