Role: Scenic Designer
Winter 2023
Jewish Theatre Ensemble, Northwestern University
Directed by Lila Marooney
Produced by Griffin Minster
For this theatre-in-the-round production of Peter & the Starcatcher, I was inspired by the anatomy of big sailing ships, much like the ones built by the British during the time of Peter and Wendy.
By utilizing four big timber flats that could be raised up and down throughout the show, I was able to recreate the abstract form of a ship while enabling quick changes between environments as required by the story.
I wanted to immerse audience fully in the action of the story, and thus by placing them at the "bow" and "stern" of the ship I designed, they were able to seamlessly become part of Black Stache and Peter's crew.
Role: Scenic Designer
Fall 2021
Lipstick Theatre, Northwestern University
Directed by Lila Marooney
Produced by Haley Groth
Outdoor Bird is a play about absurdism and the inventive possibilities it can bring to words and stories. In a play where language becomes a weapon, I wanted to find a way to bring such an abstract concept into the real world — into something that adds to the story for audiences.
Every single piece of furniture created for the show is a unique and irregular sculpture in itself: none of the tables are rectangles or contain right angles, the chairs are all of different heights, and the floor is painted to resemble the terrain lines of a map. As actors navigated the space, they could easily take the set apart and reassemble it into something new and fresh for every scene.
To visualize the complex artistic mind of our protagonist writer, the back wall is covered with hundreds of handwritten pages and notes, which seem to have spilled right out of the pages of the script as it unfolds in front of audiences. I also included the usage of digitally-projected stage directions on a scrim to fully convey the feeling that the play itself is a meta story-within-a-story.
Role: Scenic Designer
Spring 2022
Wave Ensemble, Northwestern University
Directed by Daira Rodriguez
Produced by Adelina Marinello
In this imaginitive and explorative original play written by a student at Northwestern University, a new immigrant comes to the United States and experiences the trials and tribulations of the American educational system. As the play progresses, the school building that she is in becomes a character in its own right, as the characters' actions are physically manifested in the very red bricks of the structure.
Using mostly recycled materials and a limited budget, I was able to transform a black box theatrical space into the hallways of a traditional American redbrick, with soaring arches and walls that can be taken apart and reconfigured into different arrangements. By utilizing the seemingly inflexible structure of the theatre itself, which has three columns in the middle of the stage, I was able to effectively convey the oppressive feeling that the main protagonist experiences in the play.
1st Place — Theme Park Design Competition 2021
Ohio State University TPEG Alumni
Role: Concept Artist, Land Layout, Hero Shot Artist
Team: Nigel Nicholas Chew, Ethan Cheng, Kevin Brunner, Jasmin Ali-Diaz
"Welcome to Mount Olympics, the Olympic Games of the gods! Every four years the Greek gods of Olympus come together and host their own version of the Olympic games. Guests have been granted a special invitation and are welcomed into the Hippodrome of Olympus to take part in the games and experience the competition.
Each guest will enter the land with their Olympus Power Cuff RFID bands in order to be able to participate in the Challenges of Olympus, a series of interactive entertainment and games throughout the zone. Those seeking thrills can embark on an adrenaline-pumping high-energy roller coaster experience, Race for the Skies: Zeus vs Poseidon. On the other hand, the family-friendly dark ride, Match-Day Madness, offers a more immersive and interactive experience.
After the games and excitement, guests can continue on to one of the food venues. Heracles' Gymnasium & Diner is a theatrical sit-down restaurant experience where guests can interact live with many of the famous gods from myth as they train for their competitions. Guests can also make their way to the arena’s open-air market, featuring Demeter's Harvest & Dionysus's Den, a food option for those looking for quick-service dining."
1st Place — Indoor Ride Design Team Challenge 2022
University of Florida Gator TPED Swamp Thrills Design Competition
Role: Concept Artist, Storyboard Artist
Team: Nigel Nicholas Chew, Ethan Cheng, Anna Cao, Jasmin Ali-Diaz
"Welcome travelers... to the WORLD’S BEST, CERTIFIED CHEAPEST, BEST BARGAIN time-traveling attraction that North America has to offer - REWIND!!! Set in a bustling tourist trap town in the year 3450, REWIND!!! promises to offer tourists a value-for-money time-travel excursion to see their futures, one that will definitely not go wrong…
Commandeered by "competent" captains, Marty Lee & Sam Jimenez, this madcap adventure sends guests flying back in time to disastrous moments in history. From prehistoric bug-infested jungles to the melting hot streets of Pompeii, danger lurks in every corner. Will you make it back to the future in one piece? Only time will tell!"
Collaboration — Shedd Aquarium + Northwestern University TPED
Role: Concept Art Colorist
(with Anna Cao)