A LION'S ROAR ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
FATHERS OF THE DARK Knight
  • HOME
  • THE PLAY
  • ABOUT
  • GALLERY
  • CAST & CREW
    • Roberto Williams
    • Zach Karem
    • Ezekiel Jackson
    • Mark Anthony Montalvo
    • H. Max Rosenthal
    • Kendra Avans
    • Russell Mahrt
    • Ryan Dempsey
    • Aaron David Kapner
    • David Estrada
    • Jamie Soltis
    • Gyomara Phillips
    • Nick Byrne
    • Micah Henning
    • Allison Rapsas
    • Rene Antonio Rivera
    • Anthony Cuevas
    • Alaja Desilva
    • Charles Grant
    • Doreen Hunter
    • David Bicknell
    • Henchmen & Hoodlums
  • PRODUCTION DESIGNS
    • Gotham City Rooftop
    • Bob Kane's Apartment
    • The Batcave
    • The Iceberg Lounge
    • Police Headquarters Rooftop
    • Wayne Manor Study
    • The Batmobile
    • The Riddler's Warehouse Hideout
    • The Bat-Signal
    • Globe Building Rooftop
    • Gotham City Back Alley
    • Commissioner Gordon's Office
  • COSTUME & PROPS CONSTRUCTION
    • Bat Gloves
    • Cowls
    • The Batman's Cape
    • The Batman's Utility Belt
    • The Batman's Chest Emblem Shield
    • Batgirl's Utility Belt
    • Robin's Vest Tunic
    • Robin's Chain-Mail Shorts
    • Robin's Utility Belt
    • Robin's Pixie Boots
    • The Batman & Robin Costumes
    • Bat-a-Rangs
    • The Riddler's Hat and Face Mask
    • The Riddler's Belt
    • The Riddler's Walking Cane
    • The Riddler's Shoes
    • Harley Quinn's Giant Mallet
    • Bob Kane's Candlestick Telephone
    • Harely Quinn's Bazooka
    • BAT ROD PUPPET
  • BEHIND THE SCENES
    • CASTING CALL
    • Publicity Photo Shoots
    • Rehearsals / Costume Fittings / Make Up Tests
    • Lighting Tests: Robin The Boy Wonder
  • DONATE GO FUND ME
  • DONATE INDIEGOGO
  • LINKS
  • Friends Of The DarK Knight
  • CONTACT
Picture
In Bill Finger's classic 1939 origin sequence, Bruce Wayne is depicted as having been inspired into his life of fighting crime as The Batman, by a wayward BAT that flies into his study from an open window.

Picture
Picture
Decades later, writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli gave the iconic origin sequence a grander, more operatic interpretation in the now-legendary BATMAN: YEAR ONE.

Inspired by Miller's more figurative and spiritual approach to the origin story, playwright Roberto Williams designed a scene for the stage that would evoke the power and grandeur of a death / resurrection theme... with Wayne's body possessed by the very essence of the ancient and frightening creature!

ROD PUPPET PRODUCTION DESIGN

Picture
From the earliest stages of pre-production, it became clear that a simple $2 Halloween rubber BAT dangled from  a bungee cord would NOT be an adequate approach to the presentation of this creature.  In order for the sequence to have the moody impact that Playwright / Director Williams intended, he realized that it would become necessary to design and construct a realistic FLYING BAT ROD PUPPET that could perform on-cue on the stage with elegance and majesty. Williams rendered a production design of a rod-controlled puppet that would feature a working / folding wing mechanism based off the inner workings of a basic umbrella!

Picture
After a long search for a suitable creature fabricator, the playwright eventually enlisted the considerable talents of Ann Arbor, MI-based artist Mr. David Bicknell to fabricate the working rod puppet. Mr Bicknell has created BATS, and Ghosts, and Goblins, and Ghouls since 1992 as part of his fascination with Halloween, and he proved to be the PERFECT man for this job!

Picture
Within three weeks of Williams' first contact with him, Mr. Bicknell submitted these two tantalizing images of his progress with the puppet's inner wing mechanism and head sculpt.  The photos sent a shudder of excitement throughout the FOTDK production team!

Picture
Picture
These photos of the finished BAT rod puppet do not do it justice!  It is a stunning example of ingenuity, craftsmanship, and old-school professional artistry!

Picture
The beast features a body flocked with real fur, light-up red eyes...

Picture
Picture
Picture
... and rod-controlled articulated wings which spread open to a spectacular 36-inch span!!!

Picture

All images and content copyright
“Fathers Of The Dark Knight”  © 2011-2013
Do not use any image without permission.

Batman and related characters are the property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment.  “Fathers of the Dark Knight” is a non-profit,  student cosplay stage production that is in no way sponsored, approved, endorsed, nor licensed by DC Comics, Warner Bros. or any of their affiliates.

✕