Abstract
As a professional Set Designer for live entertainment, I have cultivated a holistic approach to defining “environment” within performance spaces. This methodology, grounded in humanities principles, integrates low-tech, strategic elements—such as temperature, scent, and viewing angles—to transform the audience’s experience. Over the years, I have developed a system for applying this philosophy to live entertainment design and have incorporated it into my teaching practice, guiding students to adopt this nuanced approach. My mission is to harness the transformative power of live performance to enrich human experience and foster engagement in smaller, local performance venues, including schools and community theaters. This approach has proven effective in expanding and retaining audiences. In this presentation, I share my design philosophy and practical methods through case studies of two university productions, Our Town and The Crucible. By examining specific design and production choices, I illustrate how these practices can be implemented to create more immersive and resonant audience experiences. This session will offer valuable insights for designers, educators, and theater practitioners seeking to enhance the impact of live performance in their communities.
Presenters
Jessica Salmans MeditzAssociate Professor, Creative Media & Visual Arts, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Theatre, Live Entertainment, Design, Set Design, Practice, Research, Philosophy
