Scenic Design
Selected Projects
Spring Awakening
by Steven Sater
1/4" Scale Model
This scenic design for the musical version of Spring Awakening was inspired by concert stages and industrial buildings. The goal with this design was to create a transformable unit set that would allow actors to move fluidly between scenes and location. This unit set was designed to be transformed by lighting, projections, and the actors themselves. The furthest down stage columns are designed to have a sheer fabric covering, allowing actors to create shadows by standing behind then and having back lighting. Parts of the set were painted with chalkboard paint so that the actors themselves could transform the set throughout the show with chalk. This was designed to help create the school environment. For projections, Latin and forests would be projected on the set during specific scenes. Additionally, the middle circle is a revolve painted with a glossy coat to mimic a mirror during the "Mirror Blue Night" song. To allow fluid transitions requiring no set changes other than the addition of chairs and tables, the graveyard was replaced with a mausoleum created on the proscenium of the theatre. This mausoleum is meant to appear as only an aesthetic design until its true nature is revealed by the characters placing flowers at the tombs of their classmates.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare
1/8" Scale Model
This scenic design was inspired by the natural environment of Japan in addition to Japanese architecture, art, and folklore. In this concept, the design of magical characters, such as Titania and Oberon, were to be inspired by the Yōkai of Japanese folklore. Pictured is Puck who was inspired by a nine-tailed fox or Kitsune. To create the magical world of the play, bridges, cherry blossom trees, and a roof were inverted and hung from the fly system to make the world feel topsy-turvy and unrealistic. Furthest downstage is a magical zen garden that the actors could manipulate as a visual for manipulating the mortals.
