Shakespeare’s R&J
Sound Design Concept
Shakespeare’s R &J explores the theme of deepening human connection against established traditions through the lens of queer youth in a Catholic boarding school setting. Our design leaned away from the Catholic reference and were interested in the more abstract, slightly futuristic setting. The design concept focuses on the tension between institutional, artless rigidity versus the fluidity and freedom in a dreamscape.
Sonically, I explored the tension and interaction between the Stark World, an environment anchored by repetitive, jarring mechanical bells and filled with sterile, abrasive textures, and the Dreamscape, a world filled with fluidity and colors in sounds. I am especially interested in exploring how the absence of warmth and flow in the Stark World provoked the outpour of musicality in the Dreamscape, and how the Stark World violently silenced the dreaming. As the two worlds collided, the line between realities blurred, and the soundscape began to bleed through.
CREATIVE TEAM
Scenic Designer - Sebastián Zavalza
Costume Designer - Bunny Brand
Lighting Designer - Logan Donahue, J. Adams
Sound Designer & Composer - Pan-Pan Gou
Media Designer - Lilian Nara Kim
Prop Designer - Carolyn Burback
Intimacy & Movement - Alex Manalo
Fight Director - Tonya Lynn
Stage Manager - Ana Schroeder
Cast
Student 1 - Sam Lander
Student 2 - Silas Bright
Student 3 - Nate Dirksen
Student 4 - Christopher Rone
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producer - Julia He
Producer, Production Mgr - Alexander Farrell
Co-Technical Director - Josh Hillers
Co-Technical Director - Ari Cobb
Paint Charge - Julia Adilman
Lighting Consultant - Xuewei Eva Hu
Projection Engineer - Ryan Yu
Marketing Manager - Isaiah Jones
Marketing Manager - Laura Borella
Graphic Designer - Carlos E. Martínez
Main Poster Designer - Zhiyu Zhao
ASSISTANTS
Assistant Director - Mags Holcomb
Asst. Sound Designer, A1 - Jamnia Ai
Asst. Production Manager - Griffin Chyall
Asst. Costume Designer - Jack Nuciforo
Asst. Stage Manager - Nat Lawton
Asst. Scenic Charge - Zhuang Kang
Lighting Programmer - Joanne Jiang
Asst. Projection Designer - Jo Adereth
Lighting Assistant, A2 - Octavio Sutton