HOT MIKADO bridge makes a graceful gift to The Commander’s Mansion wedding garden

New Rep staffers wheeling the bridge used in Hot Mikado to The Commander’s Mansion. Photo by Charlie Breitrose.

It’s been a busy few weeks here at New Rep, as we welcomed our new Artistic Director Jim Petosa and announced our 2012-2013 Season. But we took some time yesterday to take a walk over to The Commander’s Mansion with a gift: the red bridge used in our 2010 production of Hot Mikado.

Lisa Yuen in Hot Mikado. Photo by Andrew Brilliant/ Brilliant Pictures.

Originally designed by scenic designer Janie E. Howland for Hot Mikado in 2010, the bridge had been taking up space in our scenic shop for a few years, getting in the way of loading in and loading out sets for our productions. We had discussed selling the bridge, but when we talked to The Commander’s Mansion, donating the bridge to them seemed like a perfect fit.

A beautiful wedding location and our neighbor at The Arsenal on the Charles complex, The Commander’s Mansion is our site of choice for the New Rep Premiere Party coming up on March 20th. Tammy McKenna and Rae Grassia at The Commander's Mansion were looking for a way to create a "secret garden," a new spot on their grounds where wedding parties could have photos taken, and the bridge was the perfect landscaping piece to kick off the project.

We're thrilled that this scenic element from a New Rep show will find a new life at The Commander's Mansion, both revitalizing an area of their grounds and providing a beautiful setting for wedding bliss.

New Rep staff with the bridge in its new home at The Commander's Mansion. Photo by Charlie Breitrose.


Read the Watertown Patch article about the bridge transfer here!