When the curtain rose this weekend, audiences were not sure what to expect. Fisher Theater promised a lush collaboration of many different art forms in a production of dance, theater and music referred to as “Stained Glass.”

Members of ISU Theater, ISU Dance, and the Grinnell College Choir worked together to bring “Stained Glass” to Iowa State. Their performance, directed by Jeff Kaplan, was a creative expression of art, dance, music, theatre, costume and light.

If an audience member was not sure what was coming, this production immediately grabbed their attention and dragged viewers into an ancient world of light, expression and serenity.

A soft red light encompassed the stage, designed by Robert Sunderman, with a bizarre collection of what appeared to be an incomplete pane of stained glass serving as a background.

The many different facets of the set moving in and out of the stage, along with pieces and props the actors could use, created a stunning and visually appealing backdrop for the actors to work with, said David Decker of Des Moines.

“The design concept was just amazing, from set design, to costumes, to lighting. The set design was fun to look at and functional,” Decker said. “The set was brought into place by the actors and carved up the space very well.”

The fire angel, performed by ISU dance faculty member Amy Martin, posed in the middle of the red glow wearing a vibrant costume of wispy scarlet. A dim light appeared in the background, and the Grinnell Choir became visible through a semi-transparent screen.

What followed was nothing short of beautiful.

The choir began Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “All Night Vigil,” a solemn fifteen-part hymn serving as the backdrop and inspiration for the choreography.

The play fit together extremely well and creates heavy visual appeal, said Grete Stevens, sophomore in marketing.

“I thought it was really cool and looked very nice,” Stevens said. “The choreography and lighting all blend together to tell a story.”

The fire angel was joined by two other dancers, who represented divine personas.

The first, in deep contrast to the red fire angel, was the giant, deep-blue-clad character of the Time Keeper, played by ISU dance instructor Vernon Windsor. The second figure, dressed in a neutral flowing green, played the role of the Gate Keeper, performed by ISU guest dance instructor Emily Finch.

The second aspect of the play was the shadows, with shrouded faces and dressed in form-fitting white.

These six characters performed dances to represent themes, emotions and thoughts experienced by the main characters. Darting on and off the stage, the shadows were present throughout most of the play.

The action centered around a human character named “C,” played by Clayton Johnson, sophomore in performing arts. The performance followed a journey of this innocent-looking man, and the strife he endured, which led to his final death at the end.

Johnson had the most acting- heavy part in the play, and he completed his task in a very expressive and confident way, bringing innocence and life to his character.

As “C” fell to his death, the fire angel walked slowly across the stage to see the person she had been watching over and protecting stricken on the ground.

Pausing by the fallen human, she out an ear-piercing wail, taking the silent audience by surprise and creating a very powerful moment in the drama.

The fire angel was perhaps the most expressive character in the play in dance and in facial expression. Her movements were fluid and she completed them with poise and precision.

However, all the other dancers performed their characters deftly, making each one memorable and vibrant.

As a whole, “Stained Glass” was perhaps the most unique theater experience performed at Fisher Theater in recent years. The production had a powerful cast and a crew that deserves praise. The set, costumes, lighting and sound were all commendable.

All these elements came together to create a very entertaining and beautiful production, said alumna Barbara Kesl.

“It was fabulous,” Kesl said. “The play was all so beautifully put together. It was intriguing and the music was beautiful.”