Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1521244
Like the man upstairs apartment set, the subtle fantasies in the design created a delicate dance between reality and imagination. The sets didn't need to push too far into fantasy because the live- action puppetry and CGI of the imaginary friend characters created the foundation of their imaginary world. The sets could simply live comfortably in that world and not upstage the characters. The production found a location for the retirement home set in the Bronx, a stone's throw from Yankee Stadium. It was an upscale boarding house over a century ago. It was very large and it worked well for us, but it was in disrepair, which allowed us to remodel some rooms and leave them better than they were when we arrived. It was no small undertaking. It took eight weeks of wallpapering, painting and carpeting to create a well-worn, dusty environment that looked lived-in but not scary. Due to the historic setting and what the building's history, it felt like the perfect location, and the final result exceeded expectations. D E F G H