Theatrical Designs
Drowning
This script left a lot open to the designer's imagination, and I chose to interpret the characters as aliens learning to live on Earth. They have a house full of books, clothes, and newspapers, which they study because they believe those are easy entry points to understand humanity. The bookshelf walls move inwards for the final scene, where one alien feels like he's drowning. This makes him seem trapped and suffocated by the height of the shelves and weight of his troubles.
Written by Maria Irene Fornes || Designed November 2024 for Scenic Design I at UVA, taught by Ant Ma
A Number
In order to amplify themes of searching for belonging, I created a run-down strip mall inspired space that feels like it could be anywhere. A conversation between two buildings - one closed - is usually casual, but in this case is purposefully used for the opposite so that the most important conversations of the character's lives happen in locations outside of their control. The weather, projected on a cyclorama in the back, reflects the energy in each scene to underscore the importance of the scenery on the emotions of the characters.
Written by Caryl Churchill || Designed October 2024 for Scenic Design I at UVA, taught by Ant Ma
Ghosts
This show centers around eerie, haunted props. To conceal the production of these effects while allowing for adequate sight lines in the black box theatre, I used two cutouts in the back wall. One is behind the counter so technicians have full access to it, and the second is behind the bookshelf that's rigged to "fall". For the overall set, I created a cozy family basement. The shabby wallpaper and older silhouettes start out innocent, but are warped by red lights during possession scenes and become part of the evil side of the room.
Written by Will Sippel || Designed May 2022 for East Chapel Hill High School
Painting Seventeen
The main challenge of this set was differentiating the world inside the painting from real life outside of it in order to play into ideas of personal change vs confinement. For the most obvious visual cue of the separate locations, I defined the painting with a frame. The couch being parallel to the frame creates a 2-dimensional picture, and its color against the red flowers references the painting in the script – Odalisque in Red Culotte by Matisse. The area outside of the frame is purposefully angular to contrast the other space.
Written by Sharon Cooper || Designed November 2021 for the 2021 East Chapel Hill High School One Acts Festival
Lush Life
This play deals with heavy themes, so I wanted to allow each audience member to have their own interpretation and response to the text. I used a minimal footprint that allowed both the cast and audience to read between the lines and play with what's left unsaid. The lack of walls allowed the actors to move outside of the established world of subway tile with the sign serving as a loose tether to ground them, providing a coherent sense of uncertainty.
Written by Nina Shengold || Designed November 2021 for the 2021 East Chapel Hill High School One Acts Festival
After the Ball Drops
For this design I focused on creating a change of mood from awkward to romantic. The clutter and trapped feeling from the imposing shelves provides a sense that the characters don't belong in the pantry. As the play continues, they move things around to sit and eat, using the props to demonstrate their increasing comfort. Their reinvention of the space culminates with the kiss, when it changes completely to become a place of sanctuary.
Written by Rachel Lerner-Ley || Designed November 2021 for the 2021 East Chapel Hill High School One Acts Festival