Romeo and Juliet Design Exploration

I really let myself be bold and playful. The design mixes classical architecture with a graphic modern aesthetic. The two columns DS of the house prosc. are a nod to the columns at the Globe. You can see how the design could move, having the US colonnade, chandeliers, and back windows fly in and out to create different looks. Also the cross shape could be an iris, creating different apertures.

OLEANNA quick sketch

OLEANNA by David Mamet. Exploratory pencil sketch in procreate. I did this in about two hours mostly on the train. I wanted the design to feeling both imposing and unsettling, but also be grounded. My idea is a towering bookcase that goes well above the confides of the physical room. Maybe there is a color gradient as it moves up? What a gut wrenching gem of a show though. Would love to work on a production someday.

Set Study - Ming Cho Lee’s design of “Bomarzo” - Year unknown

Ming Cho Lee’s set design for Bomarzo, the haunting opera by Alberto Ginastera, was a masterpiece of surrealism and psychological depth. Lee crafted a fragmented and dreamlike landscape inspired by the eerie, grotesque sculptures of the Bomarzo Gardens in Italy, mirroring the inner turmoil of the protagonist, Pier Francesco Orsini. His use of jagged, abstract structures and evocative textures created a sense of disorientation and foreboding, perfectly aligning with the opera’s themes of madness, mortality, and obsession. Through bold, expressionistic elements, Lee transformed the stage into a living nightmare, heightening the opera’s dramatic and emotional intensity. This design of “Bomarzo” iconically graces the cover of Lynn Pecktal’s “Designing and Drawing for the Theatre”

A Christmas Carol - Design Exploration

This is a Set Exploration into an adaptation of A christmas Carol written by thom Warren.

Industrial Rev. & Dickens

In this design I explored “A Christmas Carol” as a metaphor for the Industrial Revolution, capturing the era’s tension between profit-driven progress and human compassion. Ebenezer Scrooge embodies the era’s unchecked capitalism, prioritizing wealth over the welfare of others. The Cratchit’s represents the enduring poverty amidst rapid technological change. The transformative journey of Scrooge—from cold-hearted miser to generous benefactor—mirrors the growing call for social reform and the recognition of humanity’s role in shaping a more equitable society.

Set Study of Hamlet designed by lee Simonson

Lee Simonson’s set design for Hamlet exemplified his commitment to merging theatricality with visual symbolism. Eschewing traditional medieval realism, Simonson employed bold, abstract elements to evoke the play’s themes of existential uncertainty and political decay. His layered, suggestive backdrops and stark architectural forms created a brooding, otherworldly atmosphere that mirrored Hamlet’s inner turmoil. Through innovative use of shadow and space, Simonson’s design amplified the tension between action and introspection, crafting a visual landscape that deepened the psychological complexity of Shakespeare’s tragedy.

Lee Simonson’s set design for Hamlet

Set Study of an old friend and mentor

Eduardo was a college professor of mine at UNCSA who recently passed away. As a student he would often give us black and white pieces of his work which we could render however we wanted. This helped us both in the craft of rendering and designing a palette, but it also allowed us an in depth study of the design. Zooming in to see each pencil stroke, giving us the understanding of what it takes to be a pro is this industry. This drop is unspeakably detailed and packed full of whimsical joy. Which is carried throughout the design. I could go on forever, but I’ll just say that It was so much fun delving back into the mind of this genius. Miss you friend.

Playing in color

This is a color study of Eduardo Sicangco’s Toyshop Drop from the 1992 production of “The Nutcracker” which he designed both the set and costumes for.

Classical Studies

Drawing Study of a scaled down plaster replica of Michelangelo’ David. I was lucky enough to see the real deal in the summer of 2024 on my honeymoon with my wife. It was too crowded and we had far to much booked to stay and do a drawing, but unsurprisingly it was stunning!

study of a sketch by Joe Mielziner for “After the Fall” by Arthur Miller (1964)

I not only used this exercise to study the design, but also to study Mielziner’s technique. His sketches speak volumes not only about the structure, but also the tone and feeling of his designs. This helps directors and the rest of the creative team understand the vision you are putting forward. Look at his sof line work and shadowing. Such a simple and elagent design.

Set Study - Ming Cho Lee "Grandiges-Fraulein" 1966

On the left is my 30-45 minute pencil sketch study, and the right is the source image. I love how this structure feels as though a small breeze could topple it. What does that say about the characters of this world? What feeling does that evoke? I also noticed how Ming continued the vertical framing poles up through the home. A staple of his for sure. But what does that evoke? Not sure I know yet.